Complete 2016

Last year I chose to focus on the word peace. I wanted to feel more peace amidst all the craziness and stress that was our daily life. I wanted so badly to find peace in those moments when I felt like everything was going wrong and falling apart. Now that I look back on 2015 I realize praying for peace is like praying for patience: you can only learn to find peace through trials that are anything but peaceful.

In 2015 I did find peace, and I am grateful I did. My peace came in learning to trust my Heavenly Father, his plan for me, and by leaning on him in my times of need. It came from realizing the power of my Savior's atonement in my every day life, and that his atonement is so much more than just forgiving me for my sins. It came from showing gratitude for all of the little things I am given each day, and finding the blessings in the hard days as well as the good. And it came through a lot of prayer, scripture study, and hard work.

I have learned that peace is not a state of everything being perfect, because life is not perfect and the majority of the time it is messy and chaotic, instead peace is something we choose to carry with us.

Just as we create our own happiness, we create our own peace.

I told Rob about my word for this year and mentioned peace was my word for 2015, he laughed and asked if I would please focus on something a little safer this year. I assured him that was already my plan.

This year I have chosen to focus on the word complete. I have realized a lot of the chaos I feel is from being unprepared, feeling like I have a giant to do list, things are falling through the cracks, and that I am letting others down. So this year we are not starting any new projects, I will be really careful about the commitments I make, and we will focus on completing many of the projects we have been working on here or there over the years.

This paper has sat on my desk for the last few weeks, and as I have thought of something that needs to be finished I would write it down. I have thought of a few more things that need to be added, and in reality I will probably add things all year long, but it is a start and a perfect focus for 2016.

I am excited for the possibilities of this new year, but I am also grateful for all that 2015 has taught me. I hope I am more kind to those around me and filled with more compassion to those who are struggling. I hope I am better now than when 2015 started, and I hope at the end of 2016 I am better than I am now surrounded by a lot of completed projects.

One Little Word 2013

I love picking a word for the year, I have been doing it for the last 4 years, it is a great way for me to really focus on what I want to accomplish in the year ahead. But, for some reason I really struggled to pick just one word for 2013.

I thought about the word Balance, because heaven knows I need to find some balance in this life of mine, but that just didn't seem to fit all the resolutions I had in mind for the year.

I also thought about Power, because I just love all the strength in that one little word. Plus, I like the idea of having the power to change my circumstances, to make things better, but it still didn't completely fit.

The more I thought about it, the more a phrase kept repeating in my head, which was a problem because I wasn't picking a phrase, I was trying to pick one little word.

But it just wouldn't go away and I figured, it is my word for the year and I will use a phrase if I want to.

So here it is, my One little Word Phrase for 2013.....

There is so much going on in the world around and sometimes the bad seems to outweigh the good. Lately all the bad news and tragedy has made me feel overwhelmed and helpless. I realized one day that I can't change the world around me, the bad will always be there, but I can Be The Good in my little corner of the world, my home, and the internet.

The last few years have been hard, we have had a lot of trials, and I have not handled them in the most graceful manner. 2013 I am determined to change my attitude about our circumstances (which is also why I thought of the word Power), and to set a good example for my kids of how to handle adversity.

I will Be The Good in our home, I will provide a warm comforting environment for my children and anyone else that comes to our home. It may not be my dream home (hopefully that will come in 2013), but it is our home and I can bring out the good in it.

I also want to Be The Good in other's lives, I hope to find more ways to serve those around me, and get my children involved in helping others. We have been working on serving our family, and I see it expanding to those outside of our home, but I feel like we should be doing more.

I am excited to start a new year, I am excited for the possibilities that are ahead of us, I am excited to Be The Good in the lives of those around us.

I will have all my resolutions to offer the internets tomorrow, because once they are vocalized you have a greater chance of keeping them. I am counting on you blog to keep me accountable. That and my new approach this year thanks to Gretchen Rubin.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year, I hope your 2013 is amazing!!