January intentions that I intend to keep and how to put an end to resolution burnout

The new year is here! I don't know about the rest of you, but I love the giddiness I feel, and the chance for a "do over" of sorts in the new year . It is a chance for new dreams, new mistakes and new goals. There has been a lot of buzz about how we quickly we abandon our new years resolutions. Poor sad abandoned hopes and goals on the highway of so many possibilities.

We get on that highway excited to make our destination and after and day or two we forget. Maybe the road is too familiar and so we stop looking out our window at all the possibilities. We see the same sign that says things like, loose weight or organize my house. What about the milestones. Any time I go on a trip I always pay attention to how much further a place is. Three hundred miles seems so far. Then one hundred and finally sixty and thirty miles. It really hits home that I almost there when I see five miles, one mile and then 1/2 mile. Those milestones are what's keeps us going until we reach loose weight town or organized houseville. Goals broken down into measurable manageable steps is like saying you have so many miles to get there , but you will get there! We are not going to get there if we don't travel the road and look for those markers along the way that let us know we are getting closer. Only so many more miles! Pick up those goals, resolutions or whatever you call them, dust them off and let them stand as a reminder of where you are going.

"Having a sense of purpose is having a sense of self. A course to plot is a destination to hope for." Bryant McGill

Living day to day with no plan or goals is like having no road signs or any kind of map to guide your way. Goals are the map we need. They are written down to tell you how to get from point A to point B. If we do not write our goals down then they stay wishes or objectives. Turning the key gives us the energy to drive towards our goals. When our new years resolutions fail it is because we really haven't turned the key yet. That is to say we have not put any energy into them. We may be missing some steps or not sure how to set goals. Remember those sad goals with big eyes and pouty lips? Don't abandon them! Clean them up and make them simpler. You do not want to overwhelm yourself with goals that are too far out of your reach. Make them small and measurable. Take a thought in your mind and make it real. You have to write it down though. That is the only way that our minds make a connection. Vroom! We are already on our way! The word goals start with G and O. Go! Start today and turn the key and push the gas pedal. It takes practice and perseverance but along the way you become part of the process and your grow and change. The only thing you want to kick to the curb are those bad habits.

Finally after you have plotted your course and started your journey with a timeline and a map don't forget to stop at rest stops. Check in with yourself and see how you are doing. Is there any course correcting that needs to happen. I recommend you do this before you burn out. It is a lot harder to re-aces anything if you are frustrated or ready to give up.

So here are my check points. Some of them I need to break down into smaller tasks still.
1 year plan
Improve relationships
Instill a love of the scriptures
Organize my house-1 room at a time, area at a time. Also only 15 minutes a day
Come up with a system of upkeep for my house
Dates with husband and kids
Get out of debt. We already did our budget so a plan is in motion there.

Happy planning and navigating!

Day 14 of 25 days to a more Christ centered Christmas

Oops... better late than never! I thought I had published this already.....

Day 14
Last week I read a few thoughts for a more meaningful Christmas. Thought number 3

Our Christmas Gift List

The light and the Redeemer of the world; the Spirit of truth who came into the world, because the world was made by him, and in him was the life of men and the light of men.

Doctrine and Covenants 93:9

Day 15

Time to Rededicate

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Day 16

A Wonderful Time of Year

And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Luke 2:12

Who will stay with me?

Mother can you stay with me? This is a question I would ask my mother often because I was scared of the dark, still am, truth be told. I would wake up in the middle of the night and lay by our floor fan in front of my parents room. You should know that I had long hair, back then ,so it would get sucked into the fan. My mom would wake up to the  "tick" "tick" "tick" of my hair. Now that 1 have children of my own a few of them try to delay bedtime in any way they can. It should be a sport or an Olympic event when it comes to  my daughter! My Kindergartener likes to lay on the floor on front of our door. Hmmm..... sound familiar?

Even though I am all grown up, at least as far as my age dictates, I still want my Mom sometimes. She lives in another state so I don't get to see her. Who them can stay with me until I fall asleep? Who will stay with me when my mind plays my thoughts as if they are on repeat? Who will stay with me when I am worried or scared? Who will stay with me when I am not sure I can face another day? If I have these feelings so do my children! Oftentimes, I have to keep the bed time routine short because I need to put other kids to bed or finish the house. When they say will you stay with me it is for a good reason. They may need to talk or don't know how to get those last little wiggles out.

I can stay.
I can be your calm.
I can listen.

Who will stay with me?

Another word for stay is abide. This makes me think of the hymn Abide with me;' Tis Eventide. It is almost like a prayer to me. O Savior, stay this night with me; Behold;' tis Eventide.

Another hymn that should also be mentioned is Abide with me. There is a phrase in particular that always speaks to my heart. It is " I need they presence ev'ry passing hour"  When everything else fails he is still there. His patience will never diminish. The video really explains it better than I can.

As the night falls we think of our day. We think of the good and the bad. But do we invite him as our guest into our hearts and home? We can talk to him and he will stay with you! He can be your calm and will listen no matter what time it is, or what you may say. It is a sweet relationship that we must nurture and initiate. Prayer brings peace; plain and simple.

Because he is willing to stay with us, can we not stay a little longer with his children? What do they need in that moment? What did Jesus do in 3rd Nephi 17:5 when the people begged him to stay?..... He tarred a little longer.

 "And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them."

I have been in the depths of worry and despair due to finances being strained because of several years of medical tests and no answers. There has also not been much improvement in my health. I still have days and weeks , and  months where I struggle. Yet if I get on my knees and can see through mists that cloud my mind, I feel that peace. He is with me.

We are all like little children. We need Jesus and his healing power.Let us all ask the question,Who will stay with me? Who will calm my troubled heart? He is the only one!

Day 17-20 of 25 days to a more Christ centered Christmas

Day 17
Samuel the  Helaman 14:1-8

Day 18
Read the living Christ

Day 19

Our Christmas Gift List

The light and the Redeemer of the world; the Spirit of truth who came into the world, because the world was made by him, and in him was the life of men and the light of men.

Doctrine and Covenants 93:9

Day 20

Time to Rededicate

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Days 9-13 of 25 days to a more Christ centered Christmas

9th
I decided each night this week that I would read a thought from this post by ldsliving.com. The first thought is

Making Christmas Real

There was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And . . . the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born.

3 Nephi 1:19

10th

“The Great Refusal”

And behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

Matthew 19:16

11th
We had our church Christmas program tonight with dinner and a sweet little nativity play.

12th

13th
We do a progressive dinner with my husbands family. This way we get to see each others decorations and lights each year! One of my sister in law came up with this cute the Brunch stole Christmas theme and it was a ton of fun! Ugly Christmas sweater contest also included! I am glad we finished before the storm hit!
   
  

Day 6-8 of 25 days to a more Christ centered Christmas

Day 6
Read Luke 2:1-20. Some years I break the scripture into different segments. This year we just read the whole thing.

Day 7
Tonight we did our annual cookies and caroling. We invite friends to decorate cookies and then go caroling to neighbors. We got a little wet from rain, okay soaked but it was a ton of fin to spread Christmas cheer. We went to one house and she had stuffed bears for each kid. They were so excited. Even my son, who is reluctant to do things in groups came.

Day 8
I share this story of the miracle of a tiny Christmas tree. It was a symbol of hope and love just like this time of the year is for us! The Christmas tree means everlasting life. The needles on the tree never die just like Christ lives and gave his life for us. All he has done he has done for us!The lights symbolize this gift. He also wants us to find our light and let it shine as it says in Mathew 5:16-

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Days 3-5 of 25 days to a more Christ centered Christmas

It has been a busy couple of days! I guess even when you try it is hard to not over schedule. Although I do try to have only one activity that day and if I participate in an activity, I try to have a day of rest in between. That didn't happen this weekend. I am going to look at my schedule this week and try to make sure it is not too crowded. Who wants to join me? Or, you could look at your to do list and drop a few of them. You can do it! I want to savor this time and make it a very personal one for me and my family and for YOU too!!

Day 3
Due to our business,I almost forgot to do our tradition of hiding the baby Jesus and having the kids find him. The one that finds him gets to hide him the next night. We always talk about how we each need to find Jesus. We can seek him everyday and come to him.

We also watched Getting into the Christmas spirit-the true meaning of Christmas. How many of you can relate to the conversation the parents were having? I know I can.

Day 4
Today we went to our neighbors annual hot chocolate party. It was great, visiting with all our neighbors and friends. It got pretty late so we didn't get to do a devotional.

Day 5
My daughter and I participated in the coolest Christmas idea yet. It is called a holiday market. We signed up and made 10 homemade gifts to sell. They could be from $0.50-$2.00. When you get there you set it up and are given play money to buy things. It is a great opportunity to help your kids get gifts for everyone in the family. So neat right?

Here are her sock snow men! Aren't they cute!!!



Tonight we opened our gift we promised to give to the Savior from a from last year. It was fun to read them and be reminded of those gifts. Next, we wrote new ones for next year! It will be here soon!We are all trying to be more like Jesus.
 We also read My gift to Jesus.

What are your traditions? Are you finding some peace this Christmas? Are you finding time for the Savior?