Hello, Twenty-Fourteen

(Because most of our New Year's Eve this year was spent in a car traveling from Seattle to home, I thought I'd do a little throw back to our New Year's view from a year ago. It's one worth repeating.)

I don't believe there has ever been a time in my life where I've been excited for January. I've always accepted it and I've always found different ways to embrace it or get through it, but I've never been excited for it...until now.

As I became self aware of this excitment I wondered what about this January was different from the rest. Simply put, its because (for this five seconds) we're settled. If you remember last year at this time, we had just arrived in Sydney. This last year has been anything but dull and even after we moved back to Utah, it seemed like I was smacked (in a very good way) in the face with Ryder starting school, unpacking and then getting ready for the holidays. You know on your DVR how you have the option to fast forward  either one arrow, two arrows or if you're feeling lucky three arrows fast! Well, life lately has been "three arrows fast" and although its had a lot of good times, I'm really hoping January will be my "play" button. I just feel like I haven't been in a place for a really long time where life has allowed me time to slow down long enough to evaluate and make some goals. You know you're in desperate need of goals when making them actually sounds like fun.  Or maybe everyone would agree the types of goals I'm thinking of are fun.

For example, I want to read more books. I'm a sucker for the easy fictional reads and I would like to expand my library a little more into biographies, memoires and some history. I'm currently reading Elizabeth Smart's "My Story" which has been very interesting so far.

I am also trying to find ways to make my scripture study...well, actual study--not so much a breezy reading :) I've always wanted to be that person who could quote scripture from memory. I've got a loooong way to go.

I want to blog more! I love the name of my blog and thought long and hard about it and I'd love to devote more time into discussing hopeful things ranging from the serious to the laughable and light-hearted.  Plus, I'm never going to get a better record keeping system than this so I might as well be consistent.

I would also really like to record my parents' personal histories. Aside from needing these two people's lives on paper, I know I would find the whole thing so interesting. They are going to love me bugging them about it :)

Sing and play my guitar more. It something that gets put on the back burner a lot, but it sure is fun when I find the time to do it. Plus, Phil got a banjo for Christmas (still needs to learn to play it) so we're hoping to come up with a couple of rockin' duets.

I am also looking forward to slowly decorating my home. After moving here (and pretty much everywhere else I've lived) I quickly threw some stuff on the wall to make it look presentable, but I'm so excited to be in a place long enough to slowly collect and make things for my house that I love.

See? Goal making isn't so bad when it's totally centered around stuff you like. And for me a very hopeful thing to do to fight off the dreariness of winter.

Happy New Year!

PHASE: INSPIRED

 I call this photo: Contemplating within a messy bedroom

I feel so inspired lately. I feel inspired to get organized. I feel inspired to be creative. I feel inspired to be a better mom. I feel inspired to make my house beautiful. I feel inspired to be a better missionary.  (I mean, look at that hyperlinking!)

I think a lot of it has to do with being home. Nothing brings me more joy than being in and making my home. There is something about it that brings me great peace, and therefore, hope and joy. All of which allow me to feel motivated and inspired to be my best self.

But I don't know if I would currently be infused with such inspiration had it not been for our crazy travels these past few months. I saw a lot of things. Things I wanted and things I didn't want. All things I could categorize from incredibly superficial to highly spiritual and everything in-between.

But now, I'm home*. I am in my fortress. And feel as though I can start putting those things into action.

Pros: I love feeling hopeful and inspired. It gives me the motivation to get things crossed off my list. Besides myself, I like to think my family and those I love benefit from these lofty aspirations I set for myself. Another motivational factor :)

Cons: I often feel very overwhelmed by the person I hope to be some day and a little frustrated with who I am now and the long journey I have before I'm able to reach my goals. Do you ever feel that way?

Here are some of the goals I hope to channel said inspriation into this week:
1. Go to lds.org and renew my Ensign subscription (conference is coming, people) add on the Friend for Ryder (at what age did you start getting the Friend for your children?) and a FHE manual (I'm hoping this make me better at having FHE. I hear it has magical powers), oh and of course, some unders for good measure. Who doesn't feel like conquering the world with fresh unders?
2. Practice my guitar. Something that goes so easy to the bottom of my priority list. But it's something that makes me very happy and a whatever talent I do have in it, I would really like to keep it.
3. Get my babies better. This week my best girl got the stomach flu and my best boy got a cold. And now they've decided to switch, or rather, they both have both now...nice. Please tell me by this time next week they'll both be as good as new.
4. Get on the computer less while my kids are awake. Wait. Does it matter how much I'm on while they're asleep? Baby steps, people, baby steps. This one was inspired by a talk given by Sis. Beck at our multi-huge stake conference today. She's not afraid to tell it like it is. Love her.
5. Go to bed. Now.

I know. You thought it was going to be more exciting than that. But hey, we've all got to start somewhere.

*I know "home" is wherever your loved ones are or whereever you hang your hat, yada-yada, but I'm talking about the home that I know we'll be in for more than 12 weeks, the home with my THINGS, my son's toys, my daughter's cute nursery, my bed! for heaven's sake! Call me superficial, but I have my space and I have a routine built for that space and that is that.