January wrap-up

Well 31 days into the year and I already have a better blog record than all of last year. Feeling good about that! Guess that means that I am giving a little attention to at least one of my big rocks, my Happiness Creativity and Exercise rock. In reality this last week has been a little slim in the writing category but that is because other important things have been prioritized naturally through LIFE. So another lesson in living with INTENTION. Even my best INTENTIONS can get disrupted by LIFE!

So, an update on my BIG 5!

1) Marriage - It has been an interesting month. Some arguments, some dates, some discussion and we are reading a book simultaneously. That is HUGE! Fred is not a book reader but we found a book that peaked his interests so we are reading it together. I think he has taken the lead. But I'll catch up soon. It is a relationship book. Good to get another perspective on some things. Not sure if we both "buy" in 100% but we'll have something to talk about that's for sure.

2) Boys - My boys are amazing. I have tried to do some stuff with each boy this month. Nothing major but something that allows us to spend some time together. Will and I went to Sam's one day and saw a movie another night. Nic and I often have alone time on the way home from play practice. We did some volunteering together this month. Things are good here!

Got the people idea from Pinterest and made it my own.

3) Happiness, Exercise and Creativity - Well, I am pretty happy right this second. I have been exercising a bit this month. Not as much as I should or could but my pal Susan and I have walked and laughed and done some good moving "therapy" and I am pleased with that. I have taken some time this month to create a few things. I made a map family that shows where each of us was born. I also made a map of all of the major cities Fred and I have lived since we were married. It doesn't show all of the addresses but just the cities and states.  I have also been working on filling in a scrapbook album that I assembled a while ago. It was a kit and was 10 Things That Define Me. It have some stuff as surface as my 4 favorite movies and as deep as my 2 greatest fears. I am jumping around a bit and piecing it all together. It'll be cool when I'm done.

Picked up the cork page in Indiana last summer and embellished with my new favorite, paper rosettes.

4) Relationships with close friends and family - The friend stuff is going well. I am fostering them as much as I can considering my schedule. Working a bunch recently has limited my access to some friends but if I work hard enough I can squeeze in time. I grabbed a friend last week and we went to a movie late. We missed all of the previews, I NEVER do that, and had to RUN out at the end to get home in time to get her daughter. We both needed to escape. It was worth the effort.

5) Faith - Well, I am happy to say that I have working on this enough this month. I could spend more time in quiet contemplation, many people could, but the fact that we went to church TWICE in one month made my heart happy. The fact that my prayer journal pages are filling quickly and I am seeing results from my prayers is amazing. I have always prayed and have listed special intentions for as long as I can remember but only recently have I begun WRITING them in black and white. It is powerful and shows my INTENTION in not only saying "I'm praying for you." but actually doing it! I will probably have a few volumes for the year but that is okay. I have plenty of blank books and note pages around here to fill with every little request and praise for HIM.

So looking back at 31 days I am pleased. 2012 is going well. I am juggling my big rocks, little rocks and keeping the sand to a minimum. I do lose myself in DVR'd shows on occasion but that is okay. I am allowed to do that. I give myself permission to escape. It is good for the soul.

Looking ahead to February. I am thinking about special ways that I can express my LOVE for my family. I am thinking about special menu choices and maybe some poetry. Maybe. I do have every INTENTION of getting my New Years Cards in the mail. The envelopes are addressed, cards are signed, the letter is written but needs to be copied and I need to print the photos. I spoke a deadline to my pal Denise of Valentine's Day. Still completely doable.