A new year....

With a new year, comes time for reflection. Reflection about the past year, reflection about my life, reflection about my family and with that I can always find things that need to be improved. Thus we set New Years Resolutions! As I have been reflecting on my life and things that I want to improve, there are always the usual:

Better health/ fitness
Clear clutter
Become More organized
and so on.
But as I was thinking about what I really want to accomplish this year, I wanted to think of a word that would encompass all my goals. As I was thinking on this, this particular talk by President Monson came to mind and rather than choose one single word, I thought these 3 quotes from his talk could sum up my goals for 2010:

"Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now."

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly."

"may we fill our days—as much as we can—with those things which matter most. May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and in deed."

This talk spoke to me in so many ways. I was thinking about how important it is to not get distracted by things of little importance. I was also thinking about how grateful I am to be able to stay home and raise my children. I was thinking that it is so important to enjoy motherhood (and I thoroughly do), but sometimes I get bogged down with the mundane tasks that are part of my days. Somedays I feel busier than I should. Somedays I feel pulled in a million different directions and yes, the laundry piles up faster than I can tackle it. And the kids don't always get along and sometimes they drive me crazy, but in the midst of all that I have these 4 amazing BOYS to raise and a fabulous husband to walk through life with and I realize how blessed I am! So while I am not going to list each individual goal that I want to set here, they will all have to do with the word or rather the phrase

Find JOY in the journey!
Happy 2010!