39 Wonderful Years Have Come to an End

Today is my 40th birthday.  I feel strong, confident, healthy and happy.  I don't feel old, even though when my parents turned 40, they were really old.  I feel energetic, except at the moment my stomach feels distended because we just finished Thanksgiving dinner, followed by cake and ice cream.  It was a delicious Thanksgiving and I'm so grateful to have celebrated both of these holidays in one day surrounded by my family and a family of a close friend.

Now to go over the 39 goals that I set for myself last year.  Before you review them and judge me to be a failure because I did not complete many of them, I need to say that I do believe that because of the goals I set a year ago, I can see how I have changed and even matured in just one short year.  I realize that the things that I thought were so important to do last year might not have really reflected my values and priorities and were more like wishes than goals.  The goals that really were important to me were kept in my heart and I tried very earnestly to complete them, even if I only reached them partway.
Now, to end your suspense here is the report on my goals:

• Add $399 to each of my children's bank accounts We added $500 to each account at the end of 2010.
• Archive old film and prints on a memory stick I have scanned some prints into my computer, but this is a time-consuming project that will have to be completed when all my children are in school.
• Attend 3 cultural events I don't think I went to anything officially cultural the whole year.
• Compile a Family Favorites Recipe Book I continue to think about this and I have an ongoing file on my computer that I will put together at some future date.
• Complete a free on-line class signed up for the class but didn't have time to finish it.
• Do my visiting teaching monthly 100%, even if there were a few phone or doorstep visits, I contacted them all every month
• Do not yell in anger ever again I'm working on this, still :)
• Fast correctly 1 time a month I have been doing this for several months now, and feeling closer to God because of it.
• Finish cross-stitch for Mitchell It is finished and at the framing shop!!!
• Finish scrapbooks for A and M Both are completed, M will receive his for Christmas.
• Get a manicure at least 9 times 2x at the beginning, then I decided I had better things to do with my money
• Get my hair cut every 3 months I had it cut 3x last year, I've decided to grow it out for now.
• Get my weight to 139 lbs I reached my lowest in June at 142 lbs, but then we went of vacation and school started and I had to drop my gym membership, so I'm back to 148 again, but I'm doing a lot better eating healthy and I think that is even more important than weight at this point.
• Go on 3 camping trips with my family We went on 1 small trip and 1 2 week trip.  Our camper needed a lot of repairs, so we weren't able to go as often this year as we had hoped.
• Go on a date with S 2 times a month I haven't been keeping track of this.  But we do go out more often than we used to.
• Go to the temple 9 times We were able to attend 4 times.  The distance and cost of gas has just proved to be a huge factor in attending to this goal
• Have a professional family portrait taken We have an appointment at The Picture People on Saturday, so only 2 days late!
• Help G earn his Arrow of Light He received his Arrow of Light in August!
• Help J earn his Eagle Scout Award Jake has finished the project and is waiting for his Board of Review to have it approved.
• Keep a blog of my 39 goals :) Here it is!
• Make 39 humanitarian kits 12 completed last Christmas and we plan to keep this up as a family tradition
• Only spend $275/week on groceries I'm not very good at keeping track of this, but we haven't bounced any checks.
• Organize a "Friends in the Park" Day Other people have done this and I've been trying to attend
• Read 39 books I have finished 29 books!  I'm giving myself to the end of the year to complete this goal because I started it late.  I plan to list which books I read in the blog once I finish all 39.
• Read the Book of Mormon I'm reading 4 pages a day and hope to finish by the end of the year
• Read the New Testament I've only read passages that inspire me, I still plan to read it cover to cover next year
• Read to my children every day I do not do this every day, but I do it often and with love
• Sew/Make 3 projects or crafts Made Easter Bunnies from water bottles, see volunteer info below
• Spend 30 hours doing community service  I have spent at least 30 hours at my children's school, helping the teachers and as the Craft Club teacher (teaching k-3 students how to do a craft each week)  I've also spent quite a few hours fundraising for our family's Christmas angel, Sophia.
• Take cookies/brownies to 9 people We took 10 plates of Christmas cookies to people. I have also taken random plates of cookies to my neighbors and friends throughout the year, but I didn't keep track of how many.
• Take each of my children on a 1 on 1 "date" J and D are done. 
• Take my children to the zoo 9 times 5x
• Take my family to 9 local attractions.  2
  
• Try 1 new recipe each month I think that I have done this, but I didn't really keep track
  
• Write 1 letter a month to a family member or friend I have written my parents and in-laws a few times but not each month. 
• Write in a journal weekly (my own or one of my children's) I have written in all of my children's journal (except D and J's) as well as my own on a monthly basis, but not weekly 

Follow up on Pie Party

I just wanted to let you know that the Pie Party was great.  We had Stuart's sister's family, 3 of our neighbor families and many of our church friends come. We had delicious pie and I really enjoyed chatting and getting to know everyone a little bit better.  There was $105 donated to Sophia's adoption fund.  So, all of my goals were met, and my family has decided they want to have a pie party every year! 

Pie Party Pot Luck

Tonight is our family pie party.  We have invited all our neighbors, friends and and even the one family member who lives close enough to come.  I have 3 purposes in hosting this party.  1. To celebrate the Thanksgiving season and enjoy the company of people with whom I enjoy spending time.  2. To celebrate my 40th birthday, which falls on Thanksgiving this year.  (Yes, I'm going to report back to you all on my 39 goals that day) and 3) To help raise awareness and funds for the adoption of my Christmas Angel, Sophia M. 
I think about Sophia every day and pray for her and for the hearts of the people I know to be willing to make a small sacrifice on her behalf.  I'm grateful that already, someone (or more) has made a $70 donation.  I still have almost $900 to reach my goal, but if all my friends and family donated just $5 each, I think we could reach that goal easily.  So, if you are reading this, and haven't donated yet, please consider making a small donation (or a big one) so that one little girl can have a better chance for a better life.  She looks so happy in that picture, I would hate to have that smile disappear. 

I'm so grateful for this time of year when I think of my blessings both big and small.  The love of my family (a big one), friends, good neighbors, the gospel of Jesus Christ, a good education for me and my children, my husband's job, a home, vehicles that work well, good health and access to health care, healthy food, and many more blessings come to mind immediately, and of course, PIE!