Resolutions

The start of a new year often brings about an air of change and a deeper desire to do better.  Lately I've found myself pondering the hopes of my heart and my vision for the new year. As an avid journal writer, goal setting and reflection have always been an important part of my life. Without them there would be no purpose to each day. If you've already fallen off the bandwagon this month, hopefully you have a dear friend like mine to give you some encouragement and help you see that each day is a new opportunity to be better than the last.

After a lot of thought I've decided that my "word" for 2018 is going to be time. I love this word because it encompasses so many different aspects of my life that I want to be better at. I want more time to be still, more time to read (alone, with the kids, and with Mike), more time to learn new things, more time to ponder. I crave more time to write and journal and collect my thoughts. I will be making more time to love and show it through service and extra snuggles with the littles. I want more time to stand in a sun-lit window and warm my soul. I long for more time to enjoy nature. I need more time unplugged from the constant noise of the world. Sometimes life can feel so rushed, and busy, and chaotic... And it's become so normal for it to be this way. This year I just want to slow things down a little and make time for important and meaningful things. I really want to relish in this season of life before these kids grow up too much more and head off on new adventures of their own.

I'm excited to really watch how I spend my hours each day this year. I've already found myself thinking is this a productive and uplifting way to spend your time? I've already implemented some small changes and I feel so much better about life after just this last week. For starters (don't laugh) I let Mike pick my facebook password which means that I am only able to log in and scroll in the evenings most of the time. I've found social media to be a huge time waster for me this last year and I really want to change that! The funny part is that I really don't miss it. I get a whole lot more done during the day and I'm not as snappy with the kids because I'm more focused. So if you want to get in touch I'll be (hopefully) keeping up with the blog and hanging out over on instagram. Ha! I'm also trying really hard to get up before the kids to make that time in the morning a little bit more meaningful either by studying my scriptures (if there's time) or just being a happier mommy.

Last week I woke up to a text from a friend. She sent me a quote that has been super thought provoking over the past few days.

"If I were Satan...I would keep women so distraught and distracted that they would never find calming strength and serenity...catching them in the crunch of trying to be superhuman instead of realistically striving to reach their individual purpose and unique God-given potential. We must have the courage to be imperfect."
~Patricia Holland

This year I'm looking forward to taking time, slowing down, and finding that calming strength and serenity that's offered to us each day. Here's to a year filled with novels to be devoured, blankets to be crocheted, kids to wrap my arms around, relationships to be strengthened, and service to be given.