Joseph & Hyrum Smith

My new favorite picture. This was taken in Nauvoo, Illinois in front of the temple. As you can see the Mississippi River is behind them down the hill. It was such a beautiful sight.

Money Update

As if this isn't totally pathetic to say... Markus and I have seemingly done better with just one person's income than 2. Weird I know. But we have decided where the money goes and where it doesn't. Funny how those sales seem more often and good deals come around when you least expect them too. Or how about being able to pay more than what you were thinking on stuff and still be sitting ok afterwards. That is relief. So we are doing pretty good on the getting out of debt thing, considering I am the only one making money! Now if we could just pay our car off soon that would be awesome, but I think you have to have money to do that. One step at a time and one foot in front of the other, but surprisingly we are making it. And I'm excited for that.

slacking

so, i have been a huge slacker, and as i read over previous posts i see i'm not the only one! i've decided to make a general schedule of how my day should go if i stay at home, and i've also put up little notes everywhere to remind me to do things like "pray" "read scriptures" "do something for me" "take kids for a walk" etc... and it helps me snap out of my lull and be productive. i started over with the scriptures, and i am determined to read through the entire Book of Mormon this year. how are you doing with your goals? 

Happy 2009!

Well today is the day of what I hope will be a great year for all of us. I would like to challenge you if you haven't already to set some goals of what you want, would like to see happen, etc. in your life. I have designated a space for the 3 of us to display some or all of those goals for 2009. Sometimes seeing them is the reassurance we need to keep working and pushing forward. I love you all and best wishes for 2009.

A Visual

I never knew how visual of a person/learner I was until I got out of school. Not sure if this would work for anyone else, but I've created a section on the side where we can visually see what we would like to be working on. However constant we decide to be on them, I think it would help to see them written down somewhere. At least for me. So there you go, there's a visual.

SERIOUS SLACKERS!

Oh, what happened to all our resolve!!! I am soooo in trouble with myself. This frustrates me so much. I really wanted practice before the New Year rang in to get ready to get organized and ON IT, u know? Gosh what is it going to take? post-it's on my mirror? banners in my car? BLINKING STROBE LIGHTS BY MY BACK DOOR? wish i had a massively engineered "live" computer secretary to pipe out memo's, messages, REMINDERS!!!! help, help, help! I want music like in the movies to go with my mood, or inspire me when i need it. I want my own "Pips" to sing supportive banter in my head! i want, i want, i want. Heavenly Father, forgive me and stick a computer chip in my head like Bicentenneal Man!

Something is Better Than Nothing

That is what I keep trying to tell myself when I can't (don't make the effort) to sit down and read chapters at a time. So I've found a way to read without feeling the pressure or inadaquecy when I don't. I'm keeping my scriptures in my car permanently. For the most part they stay in there til I "need" them. But from now on I "ALWAYS" need them. I found myself picking up my Bible while I was waiting in line at the bank then later that day when I was waiting to pick Markus up from work. So that is what works for me. I just need to keep pushing the "something is better than nothing" phrase til I get the hang of this much better than I do now.

As far as working out, that hasn't been as successful, but it's coming soon. I now have pretty much my set days at the dentist so that will help me get back on track with my trainer friend at work on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She kicks my butt and I need some of that right now, well always. Who am I kidding.