Saturday, January 5, 2019

Route 66 - day 2 - more of Illinois

I want to document our Route 66 trip before I lose any more memories. It was a great trip and we’re all 3 so grateful for the opportunity we had to take it. 

We drove through Bloomington and Normal, which is the home of the original Stake’n’Shake. Unfortunately, that one is closed down, but we did feel it necessary to have something from a S’n’S in the vicinity. So Amy and I split a v difficult to make peppermint shake. We were the first seasonal shake order of the season and the didn’t know which chocolate to use, which held up our shake enjoyment for several minutes. We assured them that any chocolate would do, and then they ended up giving us our shake for free as a military discount. Probably on account of us being so v fun. 

Just look at the fun!

There are lots of giants and giant things to see on Route 66. Here’s the Gemini Giants bro. 

In Atlanta we saw the Bunyon Giant with his trusty hot dog. 🤷‍♀️

And had another selfie contest. Mines the first one and pretty sure I only lost cause dad made me laugh. I did better than Amy at least. 

In Lincoln we found honest Abe driving the worlds largest covered wagon, in Illinois. 

Too bad dads big head blocked out Lincoln in this shot. 

Out of order, but a pretty delicious peppermint milkshake with a mystery chocolate. 

In Springfield we stopped by the cemetery where Lincoln was buried. People are encouraged to rub his nose for good luck, which is why it’s rubbed smooth. 

I sent this to Matt. It says “If a man is alone in the forest with no woman to hear him, is he still wrong?” My guess is, probably. 😂

And back in Atlanta, the whole town was closed down for a funeral. And Amy’s an awesome photo bomber. 

That morning as we were meandering around Pontiac and wasting way too much time, they told us we absolutely had  to eat a Cozy Dog from Cozy’s, and after driving all day, we finally made it. 

These pics are fairly out of order, and the rest probs will be too. I’m blaming dad, because obviously. Part of the problem is that there several different cameras used, and ain’t no one got time to put 100’s of pictures in order. So I’ll do my best, but we all know it’s going to be good enough. 

Friday, January 4, 2019

40 things

Last year was the year I turned 40. I thought a lot and planned a lot, and it was really a wonderful year. I came up with 40 goals for myself, typed them out, and checked my progress monthly. On paper I didn’t do great at most of them, but I feel good about them, so that’s a win. In your 40’s you can twist all sorts of things around, it’s great!

Without further ado, my 40 things. 

  1. Train for and complete a marathon - Running was spotty for me this year, but I did run some. Clearly didn’t complete the marathon, but it is still in the plans for someday. 
  2. Finish Book List Challenge - this is the “100 books to read before you die” challenge I started back in 2012. I made huge progress this year - completing 12, and am sooo close to finishing. I am in the middle of 3 boring books - Ulysses, Under the Volcano, and The Electric Kool-aid Avis Test - and will be done... soon. 
  3. Listen to the Book of Mormon once a month - I am at a point in my life where I drive and work alone frequently, and have lots of time for listening, but not necessarily sitting down to read. I decided to try this experiment and see how it would go, and I loved it! I grew more familiar with the stories and gained tons of new insights. I was really good the first half of the year, but fell behind when I went to California. I was able to catch back up though, and listened to the BoM 11 times, and read it completely through once because of President Nelson’s challenge. 12 times this year. Success. ✅
  4. Temple more - another success! I was able to go to the DC temple 5 times before it closed in March, and have been able to go to Philadelphia 4 times. That’s pretty good, and I call that a win. ✅
  5. Maintain weight range goal - I actually did make it into the desired range for a short time, but now I’ve put on my winter weight. Not giving up, but not really a success. 
  6. Stretch - true, and truely dumb confessions. I know I would feel better if I consistently stretched. I have known this for years. It has been the answer to prayers and I have no doubt. And I still am not consistent at making it happen. Room for improvement on this one!
  7. Yell less - I honestly think every year i yell a little less. And I believe this year was no exception. It’s good. ✅
  8. Weigh myself everyday - I think this would be a key to maintaining, but my problem is that when I’m not exercising I eat worse, and when I eat worse the last thing I want to do is weigh myself. I haven’t conquered this mountain yet, but it’s still on my radar. 
  9. Finish 40 books - see #3 about having more time to listen than to sit down. Most of these were audio books, and there were several Percy Jackson’s in there, but goal accomplished. (I am including my 3 partials from my book list challenge in that, because it’s my list and i can do what I want) ✅
  10. Better personal journal - ✅
  11. Get rid of 40 things a month - ✅ and then some. I honestly don’t know how we still have so much stuff in our house. 🤷‍♀️
  12. Recognize birthdays - nope. Still not great. But I did spearhead big celebrations for my mom and dad, so all was not lost. 
  13. 100 Visiting Teaching - it feels like so long ago, but I guess it has only been since April that vt’ing was switched to Ministering. Since then we’ve been given the stewardship over Ministering Interviews, which are challenging, but so good. Imma call it good on this one. ✅
  14. Be happier and change perspective - I can honestly say this is 💯. ✅
  15. Read Ensign monthly, cover to cover - I’d say I got this 50% done. But if you look at where i started from, that’s like, 100% better. 
  16. 1 Second a Day - I take so many pictures of other people, so I made this goal to include myself in every second. And I did. ✅
  17. Less time on phone - mmmmm. I’d say a smidge less. But every little bit helps. ✅
  18. Council every month with RS leaders - I think it’s important to have one-on-ones with my counselors and secretary, compassionate service coordinator, and welfare specialist. Aaaand, this didn’t happen. With all the changes, it’s back to drinking from a fire hydrant. But I’m recommitting. 
  19. Take better care of my teeth - my teeth suck whether I floss regularly or not, but it’s still important. ✅
  20. Make a planner - for several years, at the beginning of the week I sketch out a graph and map out my week. I use scratch paper for calendaring, meal planning, and to do lists. Tracie makes her own planners and I talked to her about using the format that has worked for me and she’s game. But I never got to it. 🙄
  21. Take better care of my skin - it’s so easy to let things for myself go. But this whole acne and wrinkles thing is the lamest. #workingonit ✅
  22. Read The Friend with the girls every month - not 100%, but pretty close! We’ve got one that we’re working on, and then I think we’re 100%. - edited to add - done. ✅
  23. Eat more fruits and veg - mmmmm, some days. But not all days. 
  24. Memorize The Living Christ - I came in hot on this one, but then April happened and the church started changing things on the reg, and I got sidetracked. 
  25. Better planning - holla! ✅
  26. Piano - I wanted to do something, anything, but I didn’t. 
  27. Find the perfect jeans - Amy got me a gift card for this, you send your measurements and they make jeans for your frame. But I can’t order them until I get to goal range, sooooo. 
  28. 40 dates - with any family members. I lost track, but I don’t think it happened. 
  29. Deliver 40 meals - our year went sideways from the get go when the painting took longer than planned, then we were gone for 6 weeks, and then the great basement flood heard round the world. So this didn’t happen. I got at least halfway there, but I also lost track. 
  30. Find 40 names to take to the temple - I found a bunch, but then also did a bunch of ordinances that I’ve had printed for a really long time. Pretty sure I found/completed 34, and that’s pretty. Sweet. 
  31. Play more with the girls - I’d say yes. I like “more,” because it lends itself to progress even if it’s small. ✅
  32. Host 2-4 families per month - see #29 for why this went sideways. Giving lots of grace on this one. 
  33. Figure out cleaning schedule - our home has been in upheaval since last January’s painting project, so there’s not been a great need for a cleaning schedule. But this nerd loves herself a schedule, so you know it’s happening soon!
  34. Bucket list for each season - not sure why this didn’t happen, but sounds like a good 2019 goal!
  35. Be more flexible with plans and people - yeah, boi! ✅
  36. More praise - sure, I think so. ✅
  37. Reach out/express appreciation once a week - so this didn’t happen once a week, but I did send lots of cards and tried hard to send thank you’s. So, success. ✅
  38. Stay the course on home improvements - I’d say pretty much 💯. ✅
  39. Read and prep for each Sunday - ✅
  40. Sit in quiet - nope, didn’t happen. But one thing I noticed about last year, and myself in general, is that I cram a lot in. I’m always in a hurry. And 2019 is more about slowing it down. Still getting it done, but also taking the time to slow it on down. Another 2019 continuation. 
I got a solid 19 out of 40, and made progress on some other ones. Not bad for a busy 40-year-old. I’ve loved my year of 40 things, and am looking forward to writing out my 2019 goals. 

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Intentionally

I came up with a few words I wanted to focus on this year. Then a few more. And then I had so many that i decided to add two more and choose one to focus and work on each month. This month I am learning about and working towards being more intentional. I choose this word because it will for sure help with all the others. I love New Years and resolutions and i really loved having a list to check myself on all this year, so I’m pretty stoked. Matt and I are still figuring out our family scripture theme, but pretty sure I we have it narrowed down. 

This crazy haired chic came down first yesterday morning. And always. 

Surprisingly, baby bug was next. 

And rounding out the bedhead brigade...

Matt sanded and primed shelves and made repairs and I painted baseboards and fixed the walls above the baseboards that all needed it. It was so warm yesterday and we wanted to go for a walk, but instead we worked. We cleared out random stuff and Chris and Scott helped us move the couches upstairs. Since the sectional didn’t really fit upstairs, we’ll move that down to the basement after we get our carpet. 

The girls enjoyed the warmth with Johnna and her grands. 

I love that they love to play together! They brought a hover board and it was all the rage with the little Rays. 

😍

This morning was back to school. Never the most fun. D and class used a giant number line. 

They came back from playing at the Aina’s ranting about Boxy Girls, so with Grandpa Ray Christmas cash, they both ordered one. Matt picked them up on his was home from work and they were so excited! And save Addie liked theirs so much, she ordered one too. Lucky daddy gets to pop in to Wally tomorrow too. 

I painted shelves and basement baseboards and did laundry while i listened to the whole Homecoming podcast, seasons 1 and 2, and chatted with Amy. 

Johnna invited the girls to play again after school today, and I had every intention of going, but then realized the shelves needed 2 coats, so I stayed home. 😩

I started my One line a day journal yesterday! These have always looked like so much fun to me, and I’ve given several as gifts. I was pretty sure I’d given one to Lu, but asked her anyways and she said I hadn’t, so I wrapped this up (I have a few in my closet from when I found them on sale)  and then she found the one I gave her. So since this was wrapped, I decided to keep it for me. 🤗 in other words I *intentionally* kept it. 

So far, so good, 2019!

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Happy New Year 2019!

The last few days of 2018 were good ones. We enjoyed our very last 3 hour block of church. Ever, I guess? I’ve had v mixed emotions about this one, but we presented about Come, Follow Me during RS, and after experimenting with it, I’m pretty excited. So I go forward enthusiastically! 

All of ward council was spent talking about the changes and how things will go. Making sure we know, mostly, what we’re doing. Such an amazing time to live in and such a blessing to be able to serve. And this meme is sup-ah true!

About a year ago Noreen and I discovered we owned the same skirt, (and we both love shopping at Cato) and we’ve talked about twinning one day, but never got around to it. I wanted to wear my new bling that Addie and Matt picked out for me from Colleen’s Glitz creations, and since I own exactly zero pieces of purple clothing, I knew I’d have to go black and white. So I texted Noreen to let her know, and here we are. I’m so grateful for the gospel and the wonderful friends and ward family I love. 

On Monday morning, the very last day of the year, I finished President Nelson’s Book of Mormon challenge. It was so good. With our Route 66’ing I had fallen behind and was reading 15 pages a day there at the end, but I did it and I’m so glad I did. We were also challenged to mark anything that spoke of the Savior.  I was amazed at how much I marked! At first do even questioned if I was doing it right, until we talked about it in rs and everyone said the same thing. This amazing book is truly another testament of Jesus Christ. I love Him and and so grateful for Him, and for a living prophet on the earth today. I also looked for any time they mentioned “minister” or “ministering,” and will study that next. 

Around lunchtime I took the girls to Sarah’s to play. I stayed visiting with her way too long, partly because we haven’t caught up in a really long time and partly because I am really over painting. Yesterday’s project was basement baseboards in preparation for our new carpet that will now come next week. When Matt got home he jumped on shelf priming and it was yet another work party 2018. 

While at the Aina’s, Delaney Ray lost a tooth!

There was drama this morning when she bent her tooth too far forward and it was bloody, so i was worried there’d be drama at their house, but Sarah said they were able to cheer for her and any impending drama quickly disappeared. (and the tooth fairy remembered to come, so yay)

I finished all the baseboards but the stairs. Holla! It was just in time to quickly make some goodies and head over to Mc’s to party in the New Year! Sarah brought Loaded Questions and we had fun playing. 

Chris and Sarah came by to light off fireworks. Everyone but Frankie loved them. I stayed in with her with my hands over her ears until the very end when she finally agreed to go outside. 

The girls brought the school bus up and with 5 girls onboard and some impressive manuevering even managed a 3 point turn in the living room. 

We didn’t get to finish, but somehow Matt was in the lead at the end of the game. He was followed closely by me, sooo.  

Sillies. 

Delaney came up around 11:30 and was too tired to party anymore. She was also slightly disgruntled that i hadn’t brought lovey. Other than that, all the kids did great and were still ready to party! 

We did our best at a group picture after midnight. 

Always fun, never annoying. 

As good as it gets!

Laura has taught most of these girls primary classes at one point or another. They love her. And even better, she loves them!

We had to take a selfie!

I wasn’t sure where to look with Laura’s weird phone. 😂

So then the boys had to make fun of our selfies. #jelly

But they took a cute picture, so it’s fine i guess 

Lexi Lu and Cade brought in the new year at a friends and looks like they had almost as much fun as we did. 

2018 was a good year! Looking forward to 2019!