thoughtful thursday: good

things that made me smile last week

a day late and a dollar short. but better late than never...

* i stopped for a whole day this weekend and did nothing. i slept until my body said no more was needed. and it was wonderful.

* saturday morning i joined other members of my ward (congegration) and helped to clean our chapel. there is something extremely satisfying and soul filling about washing windows, and i washed every single window that i could reach without a ladder in our chapel. let the light come in, i thought.

* as i cleaned the chapel i listened to the book of mormon (not the musical) and it made my morning just that much more peaceful.

* spontaneous lunch date with a great friend.

* i love my friend MW and was so excited to take her to the new digs. she's now officially moved across the river and i'm super glad she's nearby.

* my boyfriend, josiah, has been extra clingy but i'm totally eating it up and loving it, as is he.

* it was 60 degrees plus on saturday. such a nice break from the cold.

* how YOU dumping today?

* talks with my brothers about life and electrical wiring. seriously, combine the knowledge of these boys and we've got it covered. they are some of the wisest men i know.

* cooking dinner for two.

* a photo of nephew B in bright blue underwear and a red super hero cape. apparently this has been his outfit of choice since receiving his christmas gift from a certain cool aunt who shall remain unnamed.

* one morning i woke up at 0444 with the thought that i needed to go running. at 0545 i met up with back on my feet and ran two miles in 17 degrees of bone chilling cold. the hot shower afterwards was heavenly.

* clean bed sheets. thick warm socks. navy sweats. uggs. cotton and lace nightgowns. candycane hot chocoloate. hand made quilts on my bed. good books. peach and mago salsa. homemade macaroni and cheese. smoked turkey. new pillows. a healthy body. cold water. hot showers.

friends

he knows he's not allowed in the living room, 

but he totally came in and climbed up on the couch with me last night.

we didn't have the heart to get after him for breaking the rules.

thoughtful thursday: waiting for us

image via

things that made me smile this week

* a little girl wearing her first pair of grown up boots. she kept moving around the store and clicking her heels intentionally against the tile floor. it was fun to see her enjoyment.

* visiting one of the most beautiful gardens on the east coast. i love longwood gardens. they really know how to do christmas there.

* visiting a good friend home on leave from training. totally worth the drive!

* being honest with myself about something, even though it's not the way i imagined it.

* a new beginning.

* spoiling josiah while my roommate was gone. have i mentioned that i love this dog?

* my dad calling to say thank you for the picture of the roses still in bloom i posted earlier this week.

* even though it's christmas and january, i've enjoyed the lovely weather we've had the past couple of weeks. the warm sunshine has been beautiful and sparkly, and the cooler nights have been just right.

* choo choo.

* ringing in the new year with good friends, old and new.

* relaxing, totally relaxing.

* having monday (today) off.

* a dream where i was the personal assistant to the past president and then the current president. it was just funny to me. (this is the second dream about being friendly with a president... hmmm.)

* time spent with good friends at the movies, over lunch at home, and online. friends add so much to my life.

* being so homesick that i looked for an airline ticket to fly my mom out here... i wish.

* i have a really cool job right now, and i'm looking forward to going back tomorrow.

looking back

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.

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.

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.