{ 2017 Year in Review }

2 0 1 7  Y E A R  I N  R E V I E W

1. What did you do in 2017 that you’d never done before?

Finally went to Europe I lived out my dream trip raised the money, made goals, planned it, carried it out and seriously it was amazing I think about it everyday I would go back in a heartbeat just need to win a million:)  I loved having D all to myself remembering who we are together and exploring as much as we could in 13 days a highlight of my life....for sure!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 

This year was a busy hard year kinda glad its over but excited for whats ahead

-and yes I kept my resolutions to workout to eat healthy and be stronger

3. Did anyone close to you give birth adopt etc?
- YES little Maren and ....

 my sister is adopting a sibling trio of three boys 5,3,1 and we are so excited for there family

4. Did anyone close to you die?

-Yes an uncle way to early

5. What countries did you visit?

ENGLAND FRANCE SCOTLAND IRELAND

and the USA:)

6. What would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017?

- strength physically ...I'm going to learn to lift weights, burdens, moods, and others and continue all that I already do only better than last year

- I would like to do more as a family go a fun trip together and make new memories together its weird thinking we only have two more summers till K leaves ahhh!

7. What dates from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

-The day I got on the plane for Europe was a rush because I had worked so hard for it

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

-achieving personal goals

 - went to a  garth brooks concert so fun!

- Had a lot of fun this summer reunions..... the lake.....time well spent despite life happenings we made the most of it....and survived

9. What was your biggest failure?

-Not so much failure but moments I would do again 

10. Did you or someone close suffer illness or injury?

-D got a huge sprained ankle from a gopher hole

-L got stitches for cutting open her finger on a new knife seconds after I told her to be careful its sharp

11. What was the best thing you bought?

-A plane ticket to Europe and every other thing associated with that:)

12. Where did most of your money go?

-Lets just say kids get more expensive as they get older food clothes sports..... house and vehicles

-Lots of replacements and repairs that were costly this year:(

worth it heck ya!

14. Some favorite moments of 2017

{Besides Europe haha}

 K2's baptism in July was pretty special

 Going to Conference in October and surprising the kids it was amazing and we got to see some of our favorite missionaries who had served here:)

 Boating is always a highlight till it breaks down:(

My sisters little boy was sealed to them in June that's a pretty amazing event that we all loved and most of my siblings except for one brother made it for the day!

 The eclipse was pretty amazing even from our corner of the world

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder?

Happy.. same... counting my blessings you never know 

on any day what can happen what you can lose and
so we appreciate it!


16. What do you wish you’d done more of?

- I tried hard to use my time more wisely and to remember that the children are the most important people in our lives we attended lots of sports of all the kids piano swim etc 

-not sure what I wish I had done more of I guess we can all do more of what we should be doing going to the temple, studying my scriptures but I worked harder on that this year too and will keep working on it

 17. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Not sure it was filled with ups and downs and life lessons but I could have been on my knees more and strengthened good habits better..

18. How did you spend Christmas?

-Christmas eve at our house we always do appetizers and potato soup and buns  the nativity and stories we had our family my sisters family and my brother and his kids this year as well as the sisters so it was nice then we open up new pjs Christmas day we did our own thing here then headed to cardston to D's parents and mine for a bit and Christmas dinner:)

19. What was your favorite TV program?

we don't have TV but

Net flicks series get me through When calls the heart got me through early winter treadmill running so far ... I actually really love it and Christmas hallmark shows and Nicholas sparks movies ahhh

20. What were your favorite books of the year?

-I reread all of the children of the promise books series by Dean Hughes favorite favorite series! So good!

21. What was your favorite treats/food this year?

same old I'm kinda of a boring girl I do like chewy candies though ha ha
-hot lips or cinnamon bears and Wrigley spearmint gum

-cafe verde/rio  salads  perfection fruits and veggies:)

22. What were your favorite movies of the year?

-Didn't really see any awesome ones this year just watched 

wonder women and I actually really liked it

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

-I turned 41 last January not sure how that happened but nothing out of the ordinary. We just keep getting older not sure whats going on

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

-Keeping it together another year;)  Kinda true though it was a tough year for a lot of reasons but there are blessings all along the way and for that I am so thankful I have great kids who are good kids making exciting choices and really growing up into all I hope they can and will be....that's satisfying for sure

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2017?

- booties skinny jeans peplum, gingham and floral going strong..... cute coats and yes I like to shop:)

26. What kept you sane?

- Sunrises and early morning late night runs:))

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017.

I struggled with a few personal things this year and finding my place after the kids all went to school and with them getting older.  I had so many opportunities to reach out and help and see beyond myself..... 

But some days I think where did I think I would be at this stage of life? What do I want to do? Am I where I want to be? DO I need to change something? Work harder? Strengthen our walls and home and for me to let loose some reigns and let them fly and make choices and learn and expand.  Its hard to let go the little things that used to matter so much, but now they are developing into their own selves even more and I realize more than ever that this is were we let them fly a little more to experience the life they want to. 

That being an example is more important than ever because that's the memories they take with them. That's what makes a childhood and a lifetime of memories that make us who we are and what we want to be. The influence we have is so important and I realize that, and that is a valuable life lesson for me to be better, love harder let go easier and move forward together...... leading  guiding and walking beside them each step so that someday they are ready to go on there own.

I've realized more and more how fast time goes by and how much I want to do all I can for my children in the short time I have them home.  To raise them to be strong, independent hard working  faith filled children turned adults who contribute to society. 

They are well on their way and its exciting to see them become who they are meant to be, though a little sad that they do grow up so fast. 

The older I get the harder some things are, but the clearer I see the things that are important. The friends I choose to be around are those that build up and who we can depend on. 

IN 2018:

 MY WORD OF THE YEAR THIS 2018 is 

 BALANCE 

"if you cannot do great things do small things in a great way."

I want balance in my home and spirit and life to find that happy medium that its okay that not everything gets done that its okay if we aren't the perfect scripture reading family we try and that counts every bit whether we get up at 6 to read or it gets done 5 minutes before bus or at night its okay we are doing it...

I want to find balance within and not stress and over process things

I want to find balance with my children in our relationships and around the house

BALANCE in spiritual ways and physical ways and blending them all together is BALANCE so I'm hoping throughout the year to stop and see and make sure that everything is 

in Balance that its working because we so often as women especially we doubt ourselves 

as a women as a mother as a wife.....

"ONE OF THE GREATEST WEAKNESSES IN MOST
OF US IS
OUR LACK OF FAITH IN OURSELVES." 

-L. Tom Perry

This quote rang true when I read it I love it because its so true we are all important we just don't realize it a lot of the time and we kick ourselves when we are already at our worst or feeling down. So I hope this year to see my own worth and to balance the things on my plate and to be the best I can for my family and myself.....

Here's to 2018