Well, this is the last entry for 2017. It surely has been quite the year. I have been thinking about what I thought this year was going to be, and what ended up being this year. I guess it was a year of needs and wants taking priority over plans, and being able to stay strong in the face of change.
We raised all you six kids with the pretty much same system. We always have been equal when it comes to gift giving. Dollars are pretty easy to equal. The rest of the time, we always try to be fair. That meant when our children were younger that some played baseball, some went to dancing lessons, some played the piano, some played golf, some got French horn lessons. We tried our best to let each child choose their talents and hobbies to pursue and then we did what we could to support. That meant that in fairness, some needed at one time, and some needed at another. As adults, we have tried to do that. Emergencies always come first. If someone needs help, whether time or finances, that is what we prioritize. Then needs and finally wants. This year, while I thought I would get a job to increase the money equally given to all at birthdays and at Christmas, there were 'needs' that came as the highest priority. Ethan's work hours in early 2017 were dreadful and Cameo absolutely could not work and care for a new baby and Kaylee without some help. She came out to Phoenix for a month and three grandparents took turns caring for Kaylee so Cameo could work and Ethan could get through the months of 20 hour days. As Cameo prepared to return, Nathan and Jessica needed help with Annalee while they moved here to work internships required for college graduation. That was needed till they returned home in August. Then, Nano fell ill with what was later diagnosed as Alzheimers, so she needs a lot more help running errands and shopping weekly. Thus, no job for me this year. I think birthdays and Christmas were still wonderful for all, so all worked out.
I looked back at my 2017 goals and saw that these needs for help also influenced other things. While I had a goal to attend the temple 30 times, and ended up attending 32 times, it got more and more difficult. Our temple is not open all the time: weekday afternoons it is closed. My early morning session had to stop because Kayty's glucose lows seemed to come right then, and dad had to be away in the morning more often. I still am trying to get into a routine on that but I made the same goal for next year. I didn't read the Doctrine and Covenants, nor my patriarchal blessing monthly. I did get through the Book of Mormon more than twice. My prayers have improved. As for the bathroom project, it was way more difficult than first glance. We are still working on it and hope to finish early next year. I wanted to tile the playroom and get a bed, but after Ethan and Cam stayed here, I decided that the inflatable air bed was just as good an option (I slept on one at Nathan's and it was great) so maybe we will tile sometime, but after this bathroom is done, I will be pretty tiled out. We did get more insulation and that helped on our electric bills last Summer. I wanted to visit Allison, Ethan and Nathan this year. Allison's visit was barely a few hours, Ethan's was provided by him, but he was gone a whole lot of the time working. Nathan's was a week which helped them with Annalee and was good. However, no traveling for me next year. We only have a trip to Idaho next December scheduled for Nathan's college graduation. I did make rolls for Thanksgiving. I did make bread more, but it was too busy to do with kids.
So, a look at 2018. I had contacted a vlogger I watch. Their mother/grandmother choose a theme every year and focus all the family activities on that theme. The theme for 2017 was "Stand A Little Taller" . They incorporated many things and activities and it seemed to create great unity. I asked how she did it, and they said she prayed. So I fasted and prayed, came upon a theme, and set out to create things that I could send to all of you to bring our far apart family just a bit closer. I had a notebook, files, copies of things made, even my Christmas ornament all planned. Then something happened on Christmas night and I realized that this was not going to be...that I was just taking on a task too gargantuan for now. (Don't worry...not a one of you, husband and kids, said anything) I cried and felt pretty awful for a couple of days. I was doing my morning Conference Talk listening when I heard a talk centering on when things don't go as you plan. I listened to that one two mornings in a row. I finally accepted things as they are and just decided, as with things all of my life, I would just plow on through. No more complaints. So, the book and the stuff is no more, though I do think I will paint my ornament the way I found. I am setting goals to continue my Book of Mormon reading and my Ensign reading, and to memorize The Family: A Proclamation to the World. I will still work on my bread baking skills. We need to fix up the playground stuff and then let dad get back to working on that truck of his. It is still a work in progress...just like me.
I hope you all feel like you are important to me...to us. I try so hard to spread myself around to everyone, and I do my best to be fair, but sometimes there is just no way to make it equal. Kayty could die...literally. Someone we know had a niece that lived on her own and a few months ago, they found her unconscious due to low glucose. They thought she would end up brain damaged, but she has recovered some, though the apartment, her job and driving are gone till sometime later next year. Not gonna let her die while on my watch.
Please know I love you all so much. More than I can even say...and I pray for each and every single one of you by name every morning and every night and in between as needed. There is a scripture, Psalms 147:4 that refers to Heavenly Father knowing each and every star by name. I know your name and you are all stars to me.
Happy 2018!
PS...Index total for year: 37844
PPS...saw this on Pinterest and found it interesting:
Looking Back at 2017
Greatest lesson learned: Don't set your plans in stone. Its a good to have an idea of what you want to do, but this year has taught me that plans can change. They can change over and over. Just be flexible.
Hardest thing this year: It involved health. Nano's health. Kayty's health. Lots of adjusting was required.
My biggest accomplishment: There were some smaller ones: got to the temple many times, survived another year of cub scouts, but the biggest one was Thanksgiving. I had planned for weeks, got a schedule down to days and hours. I had tested recipes. I wanted Nano to participate one more time and that took a lot of helping her to achieve that. As many family members as could be here were here. The weather was beautiful. I am so thankful for Thanksgiving and my family!!
How I was really helpful: I hope I helped a lot. Besides temple ordinances for the dead, I substituted a primary class or took in a meal or lead Sacrament Meeting music or served a funeral luncheon 27 times. I hoped that I helped Ethan and Cameo with Kaylee, and Nathan and Jessica with Annalee when they worked. I did my visiting teaching every month, though I only had an active companion for two months. I wrote at least two letters a month to my inmate friend Jessica too. Those are prayerfully done and I hope I give her encouragement to overcome the past and create new habits for the future.
Favorite memory: Oh, there are so many! Meeting little Wade, meeting little Elisabeth, Kelsie's baptism, Josh's baptism, all the First Day of School pics, taking a name to the temple and in one week performing the ordinances of baptism, confirmation, initiatory, endowment and the next week sealing to parents, FaceTime with grandkids, Marco Polo. My family is my favorite!
My favorite book continues to be the Book of Mormon. I read it and then re read it when I finish. I learn something new every time.
My favorite movie: I don't think we saw a movie theater movie this year. Dad watches John Wayne westerns which I don't really like. My favorite movie ever is "The Sound of Music" and I did watch that one this year.
Looking Ahead at 2018
One thing I want to be better at: Bread making. My loaves always have holes in them, no matter how many times I try, how may YouTube Videos I watch. Jelly always leaks out. Working for better in 2018
I want to try: Yoga.
I want to change how I: am critical of others. Worry about myself and banish any ill thought. I also want to improve my Sabbath Day observance and devote my day more to Honoring Heavenly Father.
Some goals for next year: Still choosing
We raised all you six kids with the pretty much same system. We always have been equal when it comes to gift giving. Dollars are pretty easy to equal. The rest of the time, we always try to be fair. That meant when our children were younger that some played baseball, some went to dancing lessons, some played the piano, some played golf, some got French horn lessons. We tried our best to let each child choose their talents and hobbies to pursue and then we did what we could to support. That meant that in fairness, some needed at one time, and some needed at another. As adults, we have tried to do that. Emergencies always come first. If someone needs help, whether time or finances, that is what we prioritize. Then needs and finally wants. This year, while I thought I would get a job to increase the money equally given to all at birthdays and at Christmas, there were 'needs' that came as the highest priority. Ethan's work hours in early 2017 were dreadful and Cameo absolutely could not work and care for a new baby and Kaylee without some help. She came out to Phoenix for a month and three grandparents took turns caring for Kaylee so Cameo could work and Ethan could get through the months of 20 hour days. As Cameo prepared to return, Nathan and Jessica needed help with Annalee while they moved here to work internships required for college graduation. That was needed till they returned home in August. Then, Nano fell ill with what was later diagnosed as Alzheimers, so she needs a lot more help running errands and shopping weekly. Thus, no job for me this year. I think birthdays and Christmas were still wonderful for all, so all worked out.
I looked back at my 2017 goals and saw that these needs for help also influenced other things. While I had a goal to attend the temple 30 times, and ended up attending 32 times, it got more and more difficult. Our temple is not open all the time: weekday afternoons it is closed. My early morning session had to stop because Kayty's glucose lows seemed to come right then, and dad had to be away in the morning more often. I still am trying to get into a routine on that but I made the same goal for next year. I didn't read the Doctrine and Covenants, nor my patriarchal blessing monthly. I did get through the Book of Mormon more than twice. My prayers have improved. As for the bathroom project, it was way more difficult than first glance. We are still working on it and hope to finish early next year. I wanted to tile the playroom and get a bed, but after Ethan and Cam stayed here, I decided that the inflatable air bed was just as good an option (I slept on one at Nathan's and it was great) so maybe we will tile sometime, but after this bathroom is done, I will be pretty tiled out. We did get more insulation and that helped on our electric bills last Summer. I wanted to visit Allison, Ethan and Nathan this year. Allison's visit was barely a few hours, Ethan's was provided by him, but he was gone a whole lot of the time working. Nathan's was a week which helped them with Annalee and was good. However, no traveling for me next year. We only have a trip to Idaho next December scheduled for Nathan's college graduation. I did make rolls for Thanksgiving. I did make bread more, but it was too busy to do with kids.
So, a look at 2018. I had contacted a vlogger I watch. Their mother/grandmother choose a theme every year and focus all the family activities on that theme. The theme for 2017 was "Stand A Little Taller" . They incorporated many things and activities and it seemed to create great unity. I asked how she did it, and they said she prayed. So I fasted and prayed, came upon a theme, and set out to create things that I could send to all of you to bring our far apart family just a bit closer. I had a notebook, files, copies of things made, even my Christmas ornament all planned. Then something happened on Christmas night and I realized that this was not going to be...that I was just taking on a task too gargantuan for now. (Don't worry...not a one of you, husband and kids, said anything) I cried and felt pretty awful for a couple of days. I was doing my morning Conference Talk listening when I heard a talk centering on when things don't go as you plan. I listened to that one two mornings in a row. I finally accepted things as they are and just decided, as with things all of my life, I would just plow on through. No more complaints. So, the book and the stuff is no more, though I do think I will paint my ornament the way I found. I am setting goals to continue my Book of Mormon reading and my Ensign reading, and to memorize The Family: A Proclamation to the World. I will still work on my bread baking skills. We need to fix up the playground stuff and then let dad get back to working on that truck of his. It is still a work in progress...just like me.
I hope you all feel like you are important to me...to us. I try so hard to spread myself around to everyone, and I do my best to be fair, but sometimes there is just no way to make it equal. Kayty could die...literally. Someone we know had a niece that lived on her own and a few months ago, they found her unconscious due to low glucose. They thought she would end up brain damaged, but she has recovered some, though the apartment, her job and driving are gone till sometime later next year. Not gonna let her die while on my watch.
Please know I love you all so much. More than I can even say...and I pray for each and every single one of you by name every morning and every night and in between as needed. There is a scripture, Psalms 147:4 that refers to Heavenly Father knowing each and every star by name. I know your name and you are all stars to me.
Happy 2018!
PS...Index total for year: 37844
PPS...saw this on Pinterest and found it interesting:
Looking Back at 2017
Greatest lesson learned: Don't set your plans in stone. Its a good to have an idea of what you want to do, but this year has taught me that plans can change. They can change over and over. Just be flexible.
Hardest thing this year: It involved health. Nano's health. Kayty's health. Lots of adjusting was required.
My biggest accomplishment: There were some smaller ones: got to the temple many times, survived another year of cub scouts, but the biggest one was Thanksgiving. I had planned for weeks, got a schedule down to days and hours. I had tested recipes. I wanted Nano to participate one more time and that took a lot of helping her to achieve that. As many family members as could be here were here. The weather was beautiful. I am so thankful for Thanksgiving and my family!!
How I was really helpful: I hope I helped a lot. Besides temple ordinances for the dead, I substituted a primary class or took in a meal or lead Sacrament Meeting music or served a funeral luncheon 27 times. I hoped that I helped Ethan and Cameo with Kaylee, and Nathan and Jessica with Annalee when they worked. I did my visiting teaching every month, though I only had an active companion for two months. I wrote at least two letters a month to my inmate friend Jessica too. Those are prayerfully done and I hope I give her encouragement to overcome the past and create new habits for the future.
Favorite memory: Oh, there are so many! Meeting little Wade, meeting little Elisabeth, Kelsie's baptism, Josh's baptism, all the First Day of School pics, taking a name to the temple and in one week performing the ordinances of baptism, confirmation, initiatory, endowment and the next week sealing to parents, FaceTime with grandkids, Marco Polo. My family is my favorite!
My favorite book continues to be the Book of Mormon. I read it and then re read it when I finish. I learn something new every time.
My favorite movie: I don't think we saw a movie theater movie this year. Dad watches John Wayne westerns which I don't really like. My favorite movie ever is "The Sound of Music" and I did watch that one this year.
Looking Ahead at 2018
One thing I want to be better at: Bread making. My loaves always have holes in them, no matter how many times I try, how may YouTube Videos I watch. Jelly always leaks out. Working for better in 2018
I want to try: Yoga.
I want to change how I: am critical of others. Worry about myself and banish any ill thought. I also want to improve my Sabbath Day observance and devote my day more to Honoring Heavenly Father.
Some goals for next year: Still choosing
