Improving Focus

So how do you keep up with all you want to do?  I haven't figured it out yet but I have figured out what I want to do...I think.  Last Sunday (not yesterday) I gave a talk in sacrament (which I posted) about the Holy Ghost.  I realized how little I truly understood about my own beliefs.  The week before during sacrament I prayed that I would know what to study and then the Bishop asked us to speak and then this past week I realized that I want to study, in depth, the beliefs of my church.  As I pondered this I wondered how to start.  Obviously I will continue an in depth study of the Holy Ghost but where to after that?  I fell asleep on Saturday night thinking about the book "The Articles of Faith" written by James Talmage and woke up thinking about it as well.  So I figured that's a good place to start.  There are thirteen articles of faith which point out our basic beliefs.  If I concentrate on one article each month I will be done in a little over one year...or maybe fifty. :) 

That was the first thing.  The next thing I want to do is put together a book for those who have had Gastric Bypass that includes recipes for each stage of their post-op recovery.  During the last year that has been something I've struggled with. I've gotten bored with food and so branched out into things I shouldn't eat.  If I'd had something like that I think I could have stayed on track better.  Along these same lines I've decided to join a triathlon group with Clint and Karen. There is a "Try a Tri" in June just after by little brother's wedding that I think I might work toward.  I want to make sure that I had the surgery and am using the tools it gave me to a good purpose (a long and healthy life).

I also want to concentrate on being a good mom and doing things with Gweny that will help her to continue to grow and learn.  I don't think I'm a bad mom or neglectful or anything I just want to be better.  I will probably post some of our projects in my other blog "Underground Stampers" when something fun comes up.  I want to use the time we have in Southeastern Utah to my advantage.  I've already started and hopefully this weekly blog will continue to show my progress in my goals.

If you have fun activities, projects, crafts, books, etc that you want to share please do so.  I need all the help I can get.  Now get out there and celebrate the set of circumstance that is your life!

And the Prodigal Daughter Returns...

Yep, I'm back! A lot has happened and I've decided to renew my efforts at a blog. I've updated the title because the last one didn't really fit. I've decided to celebrate all of the little things that happen in life...and some of the big ones too. Some people don't believe in random happenings and some do. Some call it fate others providence...I think it's just circumstances that happen in our lives. Sometimes it's based on our choices (good and bad) and other times it's Heavenly Father answering our prayers.

A month ago I underwent a huge life change. I had gastric bypass on March 19, 2010 and am almost one month out. My reasons for making this rather drastic change are so multi-faceted but ultimately it was a selfish decision. I could see my life and health spiraling downward and felt that the best solution was to make a HUGE change...so I did. I want to be here a LONG time, to watch Gweny grow up, to have grand kids and to sit on a porch in a rocking chair with my amazing husband. It took awhile to get the insurance stuff together and the support of some pretty amazing people (without whom I wouldn't have been able to have the surgery) but I did it and I have NO regrets. As of today I've lost 34lbs and am feeling great. I ran after Gweny today and wasn't as winded as I normally would have been. It's difficult getting used to little food but I'm feeling better so I'm happy to make that change. I'm looking forward to being more active and I know that Clint will support it.

I attempted to get into Grad school but it didn't happen. It was probably for the best though so that I can concentrate on myself and my current plans. I have officially given up on hearing back from the author of the book I wrote an adaptation (screenplay) for. He has had it since late Sept/ early Oct and I've never heard anything. One thing I did find out was that they are making a movie of the book and he has gone through someone elese...I imaging that this is my feedback from him. I decided that instead of wasting valuable energy on something that didn't work out I would work on my novel. It's going well, I've written almost fifty pages so far and am LOVING where the story is going. Right now it is in the development stage and eventually I'll go back through and add more details etc. I also recently signed up to be a demonstrator with Stampin' Up! and I'm super excited. It is just a fun way to let out another part of my creativity and I am looking forward to really getting that going. Finally, I am still teaching. I am teaching one class this summer and two in the Fall. It is a joy to go and teach and watch the light bulbs go off above their heads. The Spring semester is almost done which means the crunch is here. I also have an editing job I'm finishing up and will probably send it out tomorrow.

Clint is an amazing husband who works three jobs so that I don't have to go full-time. He seems to enjoy them but I know he would like to be home more. Perhaps one of the endeavors I've undertaken will eventually allow that. He is gearing up for the racing season but it's been a bit slow with the sicknesses and surgeries that have been happening. In December he had his shoulder worked on and so far it has healed wonderfully. Hopefully this means that he will be able to do a triathlon and not be worried about the swimming aspect.

Gweny continues to grow and is 27.8lbs (as of two days ago). She has NO fear which keeps me on my toes and is the smartest little 2.5 year-old I've ever met. She speaks in complete sentences, is very courteous (most of the time), dances, sings, does somersaults, draws, and enjoys giving hugs and kisses. She and Daisy are still best friends and are wonderful together. She is content to stay in diapers and hasn't been interested in her big girl panties for several months. Hopefully she will gain an interest soon.

So there it is. My life in a nutshell. I can't complain, life really is great. I feel like I'm finally coming into my own as a mom, wife, and woman. It's about freakin' time!