Pictures....I forgot to add them!

Here are a few pictures from Christmas. As they say, "you had to be there" and if you had you would have split your sides laughing! We had so much fun. We missed Andy, Lisa, Alyssa and Kaitlyn so much though. We are planning our next family reunion and with this large family, so spread out, this is not an easy task!

Tom bowling and everyone else laughing
DANCING

and more DANCING

And the famous DIP!

These two need to take this show on the road

4 of my Beautiful Grands!!

What a gorgeous family!

Scott being....Scott!

...and Connor doing what he does a lot!!

Scott singing O, Holy Night!

Tom and the incredible Christmas dinner

Olivia and Larry are great pals! What a cute picture!!

The great pal team of Brown and Gilkeson!

We were always laughing...always!

.......or we were at the piano!

Ty getting ready for battle

Take that Daddy!

Not quite as long between post.....

.....but close! Since I announced on facebook (3 days ago) that journaling was to be one of my goals (not resolutions) for the year, here I am trying to work on that goal. I let time get away from me. I need to learn from Andy, the consummate blogger, about stick-to-it-ness because he is awesome! I find myself at the beginning of each day checking to see what he has posted and yes, I am terribly disappointed when there is not a new note or picture or two. Yeah, I know, I know....something about working strange hours, but he still manages to delight me with his words and or course the many, many pictures that make me think the twins are just down the street....I*W*I*S*H!!

So what news should I share with you? How about the goals for the year? That's easy because they are fresh in my mind and they are written down and they have been shared on facebook for all my 135 friends to see. I did that on purpose because it does no good to have a goal if you keep quiet about it. I have to answer to someone about these things. So here goes:

• I will read through the Bible this year. It has been several years since I have done that and I can't think of a better way to the new decade. Now here's the amazing part. I announced this on facebook a few days ago and got only one response. I was kind of sad about that because I was hoping several people would join me. Well, last night I was chatting with Donna, one of my favorite cousins in Texas, and she suggested I start a facebook group and invite people like that. I had no idea to do that, but in less than a minute or two she had us up and running. We now have 28 people joining us; friends and family of mine, hers and Christin's. HOW EXCITING is that?! Each night I will go there and post the next day's passage and we might or might not have a discussion/comments on what we read. The important thing is that we are all doing something together that will benefit us individually and as a whole. It's not too late to join us!!


• I will walk 200 miles this year. Now, for you athletic types out there in "read-a-blog-land" that might not sound like a very lofty goal, but believe me for this gal with bad knees, a bad back, osteoarthritis, overweight, and lazy on top of all that...THIS IS HUGE!! I broke it down into 4 miles/week or 1 mile 4 times each week. I can do that!! I WILL DO THAT!! I asked for people to join me and got a few.....anybody else?


• I will journal. I think it is important to write down thoughts and feelings and comments and hmmm, even questions. It really doesn't matter who reads this or if anyone ever comments. What matters is that I am engaged and trying to develop a discipline! Besides it gives me a place to brag about my husband, children, grands and kitties!!


• I have a very strange music goal to share with you. I decided that I listen to basically the same music day after day. I switch things up, but end up hearing the same ole, same ole 'cause I like my collections. SO once each month I'm going to choose a different category; is that called a genre. Anyway, someone can correct me on that one. But I will listen to as many songs within my chosen group each month as I can. Two choices each month: one is always classical (this month it is music by Mozart - it's his birthday month) and the other will be whatever pops in my head. This month the theme (yeah, I like that better - theme) is music from Broadway Musicals. I'll let you know how I do. In the mean time I'm uploading songs from some oldies, like Brigadoon and Carousel. FUN!!


• My Longaberger business will grow by leaps and bounds this year. I really do love this company. I love what it stands for - I love the made in America by Americans. I love the family owned, family run business. I love the only-in-America story of the man that had so many things going against him but kept believing in his dreams of a better way of life for many, many people until he made the art of basket weaving that started with his father and his grandfather into a multi-million dollar company. AND I love that before he died of cancer in 1996 he gave the company to his daughter who took up the challenge and has lead the company through the best and worse of times and it just still keeps thriving. ALL THAT TO SAY THIS: I plan to "grow" my team, "grow" my customer base and "grow" my income so Sam and I can retire already!!


• And finally HEALTH with all capital letters! I have to get on top of things this year. On October 31, 2009 I entered a challenge with Andy. We are both on Weight Watchers and each night we are supposed to tally what we ate and send a report to each other. We have been doing awesome....well, at least until Christmas week, but we will get back to it...RIGHT ANDY??? I have lost 15 lbs since the two of us started this and 25 lbs since I started from my highest weight.....which shall forever be kept a secret until maybe when I reach my goal. AND speaking of goals, I will reach it this year. I set milestone goals for Christmas (was over by 1 lb), Valentine's Day, April 28th, June 1st, September 15 and for November 16th when I plan to reach my final goal. This will take prayer. Along with this weight loss goal is the goal to go to my doctor more regularly. I haven't been doing that. In fact I would be mortified if you knew how far behind I am on some very basic tests. I just got tired of hearing them tell me to lose weight and that everything that "ailed me" was due to my weight. Well, take that doctors....now I'm on the way to that goal, but I won't be waiting until I get there to see them again. Hmmm, note to self.....need to think about adding the goal of conquering some doctor fears to this list!

There you have it. I will try and entice you to check back often by posting pictures TOMORROW. I hope you will feel free to comment, offer advice, pray for and with me, join me on any of these goal challenges if you like and just check back when you can!