Reflecting on my Inner Self

I have read 2 blog posts today that I loved and have really moved me and spoke to me individually.

This is from a dear friend of mine that is on a journey to greater happiness this year. I admire her strength and courage and this really spoke to me about my life as well. Looking in the mirror and seeing someone you don't recognize... I have felt exactly like that and just like her, I want to focus more on WHO I AM as a person. Focusing on things I love and want to do to become a better version of myself. Not losing myself in the daunting everyday tasks and stresses, but remembering the true me, someone I can beleive in and love.

Another Inspiring post from an old acquantaince of mine.

19 Things we should say to our children




1. I love you! There is nothing that will make me stop loving you. Nothing you could do or say or think will ever change that.



2. You are amazing! I look at you with wonder! Not just at what you can do, but who you are. There is no one like you. No one!



3. It’s all right to cry. People cry for all kinds of reasons: when they are hurt, sad, glad, or worried; when they are angry, afraid, or lonely. Big people cry too. I do.



4. You’ve made a mistake. That was wrong. People make mistakes. I do. Is it something we can fix? What can we do? It’s all over. You can start fresh. I know you are sorry. I forgive you.



5. You did the right thing. That was scary or hard. Even though it wasn’t easy, you did it. I am proud of you; you should be too.



6. I’m sorry. Forgive me. I made a mistake.



7. You can change your mind. It’s good to decide, but it is also fine to change.



8. What a great idea! You were really thinking! How did you come up with that? Tell me more. Your mind is clever!



9. That was kind. You did something helpful and thoughtful for that person. That must make you feel good inside. Thank you!



10. I have a surprise for you. It’s not your birthday. It’s for no reason at all. Just a surprise, a little one, but a surprise.



11. I can wait. We have time. You don’t have to hurry this time.



12. What would you like to do? It’s your turn to pick. You have great ideas. It’s important to follow your special interests.



13. Tell me about it. I’d like to hear more. And then what happened? I’ll listen.



14. I’m right here. I won’t leave without saying good-bye. I am watching you. I am listening to you.



15. Please and Thank You. These are important words. If I forget to use them, will you remind me?



16. I missed you. I think about you when we are not together!



17. Just try. A little bit. One taste, one step. You might like it. Let’s see. I’ll help you if you need it. I think you can do it.



18. I’ll help you. I heard you call me, here I am. How can I help you? If we both work together, we can get this done. I know you can do it by yourself, but I’m glad to help since you asked.



19. What do you wish for? Even if it’s not yet time for birthday candles and we don’t have a wishbone, it’s still fun to hear about what you wish for, hope for, and dream about.

I found this amazing as I am striving to be a better mother and really need to be much more conscious about what I say to my daughter and how I lift her up and beleive in her as she is truely an amazing spirit. This in turn will make her a happier person in life to have a mother that beleives in her regardless. I feel like I'm always telling her No, and telling her what she is doing wrong, but really I needed a new approach and this post is just that. I will be a better Mother to her. This will be part of my "being a better mother" resolution. I love my little girl so much and really want her to KNOW that and BELEIVE it. No matter what happens. No one can really understand the love a mother has for her child, unless they experience it themselves.

Lastly this is aquote that I read on somone's FB status. This spoke to me as well.

"It was meant to be that life would be a challenge. To suffer some anxiety, some depression, some disappointment, even some failure is normal. If [we] have a good, miserable day once in a while, or several in a row, stand steady and face them. Things will straighten out. There is great purpose in our struggle in life."  - Elder Packer

I love inner reflections. I don't do them often enough with all the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This is something that is a part of me that I've forgotten at times, but plan on becoming better at. Maybe making it a daily habbit to focus on these types of things that help us understand the important things in life a little bit better and why we are here in the first place... it's really easy to lose sight of that.

2010...Resolute.

res·o·lute [ rézzə lt ]

adjective

Definition:

1. having determination: possessing determination and purposefulness

2. characterized by determination: motivated by or displaying determination and purposefulness

I love this definition. (Motivation, determination, purpose!! the I CAN DO IT attitude! )

This year I have been thinking about what I want to accomplish to better myself and my general well-being as a person.
This year will be a changing one for our family. Clay will completing his therapy program, I've told him that I want to be the one to stay home with the kid (s) and he agrees, it's where I need to be. Once he's done with school - whether he gets a job in his field or not, its my turn. At least let's hope!! :) You never know in this market... with so many people out of work. It's so sad ... I know I'm lucky to be working, and really need to be more greatful for that, but it's been a hard transition at times juggling full time work and trying to be a good mother / wife... sometimes failing in that department...
What will be will be and I know that.  Anyways, we are also thinking about expanding our family by another child. 2 HUGE changes. So, with them I've been thinking about goals and plans to make mine and my families little world a better place.

This is what I've come up with so far:

1. Exercise at least 10 minutes daily - Pregnant or not!

2. Keep the house clean  - ( by this I mean our bedroom. :) ) - in particularly ( do not hve a pile of clean laundry sitting for more than a day or 2! because it grows to a HUGE pile of laundry, then takes hours to overcome! trust me, I know from experience... he hee) http://www.flylady.com/ ROCKS!!

3. Make dinner for my family at least 3 times a week.  ( Planning a menu at the beginning of the week with grocery shopping included... this includes learning new recipes and trying new kinds of foods - healthy foods! )

4. Have Faith and Exercise it daily - (scripture study - even if its only 1 verse, and  sincere prayer) Strengthening my relationship with the Lord, and testimony of Jesus Christ. 

5. Run a 1/2 marathon. - ( this means February or sooner!! Better get my booty in gear starting with signing up! )

6. Run / Walk 365 miles this year.  - (Thats only 1 mile a day if I ran every day.  Since I don't run every day - I'm calculating around 3 times a week - thats about 3 miles a run... I can do that!! Plus the runs will be longer in the beginning of the year due to 1/2 marathon training... which means they can be shorter after the race)

7. Make new friends. - (getting out of my comfort zone and hanging out with girls at least one - two nights a month ... by this I mean girls other than my sisters)

8. Learn to sew. - ( I have a really nice sewing machine and all I've ever done is sew scrunchis as a teenager... time to learn and then I can become a domestic godess! )

9. Be a kinder, more loving and patient mother and wife to my dear husband and my sweet sweet daughter. - ( date night twice a month with the hubs, mommy daughter dates with my daughter, put myself in time-out when needed, don't sweat the small stuff )

10. Serve others. - ( actively try to serve others in various ways with more of a conscious effort. )

Pretty simple goals, and I'm actually already doing most of them, but need to improve on them and make each of them into HABITS. I don't want to be the person to overcommit myself - then face failure.

I'm so excited for 2010 and the changes that will come in my life. It will be challenging, but good! Fresh starts are the best, but this year, I'm going to try to keep it simple and just expand a little bit on some things that I want / need to improve to make my life better and the lives of those around me better... isn't that what its all about?


Anyone else wanna share?

Celebrate 2010

From our Family to yours - Happy New Year!

These are a few of my Favorite things!

What an awesome Christmas this year!!

FAVORITES:


Gift

Taryn - trip to Las Vegas to see Cirque de Soleil with Adam and Brett!
Clay - ditto
Maizyn - pack of 8 Disney Princess lipgloss (that only cost Santa $2.99  - of course! )


Things

Taryn -  Having a week off work!!  ( and Spending time with Family on Christmas Eve (both sides) )
Clay - All the yummy food! ( and spending time with family )
Maizyn - Waking up to all the gifts Santa left for her! ( and spending time with Family )

Many Favorite Moments:

Maizyn nightly prayers " thank you for baby Jesus, Joseph, and Mary and the little lamb "

The excitement on Maizyn's face when she walked into the living room Christmas morning to see what Santa left her.

When Maizyn got her beautiful Red dress from Grandma Glauser and laid it out on the ground in the middle of all the chaos with her headband on top saying " Yeah, that works "

Clay actually NOT knowing about one of his gifts from Santa for once!

That Maizyn's favorite gift was $2.99 lipgloss.

Maizyn playing the wisemen during the live nativity at Grandma Glauser's Christmas Eve program.

Holding Baby Isaac and Baby Stevie on Christmas Eve and feeling the pure peace of a newborn... thinking of Baby Jesus.

How peaceful this year was.

Maizyn spending 2 hours just opening her gifts one by one on Christmas morning and actually enjoying playing with them.

Sleeping in until 9:45 on Chirstmas morning. ( Maizyn was tuckered out from all the parties the day before )

Maizyn caroling EVERY time we went to someone's door during the month of December.

Maizyn learning all the Christmas songs this year.

Grandpa Byron Surprising us the day after Christmas with a gift for Maizyn ( A Leapfrog Didj! - close enought o a DS which is what Maizyn wanted but Mom told her she couldn't ask for until she was 6 or 7 )

After Making a huge Christmas Morning Breakfast and setting the table nice - Maizyn "Wow Mom, why is it so fancy"

Maizyn twirling in her new beautiful Christmas dress from Grandma in the halls at Church.

Alex being a Mexican Ranchero with his new Machete.

Playing the angry elf part of "my Suit is Red"

Playing Family Fued with the Ross side of the Family and the boys (Aaron) doing their victory dance.

All the generosity of everyone - what a wonderful year!  


Enjoying the peaceful moments while thinking of the birth of our Savior and the true meaning of Christmas.