New Year's Resolutions

I might be the only one, but I hate New Year's Resolutions. However, I do think evaluating your progress and setting goals for the future is something I'm learning is a necessary part of my spiritual growth. So, we've been in Arkansas for two months exactly, Palmer started Kindergarten, Portia started preschool and the full fall schedule looms upon us. I think this is a new chapter in every aspect of my life and I have an opportunity to reflect on things I'd like to change. There are the obvious ones: lose the baby weight from all three kids, eat better, do more with my kids, etc. But I started thinking about what I want to become and who I really want to be. One excellent by-product of a mission is you learn what good goal-setting looks like. I haven't had enough self-confidence for so many years that setting goals felt like just another way to fail. So, I begin at the beginning and start with goals I can live with but that stretch me.

Yesterday, I experienced my first "race" as a participant. I'm not a runner and I didn't run this race. I went because new ward friends invited me and I sometimes have to force myself to make friends. I'm not really good at it, maybe because I think I'm not good at making friends. Anyway, I walked it with a couple friends. Had a horrible race time (walked one mile in 28 minutes, we weren't trying, just chatting)  but learned something good about myself. I could do it..if I wanted to. As I watched other friends (the "Sole Sisters" Mormon crew) and their kids run 1 mile, 5k or 10k, I realized I wanted to feel that sense of accomplishment. So, here are my goals for this semester (how many years since I graduated from college and still my mind functions in semesters..it's a manageable time frame).

1. Be a runner (thanks for the inspiration, Amanda). I would love to join my family in the epic relay team next year and actually contribute. I want to run a 5k or 10k and not be sucking wind from step 1.
1a. Work out four times a week. I have no excuse not to.
1b. Actually stick to a habit of good eating (still working on exactly what that "good eating" will look like).
2. Be a good mom.
2a. Make memories with my family.
2b. Spend time with each of my children each week.
3. Be a scriptorian. (I'm not going to set a specific number of minutes to study. But daily is the important part).
4. Be happy.
4a. Look for the funny, good, positive moments and focus on them. This isn't denying reality, just choosing to see the miracles, tender mercies, and just plain goodness in my life.

I think that's it for this semester. I'll let you know how it goes.

Sole Sisters (current and previous members of the Rogers Ward and their families)

The previous bishop of our ward, Barry Wall, and his wife, Mechel. He is amazing. He was in a serious accident a few months ago and that's his own wheelchair he's pushing. If he can walk one mile after almost losing both legs, I can do it after three babies. :-)

Walking buddies Amanda Millerberg and Rachel Drown, some of the first people we met from the ward when we came out last December.

A spectator who makes me smile daily and fills me with gratitude.