New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year to everyone!  I love this time of year when people start to focus on self-improvement.

I have a few resolutions of my own.  This last year I have been bogged down and overwhelmed with PAPERS.  It sounds funny, but all those stacks of bills, letters, notices, store ads, articles, coupons...  I just don't know what to do with them half the time.  If I don't have time to deal with it right away, I leave it out so I'll see it later and take care of it.  Next thing I know my entire counter or desk or table or whatever is covered in papers I don't know how to deal with.  Can anyone relate?  So this year I am resolved to get organized.  I've gotten some stacking trays and labeled them for different sorts of papers.  Hopefully now things won't be getting lost and forgotten, and I can take care of things as they come.  I already feel a burden lifted as I don't have stacks of clutter anymore.

My other resolution: every time I write out a to-do list this year, I am going to write "study the scriptures" at the top of the list.  I too often let that go to the wayside on busy days.

I know lots of people are making resolutions for exercise, as always.

Here are some tips when you set goals:
1. Make it attainable.
Belle says her resolution this year is to keep her room clean every day for the whole year.  That is not really a reasonable goal, and I can foresee failure within the first week.  She hasn't mastered the skill of cleaning up one activity before moving on to the next.  For her a more attainable goal would be to put her dirty laundry in the hamper every time she changes or something like that.

2.  Make it measurable.
"I'm going to get healthy" is not as good a goal as "I'm going to exercise three times a week for 30 minutes," or "I am only going to allow myself one sweet treat a day."

3. Write it down to make it official.
Put it in your journal, stick a post-it note on your mirror, put it on your calendar--whatever.

4. Reward yourself for reaching the goal.
Make it a good enough reward that you'll want to push yourself in order to reach it.  Don't choose a reward that opposes your goal, like don't reward all your exercise with a big bowl of ice cream.  That doesn't make sense.

What are some of your resolutions?

Merry Christmas

I love Christmas!  It is an exciting time of the year when people are especially generous in reaching out to neighbors and people in need.  I am really trying to keep my focus on Christ rather than shopping and busyness. This time of the year can become quite stressful sometimes with all of the obligations that come from tradition.  I want to teach my children that "Jesus is the reason for the season," and we give gifts to celebrate His birthday.  Since we can't buy a gift and give it directly to Jesus, we give it to someone He loves instead.  I like to sing the Happy Birthday song on Christmas morning to help them remember.  I rarely ask them, "What do you want to get for Christmas?" but sometimes ask them, "What do you want to give for Christmas?"

What traditions do you and your family share to make Christmas Christ centered?

Beanbag Words

Last month in our issue of the Friend magazine, there was an article about a game to play where you toss a beanbag to people in a circle and take turn saying positive things about whomever you throw it to.  We played the game for Family Home Evening, but used Sweetheart's favorite stuffed horse, "Horsey."  It was good to get some positive words flowing in our family, and we could feel the Holy Spirit with us stronger.  Sweetheart wanted to play the game again another day just with me.  It is a great feeling to be given so many compliments by a tiny four year old boy.  He really is a sweetheart.

Magnificent

I received this link in an email to day.  It is an uplifting song with 6 1/2 minutes of gorgeous images of the earth.  Have a look for a spiritual boost.

Magnificent

Warm Fuzzies

My kindergarten teacher taught me that it is better to give warm fuzzies than cold pricklies.  We should try to make people feel good.  (I'll be writing posts in the future labeled "warm fuzzies" when I have words to make people feel good.)  I remember the lesson well because of the fun craft that went along with it.  The warm fuzzy I made was pink with red feet.  I gave it to my grandmother, who treasured it.  It adorned her bathroom backsplash for twenty-five years before she called me, distraught, to tell me that someone had pilfered her puffball.  Of course I made her a new one to replace it.  Belle then made one to give to my mother.  She put about ten googly eyes on that thing.  She's an "out of the box" kind of thinker.

This is how to make a warm fuzzy.

Gather up some materials: pompoms, glue, wiggly eyes, cardstock, foam core shapes, pipe cleaners, and whatever else looks appealing.

Cut some feet out of cardstock or foam core.  I wish I could leave a template for the creatively challenged, but I have no idea how that is done.

Put a drop of glue on the feet.

Stick the fuzzball onto the feet.

Dab a little glue onto the back of the wiggly eyes, and then attach them to the pompom.

That's your basic warm fuzzy, but you can add extras if you like.  Use your imagination.  You can glue them to the front of a note card or add a slip of paper under the feet (the size of a fortune cookie message) with a few kind words (like "I love you," "Thanks for being my friend," "You make me smile," "I admire you," and "You make me feel all warm and fuzzy.")  These are designed to be gifts, so make a few to warm the hearts of those you love.

Quote of the Day

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
--Dr. Suess