2013: A Reflection

I'd like to point out that in the title I used a semi-colon--as in a two part title--as in the type of title one might use in a academic paper.  So don't expect anything too cute or funny or even short in this post, because, as mentioned in the title it's a reflection.

New Years day I took down the Christmas decorations--it was time.  Rex had been asking about it.  And I was beginning to feel a little crowded and dusty (seriously though, how am I supposed to dust my Christmas tree?  Eventually is will collect dust if I leave it out long enough).  As I was pulling off the last of the ribbon and bemoaning how much I hate putting up/taking down the Christmas decorations, I realized that I am happier than I've been in a while.  While Charlotte is still not the ideal place to live, guess what neither is Provo.  In fact, people die every day to get out both.  Earth in general is not the ideal place to live; it's just where we have to live until we die and go to heaven.  So until that day, Charlotte will just have to do.  Besides, I pretty much have the best kids on the planet and Greg is pretty amazing too (I have a whole Greg post coming up soon--a little something to look forward to).  Also, I love my house and have the best neighbors on the planet.  Seriously, will somebody bury me next to Becky Wheatley when I die?  I already promised her I'd carry her dead body back to Utah when she dies, so will someone do the same for me?  Life is good.  And I've got plans to make it better in 2014.

But first, 2013.  As a refresher, here are my 2013 goals:

1. Don't talk about money.
2. Magnify my calling.
3. Go to the temple at least 4 times (don't judge--it's at least a 9 hour and $100 commitment here...whelp there goes #1).
4. Graduate.
5. Move.
6. Totally finish at least 2 values for Personal Progress.
7. Sew something I'm proud of.
8. Improve my scripture study.
9. Eight's a good number.  I'll stop there.

And here's how I did:
1. Ok.  I still talked about money, but more in a way of "how can I care less about money and more about important things like my family" way than in a "I need more money way."  Because let's be honest here, you, I , we will never have more money than we have wants.  The key is to control the wants and be more satisfied with what you have so you don't have to think about what you want all the time.
2. Ok. Some of my lessons rocked this year--like my lesson on chastity.  Amazing.  Some did not.  I also did better at going to more events, though not a ton.  The youth have a lot of activities.  And I have children that need tending to. (I'm the Laurel advisor--in case you were wondering.)
3.Check and check.  I almost made it 5 times, but the fifth would have been on the same day as Allen's wedding and I didn't really want to cut it close with that.  I'm calling it good at 4.
4. Check.  Finished with a 4.0 too.  This is my blog: I can brag all I want.
5. Yes.  Only took a broken water pipe and six months in boxes but we did it.  And now we live by the Wheatleys (yes, that's me bragging again, because you should be jealous--and yes, our entire family has a sick obsession with the Wheatleys).
6. Finished 3--thank you very much Rex.  Turns out Rex memorizing the 13 Articles of Faith counts as a Value Project for me because I had to teach them to him.  Too bad that was super easy because he's super smart--just don't tell him that.  His head is big enough already.
7.  Did you see my Halloween costumes?  That counts.
8.  Try the new youth curriculum Come Follow Me.  Amazing.  I learned so much from the much needed scripture study guidance it gave.

Overall, I did pretty well with my 2013 goals.

And now, for a break from all the talking with a few pictures.  New Year's Eve, Greg and I went to dinner and movie, but Rex was sad that he was getting left at home on a holiday, so I made a little party for him and Alice while we were gone.  Because sometimes I'm a good mom and do stuff for my kids (I've been feeling like a bad, neglectful mom the last few days, so I'm trying to remind myself that I don't always suck).  Basically, I put all the supplies and directions for Minute-to-Win-It games in bags for the kids to open every 15 minutes.  Greg and I hung around for the first few games before my in-laws showed up to watch the kiddos for us.  Rex said he had a lot of fun playing all the games and was still in bed by 8.  He doesn't need to know about the whole midnight thing for a few more years.

I'm so cute right?  You should pin this...oh wait, I got it from Pinterest and it was way cuter there, so never you mind.

Stack attack.

Alice didn't get the whole build a tower thing.  She just moved her cups from one pile to the other, but she had fun.

Elephant March--they thought this was pretty hilarious.

Greg and I also had a lovely evening out minus the guy who texted throughout the ENTIRE movie sitting directly in front of us and the lady who brought her 3-year-old twins to a 9:15 showing of the Hunger Games.  Seriously people?  Seriously?

And now, back to talking.  My 2014 goal is pretty simple: it's SIMPLIFY.  I want to simplify my life so I can get rid of the less important in favor of the most important.  I want to simplify in a few areas:

1. Food.  I started today by buying actual butter instead of margarine.  Butter has 2 ingredients, both of which I can pronounce; margarine has like 10, most of which I can pronounce, but only because I'm super smart (see #4 above).  I also bought 2 weeks worth of food so I don't have to go back.  Simple--one trip lots of food.  Also, plant a garden.
2. Finances.  As mentioned in #1 above I will never have more money than I can spend.  Unless, I want less and am satisfied with more.  My life is simpler when I shop less--fewer things for my kids to touch and break and ask for; fewer decisions over which brand of whatever to buy; fewer transactions to keep track of and verify and check when I pay the bills.  Shop less; live more.  It's pretty simple.  I'm trying to keep errand running to every other Saturday.  I'd also like to try a week long financial fast where neither Greg nor I spend any money for a week.  I'll see if I can talk Greg into it.
3. Cleaning.  I spend a lot of time tidying up.  If I could figure out a way to do that less, then I'd have more time to do things like play with my children.  In order to do that, I may have to get rid of my children as they are the main mess-making culprits.  Hmmm, this may be more difficult than I imagined.
4. Family.  Spend more real time with them.
5. Church.  Continue to improve my scripture study and finish 2 values for Personal Progress.
6.  Focus on the most important over the nice.  Keep it simple and say no more.  No to extra and yes to the essentials.

I know these are somewhat abstract goals, but so is my main goal.  I just want to be happier with and more grateful for what I have and less focused on what I could one day maybe have in the future.

The end.  Congratulations for reading all the way to end.