1. GET FIT - I am using myfitnesspal.com to track my food and exercise. I love this site. It is free and helps me be aware of what I eat, my portion sizes, my sodium and sugar intake (two things I need to keep an eye on), how much water I drink, and how much exercise I do. It helps me be accountable to myself. Both of my daughters are also on the site. My oldest daughter is best at using the site, in fact she suggested it to me since she and I are trying to encourage each other to get our exercise in. So it keeps me accountable to her, too, and offers me a way to reinforce her as well.
I also created a half a dozen play lists on grooveshark.com, a free music website. Each is about 45 minutes in length, with warm up and cool down music at the start and end. I stretch, and try do some strength training as a gradually speed up and slow down my movement. I spend at least 30 minutes dancing to some of my favorite old songs. My goal is to do this three times a week. So far the most I've done is twice a week, but three is coming! I feel so good when I get done as long as I remember to keep breathing properly and pace myself. I also hope to walk for 30 to 45 minutes three days a week. I am currently sporadic at this but I keep working toward it.
2. RECOMMIT TO THE LORD - I am feeling more connected than I did a couple of months ago. We have attended our own ward more regularly, although we did miss one Sunday in January when we were in South Carolina for a baptism and a baby blessing. And one Sunday this month when we visited my dad. I started attending monthly week night activities and that has helped. I have had some good scripture study time, and while it isn't every day when I do study I tend to spend an hour or two on the topic of interest. I keep notes in Word as I read and ponder, that helps alot, too. I can go back and refer to it if I want to. Prayers could be improved.
3. RECONNECT WITH SPOUSE - We are working together on our finances more closely than we ever have. Our trip in January and a weekend getaway in February also brought us closer together. We have agreed to recommit to date night, he is going to work on things for us to do since that is important to me. I am going to have lunch as soon as he gets home from work like we were doing last fall. It started getting later in the day. It works so much better if we have lunch as soon as he gets home, this is important to him. A Sunday School lesson on gender roles enlightened both our minds and lifted both our hearts.
4. PARENT ADULT CHILDREN - We met our oldest son's girlfriend and her two daughters a couple of weeks ago. The girls are adorable and his girlfriend seems very nice. Her children are well behaved. Out youngest daughter is working with me on her finances, She has made an immense amount of improvement as she learns how to categorize wants and needs, then prioritize them. Soon she and I will be looking into a good used car for her. She is looking for CNA work that will provide insurance benefits as she will go off our insurance on her upcoming birthday. Our youngest son spent a week in South Carolina with us when we went to visit our oldest daughter and her family. It was a great trip. Our middle son and his wife are in their last semester of college. We try to see them about once a week They are taking care of their step grandfather's house and yard work for him twice a month.
5. GRANDPARENT - We spent time with each of our four grandchildren, rather than send a package we put everything in a large suitcase, four quilts and many other things we knew the kids would love. We gave them their presents while we visited. We took each of them with us different places, one at a time. I also had the chance to tend a couple of times while we were there. We read stories, picked up the house, watched their dad, grandpa, and uncle move a playset from the neighbor's yard to their yard.
6. REORDER MY SPACE - Some deep cleaning is done, I have researched cleaning ideas, storage ideas, organizing ideas, scheduling ideas, and redecorating ideas. A few things have been implemented. Some of our food is downstairs, it's a dug out basement and I don't like going down there. We have repurposed some shelves in the laundry/storage room for canned and packaged food items to move them upstairs for easier access. I am eliminating some things on my counters that we no longer use and replacing them with things that we use frequently for easier access. My sewing area in the TV room is now organized and usable.
7. WRITE FAMILY HISTORY - I completed taping seven more tapes of my dad's history. I still need to transcribe them. I started working on my own history. Recently it was impressed upon me that writing your own history is a big priority. I can see that I will be writing, interviewing, and researching for the rest of my life. It's exciting to see the possibilities.
8. SERVE MY FELLOWMEN - My visiting teaching has improved over the past few months, I hope to continue working on this. I am working on my history calling by taking photographs and writing short synopsis's of our monthly week night activities. I still need to set aside time for my music calling.
9 IMPROVE SKILLS & INTERESTS - I learned how to use my Brother Innovis 40 sewing machine and bound several quilts and made some pillow cases. I also mended my oldest son's hoodie for him. I took two classes in Family History research, one on Family Tree and the other on Roots Magic. I have done some research as well. I continue to read. I have a goodreads.com account and keep it up, adding books I have read in the past, books I want to read in the future, and books I am currently reading. Here I am writing on one of my blogs.
10. ENJOY MUSIC - I think making my playlists fits here, too, since I can enjoy music and dance at the same time. I can make time for my music calling by practicing the piano at home, and practicing the organ at the church.
This is a good assessment. It shows me where I have made progress and where I still need to put more emphasis. All these things help my nest feel full to me, even if all the little ones have grown and flown away. It is important to me to feel useful. I think I have made the most progress in the earliest goals, fitness and personal relationships. I believe if I keep on this course -
"All things will come, little by little!"
Grandmoms on Circle of Moms
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