"The List"

I have made some "resolutions" for the New Year, and many of them are projects that I want to accomplish. I have so many things that I want to get done, who knows when and if they will ever all get done, but I figure that if I never set a goal and try, they really won't get done. I have been inspired by many of you and the goals that you all have set this year.

I have set some resolutions in the past- and actually stuck to them perfectly. One year, I didn't drink anything carbonated for the whole year. That was hard. I don't drink it a lot anyways, but it was when I was playing ball in college, and I thought it would be good for me. On the next New Year's Eve, as soon as it turned 12:00, I had a rootbeer. It about burned my head off. Another year, I wrote in my journal every night for a whole year. That was a great thing to do. I have to laugh at myself though- it was a year when I was seriously dating someone else, not Kent, and I have every last detail of it. When I was dating Kent, when it really mattered, I didn't do quite as well. Not too bad though. Another goal was to not cut my hair for a whole year. This was back when it was SHORT, and I kept trying to grow it out. I would get to a certain point, and I couldn't stand it, so I would get it cut. So for that year, I just lived with it, and eventually, my hair was long again. It took more than just that year.

All of those resolutions were when I was younger, and maybe I had more guts to stick them out. It was fun to set a goal, and accomplish it.

These are my goals for this year:

• Complete my misc. project list- way too long to list. I will just chip away at it little by little.
• Earn my Young Womanhood Recognition Award that Leaders can get. I have served in YW for 9 years now, and I think it is about time I just did it. (I was so close as a teenager, and just never completed one of my projects.) I have wondered if that is the reason I keep getting called into YW? Because I just need to buckle down and get that award? I doubt it, but when did setting and accomplishing some spiritual and personal goals ever hurt anyone? :)
• Be better at recognizing others needs, and try to do acts of service when I see the need, not just when I am asked. I really want to teach our kids this too- to look for ways that we can give service or help others. I think that the way they learn it is by seeing us do it, and by taking them with us and having them help. We are trying to do that.
• Catch up all of the kids photo albums. It will take some time, but it can happen. Camille and McCray's books stop when Reed was born. I think I got a little overwhelmed for awhile. :) I have some catching up to do.
• Be more thoughtful of my extended family. Sometimes I get so caught up in the things that I am doing that I forget or don't call to say hello, check on someone, send a thank you note, a birthday card, etc. I want to improve, because I think I have the best family (Payne and Miles) EVER, and I want them to know it!
• Be more grateful, and look for the blessings that our family receives each day. When I take time to do this, I am so much happier. I realize all of the good things in my life, and all that I have to be thankful for.

Ok, there they are. Now, each of you can hold me to them. When I was at Rick's we used to have a saying when we huddled after practice- "Every day, in every way, we get a little better." That is what I want- to be a little better every day. Ready....Set....GO!