A Couple of Things

This past week I was able to go back to Houston to visit with Emma and her kids. It was great to go back and see them all, and with less people there, I got to have the kids' attention even more... :)

We had a lot of fun - we went to the library for story time, had fun at the Natural Museum of Science, explored some beautiful model homes, had butterflies land and fly all over us in the butterfly museum, ate good food, played lots of rounds of 'LIFE' and the card game 'War', battled it out in Mario Kart on the Wii, sang the ABCs and played with letter blocks with JB at least 25 times, and stayed up late watching Downton and Biggest Loser. It was a really fun week. I can't wait to see them again. I'm sorry Jon was only able to be there for a day or two of it, but I know he really enjoyed seeing them again, too. I just wish we could be by everyone! I miss being by family, and I would love to see all of my nieces and nephews more often.

Right before we left for Houston, we met with a member of the Stake Presidency and Jon got called to be the 2nd Counselor in the bishopric! Unfortunately, I missed him being set apart and ordained, but I am excited/nervous for him. I know he will do a good job - I am a bit selfish, though, because I am disappointed I will be sitting alone now. Perhaps I will look around for someone who is also sitting alone and join them.

Today, twelve of us (family, friends) start the Game On! Challenge. It's a diet/exercise/lifestyle game where the goal is to earn points. Eating 5 small, healthy meals a day equal 30 points (6 points each). Getting 7 hours of sleep at night is 10 points. Exercising 20 minutes per day is 20 points. Stopping a bad habit is another 10 points (I think) per day, and also having a daily new (good) habit is another 10 points earned. Drinking 3 liters of water per day also earns you 10 points (I struggle with that one, but I am going to work my hardest!) You also have points taken away when you snack in between/change your habit in the middle of the game/etc. You get a  some weekly bonus points if you lose 1% of your body weight, too.We also have to talk to someone on our team every day (5 points, 2 people on each team), and communicate with someone on an opposing team (another 5 points). I am excited for the challenge, and Elza and I want to win that money prize! (Everyone chipped in $20).

Yesterday Elder Holland visited San Antonio and we had a special stake conference with him. He spoke for about 40 minutes. Jon and I arrived at the stake center an hour early, but we were already in the mid section in the gym. I found out later the people in the front row woke up at 5 AM to be there really really early. He couldn't shake hands, though, since he had to catch a flight right after, so I don't feel too bad that we were so far back. (I mostly wanted to be in the front so I could shake his hand, haha). Also, being in the gym area is a bit distracting - everything echos, and I feel like people let their kids run around a lot more, also. Oh well. It was still very good, and I am grateful we were able to see and hear him speak to us. He left with a blessing on all of us, and it included everyone we pray for and love, so I guess that means all of you were blessed, too!

I finally took down the Christmas tree last night. I had the ornaments taken down a few weeks ago, but the tree and lights were still up. I called it a "Winter Tree" but I suppose that can't work for too long of a time. More like "I am too lazy to stuff the tree parts back into the plastic bags" kind of tree. It feels good to be done with that - now I just have to unpack from my week in Houston, and I hate unpacking...

Books

So, I made a goal yesterday to read one book every two weeks. I think I will change that to one book every week.

I started A Thousand Splendid Suns last night, and finished all 367 pages of it this morning! (Mostly due to the fact I was sick and stayed up late and woke up early).

I bought the book from our library for 50 cents a month or two ago, but just finally picked it up to read it.  I usually don't cry when I read a book, but this one is about two women in Afghanistan who marry in their teens, and later, through sad/awful circumstances, their lives interact and they go from enemies to best friends. I tried putting myself in their position, and for some reason the tears just kept on flowing! The end is bittersweet, but I am glad I finally picked it up and read it.

I read the author's first book, The Kite Runner, in high school for my AP English class, and really liked that one, but loved this one even more.

Anyway, now it's time to choose another book. Mom suggested East of Eden, so I may go with that one next (if the library carries it). Or something to lift my spirits, like Beverly Cleary's Fifteen (for some reason I just LOVE that book, even though it's probably more for tweens/teens).

Any other good books I need to read?

Of Goals and Resolutions

Has it really been since October since I updated my blog?! Crazy. I thought I did it at least once in November. It must have been wishful thinking and I must have just imagined what I thought I wrote.

Well, here's to the new year and to my new resolutions.

And one of them - to blog at least once a week.

Here are a lot of the others:

- read a book every 2 weeks - either books from the library or ones I own (and I haven't read...)
- read the lessons for Sunday School and Relief Society the day before, or even Sunday morning (I do okay with RS, but hardly ever review the lesson for SS)
-  drink 3 liters of water every day (part of "the game")
- make the bed every day (I already do this 99.9% of the time, but I like to have a goal that I KNOW I will/can accomplish; I know, I know - it's a cheat)
- make a budget and stick to it
- save a little money from every paycheck, whether it's $20 or $200, etc.
- do a good deed daily
- plan healthy meals/menus for the week
- do my visiting teaching monthly
- write in my "One Line a Day" memory book every day (I have a hard time writing in my journal, but I can at least write a few lines/thoughts every day!)
- pray morning and night
- exercise at least 20 minutes per day (I would do more, but I know myself better than that. Some days I will do more, but I HAVE to do at least 20. Plus, I am preparing myself for "The Game". I bought the book for my Kindle, and if you want in, let me know :) Here is a link for a bit of information: The Game On! Diet (The book has a lot more info, like calculating points, etc)
- write more thank you notes and letters just because
- read scriptures and/or Ensign every day (and read out loud with Jon, also)
- wake up by 6:30 every morning
- visit Utah sometime this year
- practice piano for at least 30 minutes twice a week (actually practice, not just play the same songs over and over again)
- get to know more of my neighbors
- do more indexing for FamilySearch.org. I was on a roll for a while, but have slowed down lately. My goal is to do 100 names per day
- develop a new talent - I'm not sure what yet, but SOMETHING new/different that I will enjoy

So I am sure I will think of plenty more, and I will strive to do all of these, but I mostly want to focus on health, spirituality, and working with budget/money.

I have my big one-liter water bottle next to me, ready to be drunk. I better get on that - I still have two more to go after that one is gone!

And, I better go track down Jon, because I still need my New Year kiss. He hasn't kissed me ALL YEAR! Haha....(We both fell asleep before midnight. What the heck!)