Two Thousand Fourteen

Happy 2014! Last year was wonderful - but we are so excited as we look forward to this new year. 

Some of the goals we made last year were:

1- Buy and move into our first home.
2- Focus on seeing the needs of people around me and then working to fill those needs.
3- Work hard to meet new people in our new ward/neighborhood. Be friendly, social, inviting, and inclusive. (Along with this: Strive to fulfill my calling the the very fullest.)
4- Continue to grow as a mother and wife. Focus on Lydia and David and finding the things I can do to bless their lives the most. Three things that go under this category: -More quality time (Stop letting other distractions get in the way.), -Healthier eating options , and -Maintain a positive attitude about myself and others (Stop letting little things get me down and frustrated.)

It makes me happy to know that we improved in all of these areas. Sometimes it made us stretch out of our comfort zone, but at the end of everything - I believe that we are better people with happier lives at the beginning of 2014 than we were at 2013. That's what I hope for the start of every year, that I can look back over the past year and know that I have become a little kinder, a little more organized, a little closer to my little family. 

These are some of the goals that David and I talked about together for our family: 

1- Have a monthly family goal that we write on the calendar. Focus on that goal.

2- Go to the temple every month. No excuses. 

3- Do something social at least every other month. Focus on inviting members of the ward into our home as a way to begin/sustain friendships and to reach out to others. 

4- Family prayer every morning. (To go along with our Scripture/Song/Prayer at night.) 

Some personal goals that I have this year: 

1- Be more aware of what I'm saying to others and about others.

2- Read my scriptures in the morning instead of putting it off until night. 

3- Put a priority on visiting teaching, temple attendance, and cheerfully fulfilling my calling. 

4- Dedicate time for both David and Lydia that is distraction free. Make sure they know they are most important. 

I think it's important to make sure that the goals you set are achievable and focused on the things you really care about most. We also want to be more healthy this year. Healthy meals and more exercise. (And by more exercise, I mean... exercise. period.) We are taking other steps to help make that happen as well - but the things that are the very most important to me are these things. These are the things that I truly believe will bring us the very most happiness this year. I just know that this year is going to be a good one. Here's to you - two thousand fourteen!