Bettering Myself in 2013!

I love the new year. I love the feeling of starting fresh. I get excited knowing I have another full year ahead of me to spend time with my family and friends, better myself, and hopefully make a difference in the world somewhere (no matter how miniscule).

I have never been the one to make goals. The last time I made new year goal's was in elementary school when the whole class took time to write down and decorate a colorful display of our goals for that year. 

I wasn't a fan of new year goal's because I figured I'd be really good at them for the first couple months weeks and then slowly give up on them. So what was the point?

However so much has changed this past year that has made me want to set goals to better myself, my family, and others around me.

Last January we were asked to serve in a Spanish Branch here in Cleveland. It has honestly been one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do in my life. I am in the Relief Society presidency and have had to get out of my comfort zone. Not only is it hard to get out of my comfort zone, but I hardly speak a lick of Spanish. I love serving the branch, I love the members, I love the culture, I love knowing that the gospel is the same in every language even if I don't understand. :)  I have realized my love of serving and helping others.

We were blessed with our beautiful daughter in August. Haylee magnified the importance of family ten-fold. I LOVE being a mom and everything that comes with it. The lack of sleep, dirty diapers, spit-up in the mouth (another story for later), mounds of laundry, I wouldn't change a thing. This is cliche but I feel like I have found my calling in life. I want to better myself in every way so that I can make sure that I am able to raise and teach her to the best of my ability.

I know there are many other events but these two have had the biggest impact on me and the way I live my life.

Because of all the changes I decided I would make goals for this year. As I was thinking about what they would be, I realized I didn't want them all just for me. I wanted to have them help me make a difference.  One goal for me, One for my family, and One to help others.

-Goal for me: To be healthier. Both physically and mentally. This includes eating healthier and exercising on a regular basis. I don't just want to be physically healthy but mentally as well. There are many things to do to help me become more mentally healthy but one that I need to work on this year is to Be more positive.

-Goal for my family: Try a new recipe (healthy) at least once a week.  I love cooking, but I get into a habit of making the exact same recipes over and over. I want to give my family a variety of different and healthy meals. Not only will this benefit them but help me expand my cooking abilities.

-Goal for someone else: Index 10,000 names. Out here in our Cleveland our Stake is making a big push to get everyone to index names for the family history sites. If you don't know what indexing is, its a process of taking old handwritten documents such as census, death certificates, etc and converting it into an electronic file that is searchable. This allows people (LDS or Non-LDS) to search for their family members and hopefully learn more about the, and do genealogy work. I have LOVED doing it so far. For more information on how to do it or to sign up and get started visit: http://indexing.familysearch.org/ 

If I remember correctly from elementary school I have completed the first couple steps in making successful goals: 1) Create reachable goals, 2) Write them down, 3) Tell them to someone. 

Hopefully I will reach them, maybe I should come up with some sort of reward for completing them?? 

I am excited for this new year, I'm excited to see what adventures and new changes it  may bring.