BALANCE, EXACTNESS, FOCUS

Kaia and Beck made a giant paper boat during Christmas break. It was so awesome! Did I tell you how much I enjoyed Christmas break? It was a first for me. I was actually a little sad to see the kids go back to school today. Well, that is, until Gabe decided to throw a cup of water on Zoe this morning while they were getting ready for school. The ensuing water fight created the need for 3 of my 4 children to change into dry clothes before school and in less than 15 minutes... yeah. Beck was still asleep at that point or I'm sure he would've been wet too! Vacation's over! Hooray for school!

For weeks now, I've been thinking about my "New Years Resolutions" and "Word of the Year".  I love January. I love the feeling of starting something new, changing for the better, resolving to improve; however, I'm not always so good at following through. (Yeah, don't LAUGH!)

Last year my word was DISCIPLINE -- although I achieved many personal and financial goals in this area (by the way, I totally failed at the "NO SHOPPING" thing), I feel like this word wasn't exactly what I needed. Maybe FOCUS would have been a better one. I don't want to be perfect and give myself a list of strict "No's". I want to be balanced and give myself more allowances and rewards, even, for goals achieved; more "Yes, as soon as I finish this" sort of thing.

I heard a great quote a few weeks ago:

"If nothing changes, nothing changes."

A bit like the Albert Einstein "definition of insanity" quote, but to me, it's more concise and for some reason, much more profound.

This year, it's not one "word of the year" per se, 
it's more like a mantra.

When I look back, I've actually done a lot of great things in my life. I just want to feel more PEACE and SATISFACTION and PROGRESS. This year, I will use BALANCE and EXACTNESS and FOCUS in the way I do things. Now you might think balance sounds a bit contradicting or out of place with exactness and focus... "let me 'splain":

Balance in how much and when and why I do things:

• I decide what is right for me -- when and how and why.
• Not too much play, not too much work, not too much crazy, but a balance. (I know I cannot totally control all of this, but I'm going to control what I can -- I always get myself way in over my head with obligations and commitments.) Part of this balance is FUN for me -- as in, I gave myself permission to be on Pinterest again. Done.

Mosiah 4:27 "And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in wisdom and order."

Exactness in how I do things:

• doing things right
• finishing what I start
• sticking to my plan
• following up each week on my progress

This scripture keeps popping in my head over the last few months: Alma 57:21 "Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with EXACTNESS; yeah, and even according to their faith it was done unto them..."

Focus on what is truly important:

• family (show love everyday)
• health (physical, spiritual, and emotional) 
• finances (use exactness and restraint to achieve financial goals)

BALANCE, EXACTNESS, FOCUS

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
I'll let you know how I'm doing in a week... if I can focus that long.