Looking back at my resolutions for 2011 was eye opening. I didn't accomplish most of them. But at the end of this year, more so than any other year in recent memory, I feel differently about myself, who I truly am, what I truly want and where I'm headed. I'm definitely a different and better person than when I started out this year, and that feels good.
This wasn't an easy year for me personally. I wasn't always happy with myself. I struggled through some really tough stuff this year and am still struggling with some of it. Growing is painful and this year was no exception.
This year was awesome though! And I'm so thankful for all my experiences and all the growing. I still have a long way to go, but I'm a little closer to where I want to be.
What I succeeded in doing:
- Being more child like: I had a lot of fun this year listening to my inner child and giving into her this year. I got a fish, watched a lot of Muppets YouTube Videos, have a new dog friend, and laughed much more than I have in a while.
- Turned off the television: cancelled my cable bill. Everything I want to watch is available on Netflix, online, or via iTunes, and it's on my schedule when I choose.
- Planned and carried out the first ever Boyer Family Reunion. I'm proudest of fulfilling this resolution. We decided it will now be an annual event. I can't wait for the next one.
- Spend more time being quiet - scripture study, prayer and meditation.
- Save money and travel. So, I saved money, but didn't travel nearly as much as I would have liked. Something to work on.
- Be open to adventures in rain, love, family and life. 2011 was definitely an adventure. I fell in love (twice!), spent good, quality time with family and friends, moved into a house (above ground living space = yay!) and learned quite a bit about who I truly am and what I really want.
All in all a rather successful year.
So, for 2012:
- I like this idea: To participate more fully in my life and that of the people around me. Be more present in the present.
- Refine and increase my quiet time - scripture study, prayer, fasting and meditation.
- Get a new job that contributes more meaningfully to helping people and goodness. And most importantly, be where God wants me to be.
- Be open to Love in all its iterations. It really is all we really need.
- Take more photos. Play more music. Dance more. Play more. Create more.
- Run a race with my sister. (I always say I'm going to do this one, but now it's written down, officially.)
- Follow through.
- Re-evaluate first impressions.
- Do stuff that scares me. Trust.
- Strengthen.
- Forgive.
Happy New Year! More than what you want, may you receive what you need.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
random resolutions
sweet green, which has really yummy salads and is a favorite place to eat,
started a new year's resolution post-it window display. love this!
here are a few for inspiration.
happy new year!
may all your dreams come true in this new year.
Friday, December 30, 2011
christmas scenes
for two weeks my camera was lost. i found it yesterday--woohoo!
so, finally a few christmas photos....
dad, some of the roses are still blooming here.
two cute houses.
the christmas eve pageant.
candlelight carol
my front yard = 1200 lights
and the little trees are made using upside down tomato cages.
our christmas tree
hope that yours was merry and bright.
christmas at longwood gardens
I went to one of my most favorite places on the east coast this week.
I love gorgeous Longwood Gardens.
All photos are taken with my Droid Incredible 2 phone--Amazing.
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| 12-27-2011 Longwood Gardens Christmas |
Thursday, December 29, 2011
thoughtful thursday: participate more fully
"Every new year, people make resolutions. I stole my perpetual resolution a couple of decades ago from a man named Leo who woke up at age 54 and said, "I can't read. I'm going to learn how." I met him through Literacy Volunteers of America.
"He had decided, he said, to participate more fully in his own life and that of the people around him. To do that, he needed to know how to read. Taking that first step must have been hard.
"He'd spent decades trying to disguise what he didn't know before he decided to go for it.
"That's the attitude I want to take into this new year and all the ones that follow it. It's what you don't yet know that leads to the next frontier."
(Collins, Lois M. "Resolve to turn life's 'what-ifs' into 'so-whats'. Deseret News 29 Dec 2011. online)
"He had decided, he said, to participate more fully in his own life and that of the people around him. To do that, he needed to know how to read. Taking that first step must have been hard.
"He'd spent decades trying to disguise what he didn't know before he decided to go for it.
"That's the attitude I want to take into this new year and all the ones that follow it. It's what you don't yet know that leads to the next frontier."
(Collins, Lois M. "Resolve to turn life's 'what-ifs' into 'so-whats'. Deseret News 29 Dec 2011. online)
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
i was fine...
until i went back to work today. now i'm needing me a little of all this...
yep, today i'm just a little homesick for family.
Monday, December 26, 2011
things that made me smile this week
totally forgot to mention last week:
*a stunning performance of The Messiah at the Kennedy Center. for the past three years i've attended with wonderful friends, and the performances were beautiful. this year's performance was special and so beautifully done with feeling and musicianship that it is know my favorite performance. the bass and tenor were my favorites to listen to, because they sang with so much feeling and enjoyment, you could feel their love and excitement for what they were singing. the conductor looked like he was twelve, and was so energetic; he was a joy to watch as he directed the musicians without a score in front of him. the choir was so unified this year, they sounded as one voice with no soloists in the bunch. i loved this performance and was moved to tears many times.
and now for this week:
* baking cookies and making peppermint marshmallows with friends. it made the work of baking all the christmas cookies much easier and a lot more fun.
* church bells ringing on christmas eve do my heart good.
* little kids dressed as mary and joseph, the oxen and sheeps, shepherds and wiseman, and angels. there is almost nothing better than this on christmas eve.
* spending quiet time on christmas day. i'm so glad i didn't travel for christmas this year. it was so nice to spend time on my own thinking about the true meaning of christmas, reading the christmas story and watching these new movies.
* spending time with josiah. he's a such a good dog and seems to know when i'm feeling a little homesick.
* listening to nieces and nephews recount their christmas treasures and how much fun they're having.
* skype is awesome. i wish more of my family would join the 21st century and get webcams so we can video chat. it's so fun to see people's faces as we talk.
* finding the differences and commonalities with a new friend and having a grown up conversation and making a grown up decision. all very good things.
* cat sitting for a friend. i was joyously greeted by peter and mimi on more than one occasion when i stopped by to feed and play with them. i love these two kitties.
* homemade beef stew. cooking with my new knives. chopping vegetables was never so easy.
* learning that i know myself better than i thought i did.
* homemade pizza for christmas dinner and the company of good friends. i love my dc family.
* receiving the gift of my first ever power tool, a drill, from a good friend.
* christmas lights.
* during the christmas eve service, having my little friend ask me what the candles were for. mom and i both explained that it was to share the light for christmas. i asked who the light was and then helped her understand that Jesus is the light. she totally got it and kept saying she was going to share Jesus with me.
* not setting an alarm. heaven.
* cold weather. hot chocolate. good conversation.
* christmas eve breakfast date at eastern market with a good friend.
* the missionaries coming over for carols and cookies. they serenade me with christmas carols and i give them cookies in return.
* a new year is right around the corner with lots of good things.
*a stunning performance of The Messiah at the Kennedy Center. for the past three years i've attended with wonderful friends, and the performances were beautiful. this year's performance was special and so beautifully done with feeling and musicianship that it is know my favorite performance. the bass and tenor were my favorites to listen to, because they sang with so much feeling and enjoyment, you could feel their love and excitement for what they were singing. the conductor looked like he was twelve, and was so energetic; he was a joy to watch as he directed the musicians without a score in front of him. the choir was so unified this year, they sounded as one voice with no soloists in the bunch. i loved this performance and was moved to tears many times.
and now for this week:
* baking cookies and making peppermint marshmallows with friends. it made the work of baking all the christmas cookies much easier and a lot more fun.
* church bells ringing on christmas eve do my heart good.
* little kids dressed as mary and joseph, the oxen and sheeps, shepherds and wiseman, and angels. there is almost nothing better than this on christmas eve.
* spending quiet time on christmas day. i'm so glad i didn't travel for christmas this year. it was so nice to spend time on my own thinking about the true meaning of christmas, reading the christmas story and watching these new movies.
* spending time with josiah. he's a such a good dog and seems to know when i'm feeling a little homesick.
* listening to nieces and nephews recount their christmas treasures and how much fun they're having.
* skype is awesome. i wish more of my family would join the 21st century and get webcams so we can video chat. it's so fun to see people's faces as we talk.
* finding the differences and commonalities with a new friend and having a grown up conversation and making a grown up decision. all very good things.
* cat sitting for a friend. i was joyously greeted by peter and mimi on more than one occasion when i stopped by to feed and play with them. i love these two kitties.
* homemade beef stew. cooking with my new knives. chopping vegetables was never so easy.
* learning that i know myself better than i thought i did.
* homemade pizza for christmas dinner and the company of good friends. i love my dc family.
* receiving the gift of my first ever power tool, a drill, from a good friend.
* christmas lights.
* during the christmas eve service, having my little friend ask me what the candles were for. mom and i both explained that it was to share the light for christmas. i asked who the light was and then helped her understand that Jesus is the light. she totally got it and kept saying she was going to share Jesus with me.
* not setting an alarm. heaven.
* cold weather. hot chocolate. good conversation.
* christmas eve breakfast date at eastern market with a good friend.
* the missionaries coming over for carols and cookies. they serenade me with christmas carols and i give them cookies in return.
* a new year is right around the corner with lots of good things.
Friday, December 23, 2011
repeat the sounding the joy
A colleague posed this question on her Facebook status: "What does it mean to 'repeat the sounding joy'?" I can't stop thinking about this. What a wonderful Christmas question!
Shepherds near Bethlehem were tending their flocks during the night, when suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared saying: "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is the Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)
These shepherds received specific instructions on how to find this Saviour; he would be a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger (Luke 2:12). They followed these instructions quickly searching Bethlehem for the child and upon finding him and seeing the angel's words fulfilled "they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds (Luke 2:17-18).
I love this story. Good tidings of great joy are given to a group of men who follow the instructions and then share the news of what they found with their neighbors in Bethlehem. If this isn't an example of repeating the sounding joy, then I don't know what is.
Repeating the sounding joy is loudly and joyfully done at Christmas, but it should be done all year through. Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ both in word and by example are the best ways to repeat the sounding joy and to give the wondrous gifts of Christmas. "These are the gifts that we can offer to others for Him. We do that by remembering him and trying with all out hearts to do what he would do and love as he loves" (El. Eyring, 2011 First Presidency Christmas Devotional).
So, repeat, repeat the sounding joy!!!!!
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