When it comes to resolutions

I AM REALLY GOOD AT MAKING THEM, BUT NOT ALWAYS KEEPING THEM. I'm not really one who makes a "list" of things I want to accomplish in a new year. Sure, I make many mental lists, but they are always changing. This year, as people are blogging about it, talking about it, teaching about it....."it" got me thinking about what I wanted to do about it! I mean, sure, we all wish we had a thinner waistline, better hair, that we drank more water and consumed less chocolate, that we could manage exercise early in the mornings, Pilate's in the afternoons, and a little Zumba in the evenings. I thought about the many things I had already put down on my mental list....things like: get this baby fat off, be more patent with my kids, watch less T.V., build up my food storage, take more walks, organize my closets, take better pictures, and study more. All of these things are important to me, but are being put on the back burner if you will. I want to first focus on what maters most.

President Thomas S. Monson says that what matters most to us usually includes those close to us....FAMILY. He asks us to love our family. We should never assume that they know of our love, but rather, we need to let them know.

"Never let a problem to be solved, more important than a person to be loved."

Wow. Never has a statement hit me so hard. I thought about all the times I tried to solve a "problem" when the more important matter that should have taken my time and attention was the person behind the problem.

This year I want to try a little harder to respond to my problems with greater LOVE. When my kids are grouchy, disobedient, sassy, whiny, stubborn....I am going to try responding with just some good ol love. I believe that this will work better than what I have tried in the past, which I won't mention... :)

Now I would like to give a special thanks to those who matter most to me...

To my wonderful husband who has shown me great love though out our years of marriage. Thank you for showing me what matters most. I know with out a doubt that you love and cherish me.



To my little Caleb, you always have a way of knowing when I am sad and respond to it with a hug, a kiss, and an "I love you." Thank you for your random acts of kindness toward me. You are such a wonderful example to all that meet you. I love you.


To my sweet Hannah, thank you for always making me laugh! You are the life of the party. I love your "special notes" that I get from you that are always addressed To mom, From Hannah. Thank you for being my little shining light in the darkness. I love you.



To my mother, who brought me to this world, who taught me how to love and how to be loved. Who let me cry in her bed until I feel asleep. Who waited up for me when I came home from a date. Who was there when I got married in the temple. And who always, always reminds me that I am loved. Thank you mom, for all of the other many, many more things that you have done for me.


To my father-in-law, who always sends me kind and inspiring emails.
To my Mother-in -Law Who in loving memory, reminds me everyday by her life lived what should matter most.


To all of my wonderful grandparents, who remember each one of my kids birthdays, who know when we need a call, and who always smother us with kindness when we visit. Thank you for your love.


To my brothers, who played barbie soda shop with me, who played house with me, who jumped on the tramp with me and who now play these things with my kids. :)

"Despite the changes which come into our lives...
may we fill our days, as much as we can, with those things...
which matter most."