Belated Birthday Gift to Jesus

I love starting off a new year. I don't know why the act of switching out my calendar makes me think now would be a good time to change but I think we all know we do the same thing.

While living in Arkansas, our family celebrated Christmas Eve every year with the Blaylock family and the rest of our adopted Christmas Eve family. We called it a birthday party for Jesus, and after the program we would have birthday cupcakes. One person would light the candle on their birthday cupcake and then announce their birthday gift to Jesus. This was our way of setting a resolution.

Over the years I set many goals. Many of them too personal to share outside of my adopted Christmas Eve family. In fact, for the last three years, my birthday gift to Jesus was related to improving a relationship with a specific person. Last year we went to Denver for Christmas and so I came up with my birthday gift to Jesus and just tucked it away in my mind, not sharing it with anyone. It is difficult to change your (MY) personality but it is needed. I spent a lot of time working on it and I think I improved dramatically but I doubt if this person recognizes much of a change. I think a lot of it is my attitude. So, this will continued to be worked on this year.

To add to that, I have set a new goal also. My new birthday gift this year will stretch me in many ways. Let me explain.

Last year Sister Beck spoke at the broadcast of our Stake Conference. She spoke about setting high expectations for our children and told how she was reading the Book of Mormon with each of her grandchildren before they got baptized. Blaine and I approached Brice to see if he wanted to read the Book of Mormon before he got baptized and he agreed. I told him I would read it separately but finish before his special day too. He started sometime in September, reading five pages a day for three months, and finished the night before we flew to Denver for Christmas, Aunts weddings and his baptism. (I finished the night before his baptism, Christmas Day) I was very proud of him.

Kierstin will be turning eight in August and has just started the same challenge. She has a little more time than Brice but I know she will need it. I told her I would read it also but I am going to do it in Spanish. I figure it will help me in three areas of my life. 1. Obviously, reading the Book of Mormon is always good and my testimony of it will continue to be enhanced. I am also excited to read it with my new-found understanding about city placement in Book of Mormon times since visiting many of them over Christmas. 2. I am hoping my Spanish will get better. I don't have many opportunities to practice and when I do, I shy away from them. 3. The only time I have found that I can read in peace is right after walk the kids to the bus stop and exercise. If I don't exercise, I waste my time on other things. This will help me physically and cut down on my face book time! Three wonderful things all wrapped up into one!

Blaine and I have also set a financial goal together for 2009.

For Family Home Evening this last week we did a lesson about goal setting. Blaine explained that goals have to be attainable and measurable. Here is the idea list we came up with:
1. Play more games (Brinley's idea)
2. Familiy prayer morning and night (we do a good job but morning is forgotten sometimes)
3. Make cookies every week (Oh boy oh boy)
4. Family scripture study every day (again something we already do good at)
5. No chaos (measurable but not attainable!)
6. Have a weekly service project (Kiesrtin's idea, at least I thought it was until she corrected me and said...)
7. A weekly circus show
8. Daily stretching program
9. Invite a non-member over for Family Home Evening or a discussion (the winner!)

So, here is a recap of my 2009 goals:
1. Continue to last years goal in reguards to a specific person.
2. Read the Book of Mormon in Spanish
3. My financial goal with Blaine
4. Our family goal to have a family over for FHE or a discussion

Number one isn't measurable but all the rest of them are and I know they are all attainable. Wish me luck!