I Love You Because...

To Do before I Die....

Write a Children's Book.
        I've wanted to do this for a long time and in fact have begged Doug to promise to illustrate it for me for the last two years but this spring it seems to be a recurring thought that keeps popping into my head and I see reminders of this goal EVERYWHERE. (like this! how can that not inspire you to get working?! so fun! 

 

Learn how to Quilt.
        I tried taking a quilt class this spring and thought it would be something that got checked off this years' new years resolution list but the timing, lack of baby-sitter, my miscarriage and my overall depression have really put a kink into my master plan. With the move coming up I've pretty much realized that 2011 isn't my quilting year but that doesn't take it off the to do list forever!

 

Own my Home.
    One thing I've learned over the past five years is the you have to be the one controlling your money- not the other way around. Ownership is, in my book, the number one way to do that.  Just the thought of no mortgage payments make me giddy. 

 

Travel to with my loved ones.
    Someday I want to travel. I want to spend summers in Canada with my family. I want to see Europe with my parents. I want Husbandface to take me to South America and I've already promised Ethan that when he graduates college I'll take him on the most amazing trip to China ever (the country he's currently obsessed with).  

 

...its just a start but, I've officially started my 'Bucket List'.

-J 

 

 

ready, set..... go!

I find myself in an in-between state. I'm not moved out of my house yet but mentally,one foot is out the door. Doug has started his new job but the family hasn't started their new schools/wards and neighborhood. It's like I'm waiting for the next phase in my life to start. The problem is that I have no idea when that will be. 

It's starting to be exhausting. 

Everyday we get closer to listing the house. Packing boxes we won't see for an undisclosed amount of time, picking paint colors for strangers and starting to emotionally detach ourselves from our surroundings. While I see this as part of the process I'm anxious and ready to unpack and re-decorate somewhere new.... now. 

In an effort to reach the finish line sooner and without letting every part of our lives fall apart, I'm doing what any good athlete would do before a big event. Rest up. Right? :)  I'm kidding. I'm making lists and trying to check things off the list. In an effort to maintain balance  I'm implementing the 1-2-3-rule for myself.

The 1-2-3 rule I've set is simple (in theory) or more accurately the 1-1-1-1-1-2-3 rule. 

ONE load of laundry done a day

ONE room SPOTLESS a day

ONE baking/cooking done a day

ONE thing craft/project related worked on a day

ONE thing off the house prep list a day

TWO work assignments done a day

THREE boxes packed (or thrown out) a day

Wish me luck! I'm off to start on today's list... 

Callie Tate

Last week the kids and I finished reading The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate.  I was sad it was over because I have loved reading it to them. This is such a cute story. At the end of it the main character gives a list of things she'd like to do before she dies... As soon as we were done reading for the night Ethan started sharing his list... 

Ethan-before I die I want to....

... go scuba diving and see fish and whales around the world. (Kerstin, I'll be shipping him to you for the summer as soon as he's old enough!) 

... learn how waterfalls are made.

... learn sign language and maybe other languages too.

Then Lorali got in on the action.

Lorali- before I die I want to...

... go to DisneyWorld. (The TinkerBell and Princess part this time.)

... go to Waterton, lots and lots.

... be a school teacher.

Unfortunately, I was right.

I usually enjoy being right. This time I hate it. Yes, Our ward was split yesterday. It was split in a very odd/unexpected way that left 0 of my close friends with me. The two wards are UBER tiny and that scares the hell out of me. I was in the Pawtucket Ward in Rhode Island for almost 5 years and it was so hard on it's members to be part of that congregation. Doug was YM's President, ward translator (half the ward was portuguese speaking so it was like he was a Bishopbric member for them) and the Basketball Coach. I was Primary President. It was exausting. The handful of YW and dozen YM usually only had their leaders for church support. My primary of 18 was the cutest ever but the kids really struggled being the only child within 3 years of any others. They knew they were different to be LDS but they didn't even have an example of what that was to a 5th grader. We lost a lot of great, no amazing, members because the ward was so emotionally demanding and the leadership so inconsistant. THAT is my biggest fear for both of the wards here now.

The split from my friends I knew I could handle but when they were announcing where it would split and who would be affected and then the new leadership, I was so shocked all I could do was sit there and shake my head. How was this going to effect Ethan and his relationships at church? I think my new ward lost every other special needs child in the ward (there used to be 7-8 when we were combined). What would Doug think of the new bishopbric? 1/2 of them HATE him... seriously, he's gotten into full out fights with half the new bishopbric and one of them hasn't spoken to him in over a year, regardless of Doug's apologies. My concerns were justified to. Doug's reaction was epic. I should just cut and paste the 2 hours worth of texts I got from him during the remainer of Sacrament Meeting and classes. This is definately something that will be affecting my family on a daily basis and the realization of what's to come I was NOt prepared to handle. After the announcement, I ran out of the chapel bawling. Now that I've had 24 hours for the shock to wear off, I'm still discouraged and nervous. I know the logistics of the church. I also know that certain callings can really help people to grow and learn and become a little more open-minded and Christ-like. That being said, I'm not holding my breath. If there is one thing I've learned over the last 3 years it's that I can't change (or expect change) from anyone other than myself. So that's where I'm renewing my focus. I want to focus on what I can learn and more on my own personal faith. Because I go to church for me, not for my friends and not for the leadership. I'm hoping my faith is stronger than I am.

MY Plan of Health and Happiness.

Going back to my NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS, I'm setting my Spring goals... FINALLY!

HEALTH
 Continue Weekly Ballet Classes and perform in the Recital in June- Doing the recital is harder than going to class each week!
 Stretch every morning and night and go to the Y to work out at least once a week.

HOME
 Clean out the BIG BILL BOX! - This one is daunting but, I need to be more organized with our papers at home, this is also in financial because I'm hoping it will actually get it done this time!
 Set up a new closet system in my bedroom - We out grew the closet in our bedroom about 2 mins. after we moved in!

SPIRITUAL
 Plan and carry out FAMILY HOME EVENING every week with the kids and Doug.  
 Have Personal Prayer every day.
 Start a FAITH based scrapbook.

FAMILY RELATIONSHIP-
 Do homework with Ethan everyday and set aside FAMILY playtime after dinners 3 times a week. 
 Date Night with Doug every month. 
 Plan one big family event together for this month.

MENTAL HEALTH
 Practice 30-60 minutes 3 times a week on the Piano-
 Go to school and study and FINISH my certificate. 
 Scrapbook at least once a week again!

FINANCIAL
 Save 15% - for permanant savings, vacation fund, Christmas fund and emergencies.
 Organize 'the big bill box' -

WISH ME LUCK!

Going back to my NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS, I'm setting my Spring goals... FINALLY!

HEALTH
 Continue Weekly Ballet Classes and perform in the Recital in June- Doing the recital is harder than going to class each week!
 Stretch every morning and night and go to the Y to work out at least once a week.

HOME
 Clean out the BIG BILL BOX! - This one is daunting but, I need to be more organized with our papers at home, this is also in financial because I'm hoping it will actually get it done this time!
 Set up a new closet system in my bedroom - We out grew the closet in our bedroom about 2 mins. after we moved in!

SPIRITUAL
 Plan and carry out FAMILY HOME EVENING every week with the kids and Doug.  
 Have Personal Prayer every day.
 Start a FAITH based scrapbook.

FAMILY RELATIONSHIP-
 Do homework with Ethan everyday and set aside FAMILY playtime after dinners 3 times a week. 
 Date Night with Doug every month. 
 Plan one big family event together for this month.

MENTAL HEALTH
 Practice 30-60 minutes 3 times a week on the Piano-
 Go to school and study and FINISH my certificate. 
 Scrapbook at least once a week again!

FINANCIAL
 Save 15% - for permanant savings, vacation fund, Christmas fund and emergencies.
 Organize 'the big bill box' -

WISH ME LUCK!

Things I've Done....

(Thanks Kerstin & Steph for the list!)

bold: means you have done
italic: means you want to
normal: just stuff/ideas

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen buildings of an Ancient Civilization
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Visited the Caribbean
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Learned a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Been to a World Series game
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten sushi
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someones life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

New Year, New Goals

My friend Kerstin has a '12 month plan to Happiness'. Every month she sets herself a few small achievable goals. The theory is that at the end of a 12 month period she is happier and has accomplished larger goals through her smaller ones. Simple enough right? I think that might be the only way I achieve my larger yearly resolutions so, I am trying it out.

Overall I set 6 New Year Resolutions for myself;
-HEALTH- Be overall healthy and Get my pre-pregnancy body back. Well, as much of it as I can! (this one seems unreachable right now because of my sinus infection but, I'm hoping I don't have that all year!)
-HOME- To create a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order and a house of faith.
-SPIRITUAL- Repeating D&C 88:119, I'd like prayer, faith, learning and order in my home. Bringing everyone together through a healthier, more peaceful environment at home.
-FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS- I'd like to strengthen my relationship with my husband and I'd like the kids to have stronger relationships with each other and their cousins.
-MENTAL HEALTH- I'd like to be smarter, more well rounded, start up my company and have a little more personal fulfillment on a daily basis.
-FINANCIAL- Build up our savings account again now that it's been wiped out (more on that later) and to start up my company.

Because it's broken up into 6 Categories each month I'll have 6 individual goals in my
MONTHLY PLAN OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS. I'm actually quite pleased with it, it seems flexible and achievable. At the beginning of every month I'll post a follow-up to the previous months goals and set some new ones. Hopefully some of these will become a habit and others with be a learning experience.

JANUARY'S GOALS & PLAN OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS

HEALTH
 Continue Weekly Ballet Classes
 Stretch every morning and night
HOME
 Immediately fold and put Laundry away every week
 Clean out the Laundry Room
SPIRITUAL
 Plan and carry out FAMILY HOME EVENING every week with the kids and Doug.
 Have Personal Prayer every morning
FAMILY RELATIONSHIP-
 Play with the kids together in the Therapy Room at least 5 times a week. (Teaching them appropriate ways to play and interact together.)
 Play at least two games with Doug every week. (and win ;) ?)
 Plan one big family event together for this month
MENTAL HEALTH
 Practice 30-60 minutes EVERYDAY on the Piano
 Go to school and study regularly
 Read one book, for FUN
FINANCIAL
 Save 10%
 Organize 'the big bill box'

WISH ME LUCK! HAPPY NEW YEAR!