Sunday Lesson

Today at church we had an interesting lesson. Because it was the fifth Sunday, we had our final meeting combined, men and women. Generally, that final hour of church is spent with the women in Relief Society and the men in Priesthood lessons.

Our bishop had been inspired to speak about the issues the youth are facing today. He told us that two years ago our youth (young men and women ages 12 to 18), were a total number of 24. Now, after many more houses have been finished, they number 72, with 15 more kids turning 12-yrs-old throughout the coming year. That's a large group of youth. Anyway, the bishop invited two young women to speak the the mass of adults today to candidly and openly talk about the things they are exposed to everyday.

Within their high school, these two young women described being accosted by foul language, sexually explicit language, and others of their friends falling to the temptations of sexual activity, homosexuality, bragging about STDs, immodest clothing, non-enforced dress code rules, and other things that would scare any parent.

One thing I found very interesting was that these two juniors in high school both had to rack their brains and actually pray for inspiration as to what to share because they have done so well at blocking it all out. They have grown up with moral examples and have already discovered their self-worth, so they have not paid any attention to those things that would harm them physically, mentally or spiritually. They have surrounded themselves with people that hold their same values. They resist the call to be "of the world" around them.

I realized that I was very lucky growing up. I had good parents who taught me well. I knew I was a Daughter of God. I had friends that lifted me up and kept me on the right path. And some of them are reading this now. I love you and thank you for helping me keep my youth a much easier existence. I was nowhere near being perfect (there are plenty that can verify that!), but because of the good people around me and the testimony I had of the Gospel, I bypassed a lot of pain and sorrow.

Thank you for being my friends! You've helped me more than you'll ever know! :)

We Can Do It!

I've discovered a new tool. It helped me lose 6 lbs this week. Yeah!!! Can you believe with all the junk we're doing around our house, I was still able to lose 6 lbs. I'm happy.

Anyway, I took Tara's advice and checked out SparksPeople.com. It's really helping me keep my caloric intake under control. It's pretty much a goal-organizer. You input what your goals are (your current weight, your goal weight) and how much you want to lose a week. I said I wanted to lose about 30 lbs at 2 lbs/week. It figured that my ending date should be May 6. Our anniversary is May 8, so I actually changed my ending date to the 8th.

Then it gave me a suggested diet and workout program. It said how many calories I need to consume in a day to keep me on track and then I input the foods. It keeps track of my calories, carbs, fats, and proteins. It also helps me remember to drink 8 cups of water a day. Then I can add other goals I want to achieve. I've decided to monitor my sleep (at least 8 hr/night) and a reminder to take my daily vitamin (I always forget that!).

This first week with an online tracking system has been helpful. My suggestion is, if you need help figuring out your food, just check it out. It gives you the option to use their menu or add your own food. My only concern is that I don't know how many calories I burn using Insanity, so I may not be taking in quite enough calories.

Speaking of Insanity, if you are wondering if it's a program you'd be interested in, let me just say this.....

In the words of Shaun T (the Insanity creator), "That #$%@! is ba-nanas, yo!!" Twice this week I was scheduled to do the Pure Cardio workout. It's a little freaky when the instructor finishes the warm up and stretch with you and then says, "I'll be really honest with you, I'm really nervous about what's coming up." Uh, hello? I don't have the kick-butt abs he does. How the heck am I supposed to keep up? But I try and it's actually one of my favorite workouts.

If you're considering Insanity or P90X, I can tell you that you'll probably only love one workout or the other. Insanity is so much cardio and P90X is so much strength training. I love cardio, therefore I really like Insanity. Josh loves strength training and weights, therefore I think he'd like P90X much more. You know, in case you were wondering.

Anyway, it was actually a pretty successful week, despite my winter blues. I'm getting past those blues. Josh and the kids have been loving and patient with me. Tara watched the kids for us last night so Josh and I could head over the to Mesa Temple. That helped a lot.

I hope you had a good week!

How'd you do??

Winter Blues

I'm going through a bit of a Winter Blues right now. Maybe because of the weather--gray and chilly? Or the monotony of day to day activity--the same thing everyday? Maybe the fact that I don't want to settle and get comfortable in this house since we are hoping to resume our house search soon? Maybe having the kids home all day, everyday?

I've never been one to favor Eeyore, but I swear it feels like my tail is missing and I need to be noticed.

Fairies of the World Unite!

Last night saw some excitement in the Johnson household.


First, Emma was wiggling her tooth and it fell out into her hand. She was ecstatic!

I have no idea which gap is the newest one. Your guess is as good as mine!

Then, Abby asked Josh to pull out her loose tooth. He did and Abby was jumping around with Emma.

Her gap is easier to find.

Matt was feeling extremely left out. He had this huge owie on his knee....

See it?

He said to Josh, "Dad, will you put a band-aid on it and the Doctor Fairy can come and give me sixty cents?"

Poor Matt. The Doctor Fairy didn't make it to our house last night. But he did get a band-aid.

Movie Reviews: Buy It or Rent It

This week has been rainy and dreary. My cousins left Wednesday morning and then the rains came down. Consequently, the floods came up. All around us. The kids cannot play outside. Our backyard is all dirt, so now it is a mud pit. We wanted to get out Saturday, so we went to check out the "affordable" theater over in Tempe. It's just down the road from where Josh grew up. It's one of those that charge $3/person ($2/Tuesdays). I expected the theater to be rundown and grungy, just like every other dollar theater I've been to. But it so wasn't. You walk in and there's this Muppet-like band that greets you (the picture above). Then you look around and there is movie memorabilia EVERYWHERE. You can see life size cut-outs of characters, life size 3-D replicas of people, wax statues of US presidents, etc. It's pretty dang cool. So, for a couple dollars more than it would cost us to take the kids to a new-release theater, we went and watched two movies. We had fun. It was a good day.

So, besides discovering this great theater to frequent (on Tuesdays, especially) I realized that we've seen several family movies lately. I thought I'd give a quick review of them, in case you haven't had a chance to check them out yet. I actually know how to review a movie/play, but I don't like giving away the plot. So, this is going to be especially simple.....

Planet 51

Buy it. It's cute.

Old Dogs

Mixed reviews. At least rent it. Josh said it had been a while since he laughed at a movie, but this one got him. I was struggling with Millie in the back of the theater and only caught 80% of the movie.

Up

Buy it. Buy it on BluRay, even if you don't own a BluRay player.

Monsters Vs Aliens

Rent it. You might buy it. Maybe not. It might say something for me to not remember how much I liked it when we rented it.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Another mixed review. I liked it and say "buy it." Josh was more middle of the road.

Where The Wild Things Are

Rent it. But only from Redbox so you only have to pay a dollar. The Wild Things are brilliantly made, but the story is so lacking that I just didn't like it. But, really, the Wild Things look incredible. And the sarcastic Wild Thing is my favorite one.

There you have it, friends. My overly simplified movie review. Happy watching.

We Can Do It!

Yes, friends. It's that time again. How'd you do this week? I SUCKED!!!

I'm so mad at myself. It's the dang food. I always complain about it and it's always my weakness and I always give in to it. I suck. That's all I got to say about that.

In good news, I did my Fit Test for the Insanity program on Monday. I totally rocked it. I can't believe how much I improved in just two weeks. Then I sabotaged it all with missing two days of workout (one of those days was spent walking around the zoo and temple grounds, so I justified that). And my stupid eating. Stupid.

I watched a show about a woman who put her scale in the kitchen to remind her why she doesn't want to eat badly. If I didn't think my scale would be ruined by children, I'd do it.

I was also inspired early in the week by my cousin. I need to remember that. Anyway, he ran a half marathon in just about two hours. Yeah, 13.1 miles in 2 hours. Uh, hello? Can we say, "Holy heck!"? I'd love to run this race with him next year. He already plans on coming back down here from Oregon next year. Can I do this? I don't know. I need about an entire year to train. But first I need to be able to afford running shoes. Right now the choice is, "Buy a new house or buy running shoes?" I know shoes are cheaper than a house, but every penny counts when you're trying to come up with down payment money. Any independently wealthy people out there that need a charity write-off? I'll accept it. If you'll take care of my down payment, I'll buy my own shoes. That's being self-sufficient, isn't it? I've also heard of the book "Running for Dummies." That's my kind of training manual.

I really loved everyone's comments last week. You all help me so much. I hope you're all keeping up with your goals and I'm so grateful to have the chance to vent my frustrations to you!

We can do it!

Pictures and More Pictures

Let me preface this by saying that there are very few pictures with good shots of faces. And so it goes. But, here is a little blurb about some of our exploits with my cousin Jon and his family. They came to visit for a week. Jon ran in the P.F. Chang's Half Marathon in Phoenix last Sunday.

Here is Emma and her second cousins. That means they are my first cousins, once removed--I totally had to look that up at Genealogy.com. I truly had no idea how to explain our family relationship.

Megan, Kyra and Emma

We went to the Phoenix Zoo. Here is my little family looking at the tiger.


Josh took this shot from afar. We were looking at the hippos.

It's hard to see, but that's Matt, Emma, Abby, me with Millie on my shoulders, and Pam (Jon's wife).

This is the Geico Gecko. He didn't talk to us about switching our car insurance. But he and his buddies did hang off the glass, the rocks, everywhere. It was pretty cool. And I know where he comes from....not Australia.

Later we went to the Mesa Temple. Jabon and the boys came to take some pics of Jon and Pam's clan.

Abby, Matt and Brett

Brett and Matt discussing politics over raisins.

Ashton and Millie checking out all the big kids.

Poor Josh had worked the night before and was a bit tired.

This one was from tonight. The kids were just playing around and I thought Millie's face was priceless. That little girl sure puts up with a lot.

And in case you were wondering, I'm pretty much the worst Mom ever. While my baby is thowing a fit, what do I do? I take a video of it and stick it on the internet so everyone can see what a ball of fire I have. Man, am I excited for the Terrible Twos to start. And the preschool years. And the elementary years. And the Tween years. And the teenage years. Heaven help us!

But she's still cute.

A Bawl Baby Wonders....

Anyone else have this problem?

I cry. I cry a lot. I cry during movies, tv shows, commercials, and previews for movies.

I cried hearing the names of the runners as they finished the marathon in Phoenix yesterday.

I cry when people I love are hurt. I cry when people I love are happy. I cry at memories of people I love.

I cry with laughter sometimes, but I've always had the ability to do that.

I never used to cry. I had to watch certain movies to possibly get those tears a-flowin'. But they didn't just spring out of my eyes for any reason in the world. I don't know why they do this to me. Is it because I'm hormonally messed up after having kids? Is it that I've become a much more empathetic person than I used to be? Is it because I forced myself to cry everyday for a stinking play and still haven't gotten over the muscle memory?

I don't know why, but I cry a lot. Generally for other people, which is good. If I cried for myself then I'd be a very depressed person.

Am I the only bawl baby out there????

Need a Millie Update?

Some new things about Millie......

She won't walk yet. I know, that's not new, but this is an update, I know you're all on the edges of your seats waiting for the day she takes her first step. I'm thinking she's just holding out on us. She could walk if she tried, but she won't try. I'm pretty sure she just wants to start running and wants to make sure she has better balance first.

Millie has begun incorporating more than just my old rocking chair as her favorite spots. These pics are of her in Matt's "truck chair." She also likes our big blue arm chair, but she only gets to sit in that if someone puts her in it.

Millie speaks. She is very affluent with the word "no." She furrows her brow, waves her hand at you and says, "Go!" We've learned that "go" is actually "no." We figured this out when she was naughty...she touched the laptop, looked at us, furrowed that brow, shook her hand at us and said, "Go!" She knows she's not supposed to touch the computer.

The newest game in our house consists of Millie, her diaper, and me. I'll lay her on the floor so I can change her diaper, and as soon as her bottom has been cleaned and I let go of her feet, she's flipped over and crawling away from me. That little critter is fast! I have to coax her back to me or just plain chase her so I can wrap her naked bum back up before she pees on the floor. We play this game several times a day.

Millie is the first of our children to have a reaction to an immunization. She got her 12 month shots, which included her MMR, and 10 days later the measles rash appeared. Ever had a baby with the measles? Probably not, there's a shot for it so you don't get it! Oh, it was miserable. Millie was miserable, so I was miserable. Still haven't quite gotten over that one yet. (Here's a hint: Never get the measles!)

Her shirt says, "I'm the little sister." Cute, huh?

Confessions of a Fatty

Not too many years ago, I weighed nearly 200 lbs. I was not pregnant at the time. You may be thinking one of two things:

1. Wow, she's brave to admit that. Kudos to you, Fatty, for putting it all out there.

or

2. How in the world could you let yourself go like that?

I've been trying to figure out my difficulties in weight loss. Why am I having such a hard time losing weight? Why did I gain so much in the first place?

Here's what I've come up with:

There's no such thing as baby weight.
I started gaining weight when I was pregnant the first time. I was pregnant for about a week. Within that week I adopted the mindset that I should eat what I want when I want. I was entitled to it because pregnant women are cute and chubby. Why wait for the natural "baby weight" to kick in? I wanted to be cute and prego.

Comfort Foods and Depression.
I've had a few times in my life when I've been dealt some devastating blows. I really was pregnant for just a few weeks that first time. I couldn't handle the loss of my baby very well. I found comfort in Josh's arms and with sugar. Five years later, when I was pregnant with Matt, I kept myself in pretty good shape. I was 5 months pregnant and sword fighting onstage--best workout ever! About two or three months later, we found out about Matt's heart and I slipped into another depression. My favorite comfort foods included cheddar jalapeno poppers, ice cream, popcorn, and soda pop. I blew up like a balloon.

Getting fat is convenient.
While Josh and I were going to school, we had no time to do anything. We woke up in enough time to take our children to various childcare locations so we could be to class by 8am. We spent all day in classes. We had workstudy jobs at the school, which would run until about 5pm. We picked up our children and by 5:45 we were trying to figure out what to have for dinner. I only had about an hour before I had to go back to school for play rehearsals, so we usually had fast food or homecooked fast food. Either way, we rarely ate salads, fruits, or lean proteins. Our carbs were hardly ever complex. My exercises consisted of walking around campus, sitting, writing notes, and eating. I'm pretty sure I didn't gain the Freshman 15. It was more like the Nontraditional Student Four-Year Plan 50.

Moms aren't supposed to be trim and fit.
All my life I've been told that moms should take care of everyone else. Moms come last. That means that if something's gotta give, it's gonna be momma's needs. The whole family can't wait for an activity because Mommy needs to finish her workout. If the kids won't eat whole wheat bread, than Mommy should just buy the stuff the kids like and give up. Also, if I've had a bad day with the kids, I should have a treat. The only treat I can get when I'm at home with sleeping babies is a late night freezer raid. But, as a mom, I'm entitled to unwind and if it's with chocolate, then so be it.

If I can't have what I want, at least I've got chocolate.
Being poor sucks. If I can't have my own house, at least I've got cake. If I can't have an easy day of bill paying, at least I've got M&Ms. If I can't buy the thousands of dollars of things I'd like for our home, at least I've got taquitos and sour cream.

So, where does this leave me now? I still have many of these same issues. Now that I know where so much of it stemmed from, how do I change this? Every one of these previous thought processes include the idea that I'm entitled to food because..... So I just have to change my habits. I don't need food as a reward. I don't need food as a comfort. Food is fuel. If I eat healthily (lean proteins, complex carbs, fruits and veggies, healthy fats), I can have the fuel I need to get through the day. And it won't make me fat, as long as I eat it in moderation.

There are so many theories of what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat. I'm quitting. I will eat three meals a day, with a small snack in between. I need to try to stop eating after dinner. I'll get the nutrition I need and stop focusing so much on "Am I doing this right?" I'm just going to live. I'll eat good foods and keep my exercising. I'll keep checking in every week to report my progress.

We Can Do This!!!!

How'd you do?

Visions of Sugar Plums

Yesterday the kids were out playing in the backyard. Now, you have to understand what it's like where we live. We live in Arizona. In the desert. In a portion of the Valley that, 10 years ago, was uninhabited except for the coyotes, vermin, and scorpions. Our backyard is a big dirt pit. We have no grass, no weeds, it's just a bunch of dirt.


So, the kids were out there digging in the dirt. They had dug a pretty big hole and when I called them to come inside, they argued that they couldn't stop because they had just discovered a dinosaur bone. I told them to leave it and come inside. I was actually quite worried about it, because what if it was a mouse skeleton or something gross like that? I mean, that would be gross! I told them they couldn't dig any more until Josh went outside with them.


The girls, however, were absolutely convinced that they had a great discovery in the backyard. They just knew that this dinosaur bone was going to make them $$RICH$$! So they began talking about the amazing things they could buy with their million$ of dollar$. They could live in Hawaii! They could buy a car with a massager for your butt, back, and armpits (Abby's contribution to the conversation). And the thing they both went ga-ga for.........

Fancy bowls with straws to drink the milk!

Oh, how they wanted those fancy bowls. Then they could just suck up the milk when they eat cereal in the mornings. That dinosaur bone outside was going to give them everything they ever wanted.



Unfortunately, when Josh went out with them later, they discovered that the dinosaur bone was actually a really hard dirt clot.




Fortunately, when we went grocery shopping later that day, we just happened to find the really fancy bowls with straws! We splurged and spent the $.98/bowl and the kids felt like they had just won the lottery.

We Can Do It!

Upon Lori's suggestion (and Tara Bennett's endorsement---yes, everyone's opinions matter to me!!) I've decided to call the weekly weight check-in "We Can Do It." I also liked Jeri Dawn's idea of "Operation: Fit Into My Pants" but I wasn't sure if you had dibs on that one, JD.

Anyway, I've been religiously exercising this week. Everyday. We'll see how tomorrow goes, Saturdays are always so tricky. Especially since we have a trip to the zoo planned. My downfall is, and has always been, food. Either I eat too much or not enough. I can't seem to find the right balance. I use my Biggest Loser cookbook, but that only does me so much good when I pop myself a bag of popcorn at 8pm. Help!!! I really, really want to do something like the NutriSystem diet, but I'm scared to do stuff like that. What happens after I've lost the weight and begin making my own food again? I'll tell you what happens....

Hello, Fatty!!

I don't need that again. I remind myself quite often, that I began this journey two years ago. I was interrupted with a pregnancy, so that takes a year out of the count. In the year I've been doing this, I've lost 35 lbs. That's good. But why is this last half of my weight loss journey so tricky? Maybe it's because I keep changing tactics. I have become a bit of a connoisseur of exercise programs. I'm sticking with the Insanity program. This week has been a killer, but if I can stick with it, I'll see results soon, I'm sure. I've just got to keep exercising and working on my food choices. No more "cheat foods" or "cheat meals". Just because I did a good job working out, doesn't mean I've earned the naughty foods.

I'll try it out for a week and we'll see how it goes.

How'd you do?

Extraordinary Measures

Anyone seen the previews for this one? At first it caught my attention because it's a Harrison Ford movie. Love him. Then I noticed Brendan Fraser. Love him more. Then I saw Keri Russell. Hello? How much better can this movie get? Then I saw what it was about.

It seems that the movie is about a man who does everything in his power to find the cure for his two children who have the fatal Pompe Disease. I don't know much more about it, but there's a little blurb about the real man on the movie's website. Click Here to check it out. After seeing that, I really want to go see this movie when it comes to theaters in a few weeks.

This may be pulling extra hard at my heart strings because of Matt. Matt is getting to the age where he understands his heart condition much better. He knows he's had surgery and that he'll need it again. This makes the most minor trip to the doctor extra scary for him. He's also told me a lot lately (including today) that it feels weird to have Aunt Lori's blood and strangers' blood in his body. He did think it was really cool when I told him that I have strangers' blood in my body too.

He's just really beginning to understand and it's a very nerve-wracking transition. We have to take him to a new cardiologist here and I'm hoping he will not be too scared. Last we knew, his heart is doing just fine and we shouldn't have to worry about his next surgery for a few years. But I can't help but remember his depression after his last surgery, which was March 2007. He was not quite three and we had to actively encourage him to drink, eat and move around. The toll on his spirit was obvious--you could see it in his eyes. Of course I just wanted to hold him and protect him, but I had to get him to be uncomfortable and get out of bed. The thing that finally worked was a little car he could drive through the halls of the pediatric ward.

He also got to drink with straws. He liked that.

So, I'm interested in watching this movie. You do what you can to help your children. Even if it kills you and breaks your heart. I spent most of the week in the hospital with Matt laying on his bed with him. Our hotel room was 15 to 30 minutes away (depending on traffic in downtown Denver) and that felt like a million miles when I had to be away from him. I love Matt. I'm so grateful that his heart has been so healthy so far. I wish with all my might that I'll never have to see the look of pain and panic in his eyes ever again, but I know it's not only possible but probable.

In thinking about it, it's Matt who has taken Extraordinary Measures. At the age of 5 he has already begun facing the demons of the depression that falls on a person whose heart has literally been in someone else's hands. He's a special boy. A much stronger person than he may ever realize. He's got his Daddy's spirit. He'll grow to be a good man like Josh.

They both amaze me. And I love them.

Reading Rainbow Connection

I've begun homeschooling the kids. I'm doing this for several reasons, one of which is because we will probably move again before the end of the school year and the kids would most likely change schools again. Instead of making them go to 4 schools this year, they'll just go to 2, plus homeschool.

Part of our curriculum includes the kids reading chapter books. Santa brought a few for the kids' stockings this year. After we finish reading all the books, I think we might watch the movies.

Here's the rundown of who is reading what:

Emma has already finished her book from Santa...

Anne of Green Gables

Abby and I are reading together...

Pollyanna

Matt and I are reading...

Treasure Island

I'm very happy that Emma has already finished her book. I need to get the whole series for her to read. Abby goes back and forth about being excited about reading her book. I'm fascinated by the story, but then again, I love Haley Mills movies. Remember when she was Miss Bliss on Saved By the Bell? Ah, those were the days.

The kid that has impressed me the most is Matt. He has never been one to sit still for anything, but he brings me his book and asks me to read to him a few times a day. It's been great. I think he'll love the Muppet version of the movie. I never liked the older version of the movie when my dad would watch it when I was a kid, but now that I'm reading it, it's a good story.

Now I just have to get Netflix or something so I can find these movies.

A Day At The Park

Today I took the kids to the park. Don't ask me why, but I just don't enjoy taking them there. It's just down the street from our house. I don't know what the big deal is. And it's nothing personal against my children. I just don't like going to the park. I still owe my brother Peter a trip to the park. Unfortunately, I think that ship has sailed since he's now 23 and he and his wife are having a baby in two months.

I did find it interesting that each kid enjoyed a specific area of the park.

Millie: Loved the dirt. Some eating of it, but mostly letting it slide through her fingers. The park had no swings (what's up with that???) so I don't know if she would have liked them, but I have a feeling that she might have.

Matt: Also loved the dirt, but he mostly liked the kicking, throwing, and digging in it. I'm surprised we didn't bring more of it home with us.

Abby: Loved the monkey bars. She loved swinging rung to rung and discovering that the sand could keep her hands from being too sweaty and slippery.

Emma: Loved the bridge connecting the two sets of slides. It was her favorite place to be as she imagined that she was a princess being held captive by the evil queen. Luckily, the evil queen had installed an emergency exit so Emma was able to escape. Silly evil queen.

It's pretty obvious that I need to be more willing to spend time at the park with the kids. Happily, we don't live near Bus Stop Mom anymore, so the lady I ran into today was a lady from church and we had a very pleasant conversation. I may have made a friend.

I guess the park's not so bad after all.

The New and Improved 'Fess Up Friday

Okay, my friends, it is time to get that fire burning in our bellies. And our calves.

I have decided to take a new go at this weight loss journey. I have 25 lbs left. That's it. It doesn't sound like a lot until I remember that I've lost virtually nothing over the last six or seven months. This is going to happen, but I need your help!

I'm going to be starting a new Beachbody program called Insanity. I began it before Thanksgiving, but the holidays, moving and chocolate all got in the way. But I'm renewed. The daily exercise begins Monday!

Also, I'm going to eat better. I'm giving up soda pop. Completely. I'm cutting back on sugar and simple carbs. A lot. I think my mind is not convinced that this is going to happen, so I've got to just do it. I probably need to go cold turkey. I don't like cold turkey. Yuck!

The third thing is my weekly affirmation. I'm not digging the 'Fess Up Friday post name. I don't get to post every Friday and the inconsistency really bugs me. Any ideas of what this weekly post can be called?

Finally, I need some virtual support. I rally you, my friends. I rent my cloak and yell above the cheers of the crowd,

"Let's do this! Let's get in shape! Who's with me??"

A New Decade....

There is so much to look forward to at the beginning of a new year, but when it's also the beginning of a new decade AND a blue moon, it's nearly overwhelming.

First of all, let me just say that 2009 was one of the most difficult years we've experienced so far. In fact, there were some things that happened that I just need some closure on. Thank goodness we get to close the door on the year, maybe that will help a little.

We had some good things too. Emma turned 8 on Easter Sunday and was baptized that evening. That was a good thing. Abby became an incredible reader and reads at least two grade levels above her age group. That's a good thing. Matt has a healthy heart and only broke one bone this year. That was a good thing. Millie turned one and scares the poop out of all of us. That really is a good thing, because we all laugh about that.

Josh got a new job, we have a new home (however temporary it is), we're all healthy and happy. It's a good way to begin the decade.

I've decided to write my goals for the year. I didn't write them last year and now I have no idea how pitifully I didn't fulfill them.

2010 Goals:

1. Stop using my pseudo-swear words. No more "crap" or "fricken" or "crap." This is going to be hard.

2. Finish my novel. Josh thinks this is going to be a lofty goal. Granted, so far I only have the Prologue, but I just rewrote it the other day and I like it so it should spur me on to finish the rest of the book, I hope.

3. Lose those last 25 lbs. I'll do this by exercising at least five days a week and eating better. That means I've got to finish the last few Diet Cherry Pepsi's in the fridge so I can stop drinking soda pop. And we've got to finish up the ice cream cake in the freezer so we can stop eating ice cream.

I think that's a pretty good start.

Here's to a new year, a new decade, and a new attitude of resolve. Cheers!