Getting Off In The New Year On The Right Track

We all make some kind of commitments to ourselves this time of year; it just comes with the season don't you think?

Change is undeniably one of the most difficult things we choose do in life. In my experience of all the people I've known who do step forward to change something in their life, these people are some of the most happy and excited folks I've seen, they're about enjoying life at its fullest without limits. In fact these folks are living their dreams out loud!

Doesn't it seem like Y2K and it's concerns were just a few years ago?? In fact you may be like me...wondering where oh where did the last decade go?

We've all heard the classic definition of insanity... (Doing the same thing expecting different results), LOL.

A few months ago my sweet husband and I were were setting up his new office furniture. We had boxed up all of his books from his old office space and they had been packed for quite a few months. As I carried up some things from downstairs and laid them on the desk, I noticed one of his older journals,one from back in the early 90's. I started flipping through it, reading here and there and came across a posting from January 21 1994. It was really exciting to read a list of his top 10 goals. What was more fun was seeing my husbands reaction as he read through this list...He was almost shouting "Carol look at this!" All of his list had been achieved...All of them~ DONE! The power of the written word coupled with desire and vision STILL astounds me!

But lets be clear, desire and vision are not the same, nor are wishing to create change versus real outcomes based on activity toward change. The path that must be followed to achieve what we want in life really isn’t rocket science, but it does require commitment and effort. My desire is to explore even more in this next decade, to reach beyond myself...and even suprise myself with amazing discoveries. I have chosen to use the S.M.A.R.T. Track to direct myself to my desired outcomes. SMART TRACK...What is that you might ask?? S.M.A.R.T. Track is a focus group of like minded individuals who choose to set goals, meet weekly and report what happened for a 6 week period. S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, & Timely. So what is it you have been planning to do? Why not turn it into a S.M.A.R.T. goal?

This could be fun... it could push you out of your comfort zone too!It just might help you grow and facilitate your helping others with thier goals too! Why not change the direction of the next decade of YOUR life?

Out with the old & in with 2010!!

Have you heard the saying "Once in a Blue Moon"? Well guess what? This New Year of 2010 was truely a Blue Moon!! You can learn about this rare occurance a bit more on Yahoo.

The old year was full of wonderful times, great experiences with friends and business partners and traveling to new and exciting places, but it also was a time of financial hardships for so many, a time of leaving old lives behind and saying goodbye. I'm so excited to see this brand new year get started! Whoo Hoo! It's a brand new year...2010... and do I have plans! I want to make our rare BLUE MOON New Year into something special. Last year I was challenged to stop creating goals which are destined to fail,so this year I will be using new terms to creat my LifeMap.Instead I will be replacing my thinking and speaking with words like DESIRED OUTCOMES and EXPECTED RESULTS...I'll let you know how it turns out.

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My first craft of the New Year is going to be a desktop calendar...a cute CD style that I have been wanting to create digitally. Here is a photo of the sample and the link I found that has this template.



http://shuttersisters.com/home/2009/10/24/2010-photo-calendar-templates.html

In search of the perfect Christmas?

In search of the perfect Christmas? So much of our culture here in the USA is steeped in product marketing. Where did all of our current tradition come from? I ask myself this as we finished up celebrating chistmas at my childrens homes. We are in process of winding up another year and I think of what was valuable, what was important and especially the big question Did it turn out to be what I consider to be the perfect Christmas? In mulling all this over I discovered a more pertinent question..."Am I celebrating Christmas in a way that honors the ONE whose birthday we are truely honoring?

It's not that I am anti-glitz , sparkle and toys...but really...Whose birthday is this anyway?

Lovely Ladies...Lovely "Sweet and Savory" Tea

Our ladies Christmas tea held at The Adventure in American Fork, Utah turned out to be a great success! We turned our sanctuary into a Tea Room for the evening and had a sparkly, glittery delightful, experience. Our room full of ladies joined in as we followed our music leader Greta and her team to thetune of the 12 Days of Christmas as we recreated the 12 Days in motion! They had us laughing so hard as we became ladies dancing, leaping Lords, swimming swans and geese laying! Yes, we sang carol's too. And our very own Elya performed an amazing song "How He Loves". I have this song on my playlist at the bottom of my blog if you'd like to take a listen ;) The lyrics start, "He is jealous for me Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree...."

Our food was beautifully displayed on many and varied tiered plates that were repurposed china and crystal goblets, plates, votives and candle holders. The menu was an absolutely delicious assortment of sweet and savory tantalizers like sweet and spicy cranberry meatballs, chocolate truffles, Ginger Crackles, Quiche Nibblers the unusual Dill Pickle Appetizers ...and lets not forget the Sugarplum Fairy and Chai Teas.
Kris Wisdom was our featured speaker. She shared from her life some profound truths. I love her last name, I believe she was truely able to impart wisdom to us! Thank you so much Kris for opening yourself and sharing from your heart.

We all hope to get together again in the spring to enjoy another refershing tea.

Cinnamon Ornaments

Cinnamon Ornaments

A Christmas Sweet & Savory Tea is under way. My wonderful team of ladies has been busy crafting, practicing music, writing down thoughts and searching for that ever so perfect food item for our menu. As we prepare we pray for those in attendance that the words that go out, that the music that is presented that the experiences we shre will bring each closer to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We are more excited by the day!

Today as I searched for those perfect favors for our guests I remembered making some wonderful Christmas ornaments of cinnamon.They fill the room with a most marvelous scent... I hope you'll try them our for yourself!

Time With My Children

This past week our family celebrated two very special days with two very special people. My oldest son and his youngest son have birthdays just two days apart. We live in different states but we like to celebrate with them so we flew over to be with the families. It seems to get harder and harder to get together with so many things happening in our busy lives. What do other families do to fit it all in? Do you have troubles within your family when it comes to expections? Can we all be a part of the celebration or do some family members get excluded?

Hanging with the Z's

We have created a very special tradition while living here in Utah. Day after Thanksgiving is our time in Park city with one of our dear friends, the Zenes's family. This year we also have a longtime friend Bev along too. It is a time of relaxation, skiing, shopping and quite often crafts like card making. With Thanksgiving past, were heading fast into the Christmas holidays. My thoughts go to decorating our home for the holidays, sharing special neighbor moments, enjoying parties, friends and some of our favorite foods.

What are some of your favorite traditions? Are you in the process of creating new traditions?

I'm also looking forward to spending some time with our sons and thier families...it is such a joy to see the wonder and delight on thier sweet faces. Church services, choir singing, carolers, and Christmas light shows...ok I'll admit I even like fruit cake, go figure!

I hope to over the next little bit share some of my favorite recipes.