Gratitude and Blessings in December

Thur 31 *I am so thankful to have had a great time bringing in the New Years with Kent's sister and uncle and their families. I am now a huge fan of the card game hand and foot. It is quite fun.
Wed 30 *I am thankful for a busy day as I try and get ready to head to Logan.
Tue 29 *I am thankful I was able to catch some great deals at Target and Bath and Body Works.
Mon 28 *I am thankful for a wonderful day enjoying Braxton and playing some games with him. It's nice to have a day to just enjoy being his mom.
Sun 27 *I am thankful for my new calling leading the music in the Primary. I feel this is a place I can truly use my talents.
Sat 26 *I am thankful that I have had so much success in losing weight. So much that I was able to buy two extra small sized sweaters. I never would have thought I could go from L to XS.
Fri 25 *I have been blessed to have one of the best Christmases I've had in years. We have been surrounded by family and friends and we have been blessed with abundance.
Thur 24 *I am thankful for great weather so I could take Braxton out for a much needed walk while deliver goodies to friends. I am also thankful for great friends to go caroling with.
Wed 23 *I am thankful I have been able to get neighbor treat plates put together today. It has been a lot of fun making all these goodies for friends.
Tue 22 *I am so grateful with further layoff at Kent's work that he is still employed and that I have a couple of different way I am contributing to the income as well.
Mon 21 *I am thankful that I was able to learn as well as be successful at popping popcorn in a pan on the stove to make for neighbors today. What a great blessing to save on having to buy a popcorn popper.
Sun 20 *I'm grateful for the insight that I had to call a talk to my Uncle Marv H. tonight. It was nice to see how he was doing and gain a little understand through his insight. I have been blessed with wonderful extended family.
Sat 19 *I am thankful we were able to have an enjoyable evening with Brian and Cheryl and their families for dinner at our house as well as on temple square. It was a good night together...and it was fun to be the favorite aunt to Austin and Ashlyn.
Fri 18 *I love going on dates with my husband. It was so enjoyable to go out with Randall and Yuriko to the comedy club and see Dave perform. I have been blessed with such great friends.
Thur 17 *The Lord knows what I need and blesses me with it daily. I am thankful for the sunshine and a desire to get out and go running at the park trail in Sandy. There's nothing like running in the sunshine and breathing in the fresh air when it isn't freezing.
Wed 16 *What a blessing to be able to drop Braxton off at school and have him so excited to enjoy being there. Also so nice to go shopping at Target without having to take 30 minutes to look at the Disney Cars display!
Tue 15 *I am thankful I was able to attend the stakes court of honor with Kent and Braxton. It was so much fun to watch Braxton, Baylee, and another little girl named Bailey interact with Bishop Decker and just have that truly joyous laughter of a child.
Mon 14 *I am thankful I have been able to get the primary music planned for the rest of this month and all of January. It is so nice to have a plan and feel the sense of being prepared!
Sun 13 *Kent gave a wonderful inspired talk in church today. He was inspired by last Sunday's speaker to share his family's tradition as well as my family's traditions. When the song Silent Night was sung at the closing I was brought to tears so I could not sing the song. I was remembering the blessings of growing up in a musical family and the beauty of singing together for Christmas. I'm thankful the Lord has reminded me how important music is in my life as well as my family's history.
Sat 12 *I feel blessed to have a husband who will listen to me and hold me as I cry when life is not going as well as I would hope for. I have been so blessed to have the spouse I have.
Fri 11 *I am thankful for a great salesman who took the time to sell Kent boots when he was just plain onery. It's great to have such wonderful help.
Thur 10 *Kent, Braxton and I have been blessed with good friends. It was such a pleasure to deliever toys to Ian and Tia and enjoy their friendship and support them in their lives as they support us in ours. These are dear friends and I am thankful for their influence in my life.
Wed 9 *I am thankful for inspired public programs. Braxton just started speech class today which we don't have to pay a dime for. I am also thankful for the blessing of having Father in Heaven who answered my prayer that Braxton would be happy to go to class and ok with me leaving. He loved going to school.
Tue 8 *Although it may be little I am thankful for the makers of Biggest Loser who had another great season finale. Biggest Loser is always a show I look forward to because it inspires me to take good care of my body.
Mon 7 *I feel blessed each year I have enough to buy a Christmas tree. I will forever be thankful to Rick Lipinski for his generousity in selling us our "Miracle Christmas Tree" two years ago.
Sun 6 *We were so blessed to attend Kent's cousins baby blessing. The woman who spoke shared the traditions of her family at Christmas and it brought a feeling of Christmas spirit. Such a blessing at this time of year. I also feel blessed to watch the beautiful interactions in the home of Kent's cousins in-laws. What a great example of love and acceptance I felt there. I hope the Lord will bless me to make my home the same.
Sat 5 *I was blessed to practice selling my Discovery Toys at a boutique at Wheeler farm today. I enjoy being in control of my business. It was also a great blessing today to enjoy the festival of trees as well as dinner with Kent's Aunt Mary and Uncle Bruce and their family.
Fri 4 *I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the top Discovery Toys team leader in the state. She has great ideas and knows this business well. I am glad we discussed the purchase of the fall kit because I may not have had it although I had earned it had I know mentioned waiting for it to arrive to her.
Thurs 3 *What a wonderful opportunity to spend the day and night with family. Saddly my sister-in-law Mariel lost her grandmother and the funeral was today. Braxton and I were able to put off some errands and attend the funeral, graveside, and luncheon as we spent time with Erik, Mariel and her family. That night we invited Brian and Cheryl and their families over to have dinner and spend the evening together. We love and enjoy any time we get to spend with Erik and Mariel.
Wed 2 *I am thankful Kent is so supportive of my Discovery Toys business. He encouraged me to attend my recruit Mary Bybee's opening party even though I found out about it last minute. I am also glad I was inspired to call her and see how things were going.
Tue 1 *I am grateful I had the time to help my friend and neighbor Jill Washburn out with some jello for the ward party tonight. I am thankful for all those who work to make those parties nice. Including the Primary children this year.

How did I Do I ask Myself...

My Goals 2009
*Enjoy play time with Braxton at least 4 times a week
*Work on praying at least daily and making my prayers more meaningful
*Keep up visit teaching monthly again
*Attend the temple at least 9 times this year and track it in my gratitude journal.
*Read the entire Doctrine and Covenants with the Sunday School lessons this year.
*Study the gospel daily
*Stay on top of paying tithing
*Exercise 5 times a week for 30 min. or more.
*Lose 15 lbs or more
*Get on track with a financial plan and follow it
*Keep a rolling list of gratitude's DAILY for mental health.
*Find ways to help out others daily with a great attitude (even if it is my family)
*Read 6 books this year. (good sized books that is)

Well my report is that I seem to have a problem with staying focused on my goals and tracking them. The goals I did accomplish were...
*I finished (or will finish) reading the D&C
*I was able to easily claim full tithe payer
*I have all but lost that 15 lbs give or take a pound
*I may forget sometimes, but I have always been able to go back and recall a gratitude from each and every day
*I have read two books (sadly one being the D&C). I learn an immense amount from reading The Last Lecture and I highly recommend the book. I only wish I would take the time to read more.

These goals I either didn't accomplish or else I didn't track it well enough to know.
*Play with Braxton 4 times a week
*pray daily and more meaningfully
*VT monthly (I missed a few months)
*attend the temple 9 times
*I know I didn't study the gospel daily
*I probably did well on my exercise, but I didn't track that well
*my financial plan has improved, but it still has A LOT of work to be done
*I think I helped others daily, but again tracking is an issue

As I am contemplating my goals for 2010 I am planning ways to remember to track my goals and see how I am doing. You may see my side scroll change a little as I get ready to keep myself on track. I hope that you are setting your own goals for 2010.

Our Year Review in Pictures

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you enjoy our year review in pictures. Thanks for visiting!!!

JANUARY

Braxton loved carrying the balloons around after Kent's birthday party.

FEBRUARY

For Valentine's Day we hit the skates in Fillmore with Kent's family.

It was so fun to spend time with the Kunz' for Brianna's baptism.

MARCH

March brought beautiful flowers at Temple square so we went to see them.

Braxton wants to be just like his daddy!

APRILBraxton got the opportunity to help dad feed horses.

We hosted a murder mystery dinner with friends. It was so much fun.

MAY

He likes being a cowboy.

In May Uncle Devin returned from his California mission and we helped welcome him home.

We explored some sights and hiked in New Mexico.

We enjoyed some family time.

Braxton loved every minute of it.

JUNE

Air Force Week was here and we loved it. It was worth the drive to see the Thunderbirds.

Kent and Braxton under a giant airplane.

June also brought Braxton's 3rd birthday. My baby isn't a baby anymore.

He loved fishing with dad and driving the boat at Fish Lake during the Kesler family reunion.

JULY

Braxton's got some true patriotic spirit for the 4th of July.

Kent and I enjoyed cuddling up and watching fireworks together.

July 31st Erik married Mariel in the Manti temple. We just adore her!

AUGUST My sister introduced us to the Highland splash pad.
Braxton loved running the gray swirls on the sidewalk.

He and mom enjoyed spending time together.

SEPTEMBER

In September we decided to show Braxton the Jordan River Temple.

My friend Jill and I spent the day downtown with Braxton and Bailey.

We enjoyed the circus parade as well as Temple Square.

OCTOBER

October brought my friend Becca to town so we met Tia downtown to tour the Conference Center.

Braxton finally gave in a wore his Robin costume for Halloween.

It's like pulling teeth to get him to dress up.

Heading home after a fun night trick-or-treating

NOVEMBER

In November Braxton enjoyed playing with daddy.

This kid is so clever he is using the towels as a track for his tractor.

We enjoyed Thanksgiving at Grandma Robison's, but sadly have no pictures to share.

DECEMBER

Who needs great educational toys when there are boxes and peanuts to play with?

After all that hard work and lots of running this is how my old pants are fitting.

I finally allowed them to go to DI...Thanks for all the support everyone!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

The Family Who Climbs Together, Stays Together...

While I was trying figure out what to do for Christmas card photos a friend suggested we get a picture of mountain climbers and photo-shop our heads on. Well without photo shop you get paint and this was the result. It was too funny an idea not to do it. I'd like to thank Eddie Bauer for providing me a picture of mountain climbers. Have a good laugh!