Friday, January 15, 2010

Photo Guilt Relief

As I've mentioned, January is a bittersweet month for me.  This week I have tried to actually utilize those lists I make - I did pretty well.  Letting go of guilt over what I don't get done, and trying to feel positive about what I DO accomplish is my never-ending issue.

To help with that, I am trying to deal with all of the scrapbooking/keepsake organizing that I don't do.  DO NOT ask me how much of my own children's scrapbookng is done.  I won't answer you.  The last post I  made here shows that I am trying to work that out in a way that is positive and organized, and will still bring them joy into their adult years. 

I did really well last year taking a lot of photos.  I know I won't scrapbook that many of them.  I decided to use my Shutterfly membership and will make a photobook for last year.  Today I uploaded all of my 2009 photos to the website.  I will be ready to make that book any time now!  I hope to continue the tradition each year to come.

Awesome.  You'll have to WAIT to see it, though....

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Kangaroom Love

Oh, Goodness!  Have you seen this website?  I found it in BHG magazine.  Love this stuff....dang, should have seen it before Christmas.  I think I need to order some of these to hold all the things I know I will never get around to scrapbooking:

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Oh, No - It's THAT Time of Year

Are you a New Year's Resolution Person?  I am not.  I am not a goal-setter.   I know, after 50 years, you'd think I'd have this figured out.  Sorry to disappoint you.  My thoughts turn to this today as I read my friend Kellie's blog about reading other blogs about this issue.  She has great points - check it out.  Kellie is one wise woman.  Gosh - and she is barely 40.  Dang.

I did not like Personal Progress when I was in Young Womens (shhh.... don't tell L.) (Oh, and it was called something else back then but I can't remember now what it was...!).   I didn't get very far.  I felt like a failure before I got anywhere.   Not to embarrass her, and I don't even think she reads this, but my niece Bailee, who is 22, also blogged about goals, resolutions, etc. and it reminded me a lot of how I was at her age- full of hope about a future amazing self.  She forgets perhaps that she is already pretty amazing and has made it through some difficult times.  More difficult times will come, and she will continue to shine.  As a college student, I would also make lists and lists of all the goals I was going to accomplish.  By the 6th of January I would have already blown it so many times that I quit trying.  Great.

My missionary trainer, whom I refer to as "Sargeant Miller" was a very goal-oriented over-achiever.  She was a good missionary.  She got the job done.  She taught me what SHE did every Sunday to make goals for the upcoming week.  Being a greenie, I figured that is what I needed to do as well.  Lists of goals grew as the weeks went on.  If I didn't get them perfect every day, I felt like I failed.  I then quit trying.  Fortunately, I learned later in my misson that it was okay for our definitions of a "great missionary" to be different, and I quit torturing myself with long lists. I just tried to follow the Spirit.  Worked pretty well.

So, while in January I am always excited to start back into routines and get my house freshened and decluttered, the dark, short winter days wreak havoc with  my moods (I now have one of those cool SAD lights that helps with that! Love it).  But to set a list of goals that I know will probably not be accomplished is just no longer for me.

A couple of years ago when I served as Relief Society President, I had to teach a lesson on the 1st of January.  I knew that resolutions would be on the minds of many.  I was drawn to a talk by Sister Anne Pingree  (who happens to be the aunt of one of my readers!) which is entitled, "Knowing the Lord's Will for You".  Here is one of my favorite quotes, as she quotes Neal A. Maxwell:

I start where my journey ended—in this sublime truth taught by Elder Neal A. Maxwell: “The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. The many other things we ‘give,’ … are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give!”

I need to remember to ask the Lord what HE wants me to accomplish, what goals I should set - what He wants me to be and to where He wants me to get.

I still make little lists. I make lists of things I need to get done. I still have goals for the weeks, but they are simpler:  "Point out the positive", "Give the family PEACE throughout Christmas Eve and Christmas with no yelling and no stressing out" (you know, before the big Misfit Party),"Show Love",  and some weeks, all it is, is "Get Through It".   I can do those things.  I did those things.  I felt lifted and confident. 

And of course, there is the perennial, eternal - Lose 50 lbs by June....

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Future Visits of the Mom

B leaves today to go back to college.  I have loved his visit more than I can express.

However, it has caused the following ponderings.

When my kids grow up and move out permanently, I am going to visit their homes and will do the following:

unplug cords and lamps so I can charge my computer and my phone and my ipod.

break their toilets so they won't flush.

be sure to plant a money tree in their back yard.

fix meals and leave all my stuff out.

rearrange the furniture to suit my needs and comforts.

take their car to get my stuff done.

sleep in a different room every night so I can surprise them in the morning.

use my bed as a "desk" so I HAVE to sleep in a different room every night.

use their library cards to check out 8 million movies, cds, etc.

go to the grocery store with them so they can buy me tons of great stuff - and I will kindly leave them all that I cannot finish.

leave lots of my collectibles and ask them to store them for me for about....forever.

tease each family member individually to the point that everyone is kept guessing.

skype into the wee hours of the morning, laughing uproariously.

give each family member lots of love and attention, and won't visit friends because I will really just want to enjoy precious family time.

When my kids grow up and move out permanently, I will miss them every minute of every day.