{2016 Resolutions}

One major thing I have learned this year came from Stephen Covey - in his book "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" he talks about beginning with the end in mind... What do I want??  How am I going to achieve it?  This year I did pretty well at chasing my goals.  It seems as good a time as any to reflect on my goals of 2016 and look forward to goals for this new year :)

2016 Goals

1. Read the Book of Mormon 

Gospel study is one of my favorite things to do.  I did this in the first three months of the year!  There is power in reading the Book of Mormon.  I believe in the principles taught in the book and feel closer to God as I immerse myself in studying it. Each reading brings different insights & perspectives on topics I have learned about before but don't fully understand yet!  The gospel is enough for one lifetime, but one lifetime is not enough for the gospel.  Good thing this life is just a blip on the eternal radar.

2. Read the New Testament / Institute Manuel

After I finished the Book of Mormon I studied the New Testament this year.  Watching the bible videos really made some of the stories come alive.  I loved learning more about Christ's life and ministry. 

3.  Grow my Piano Studio to 35 students

I teach 28 kids right now ...  I consider this goal accomplished because I have a waitlist of students and can't take anymore without compromising the quality of the lessons I am currently giving or time needed for my two boys.  My piano students are one of my greatest blessings! 

4.  Get healthy (specifically reach pre-baby weight)

This goal I have accomplished!  One of the hardest things after having a child is adjusting to life with another child AND trying to re-claim who you were before.  This one has been a lot of hard work ... I suppose I shouldn't say it's "done" perhaps it's just time to adjust it.

5.  Read 12 good books

For this goal I chose one book per month I wanted to read.  Some game-changers included:

- Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

- Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families

-Le Bebe: A French Perspective on American Parenting

-Babywise

-Continuous Atonement

-Of Pigs, Pearls & Prodigals

-Following Christ

-Believing Christ

-1984

-Brave New World

6. For piano I had two songs I wanted to learn - Bach's "Invention in C Major" and Mendelssohn's "Rondo Capriciosso."  I did memorize the Invention!  That was a lot of work.  I have learned about 7 pages of the Rondo and will make it a goal to finish this year.  The amount of practice I am able to put in makes that song take longer than I expected.

7. Four different temples (Ogden, Las Vegas, Gilbert AZ and Provo)

This one I didn't achieve... We were able to attend the Vegas temple a few times as well as the San Diego temple on our five year anniversary of Mike proposing to me there!  That was special.  With kids this was probably a little too ambitious :S Hopefully the new year will allow some occasions for us to visit the temple more often.  

8. Piano Recital at Beehive Homes

We did this in October as a fun Halloween performance :)

9. Cute Calvin and Hobbes costume for the boys for Halloween

Nope.  Mike was at a 6 week training in Colorado over Halloween.  He came home for the weekend in Utah but those weeks leading up to the holiday were tumultuous and exhausting.  I'll recycle that goal to this year :)

10. 60 workout classes

I didn't track this precisely!  But I think I came fairly close to this number.  Especially towards the end of the year!  Workout classes are my "me" time...  I'm SO glad Mike is supportive of letting me go to classes (he even tries to adjust his work schedule around the classes I want to attend!)

Bucket List items I wanted to do - 

Bonnie Springs Ranch ✅

Ride New York New York ✅

Napoleon's Dueling Piano Bar ✅

Run in a 5k 😒

This year was a beautiful year!  I plan on highlighting the best parts of our year on another post.  Definitely a special year for our little family as we welcomed our Wesley James into the world :) 

Life is so beautiful.  God-willing 2017 will bring us as much joy as the last year did.