2020 Goals & Resolutions!

2020 Goals and Resolutions!

1. Do Family Devotions.  We actually had this written down as a goal last year and did not do well. Arnold and I did a lot of marriage devotions together. Rachel downloaded the Kids' Bible app on her phone. And we did get pretty involved in church. But I want to do this as a family.

2. Go on a date night every month with Arnold.  Arnold and I have always tried hard to keep our marriage a priority and to get time alone. Thankfully we have parents that live very close that help us out. I know not everyone can do this. Last year we did pretty well and went out most months. Our first date is scheduled in a week, for our anniversary!

3. Read 60 books.  I didn't even get close to my goal last year, of 75 books! But I wanted to still set a good goal this year, so I thought 60 sounded decent. I'm already reading a lot in the new year.

4. Get active at the gym.  A perk of my job at the YMCA is that everyone in my family gets a free Gym membership!! This is such a good deal, and I want to make sure we take advantage of it. I am not really a gym-type person.. mostly because of my anxiety and shyness. I always worry about people seeing you and feeling insecure. But I think if I go with Arnold or a friend or something maybe I can conquer another thing that scares me! haha. And I need to lose weight. I gained a lot since being on a certain medication and I need to try to get more active.

5. Go on more family outings and trips.  It's really tough to find time to go do things together as a family, whether it be busy schedules, tight budget, or even finding someone to take care of our dogs. We do have plans to go to Charleston sometime later this year. My brother and his new wife live there now, so it's a perfect opportunity to go! And I want to plan a few day/weekend trips if possible, like Great Wolf Lodge, to the mountains, and other things like that. The kids are growing up so fast and I want to use all the time I can to make memories!

6. Get family pictures taken.  We haven't done this in several years. I'd like an updated picture of us. Sure we take pictures every Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I'd like a nice one I can frame, and some newer pics of the kids.

7. Learn something new every month. I've always been a curious person, and loved learning new things. I think that's one of the reasons I like reading so much, I always feel like I learn something, even if it's a fiction story and I learn a new word or saying. I'd like to try this year to pick some subjects or objects and research about them, just for fun. Don't care if it sounds nerdy :P

8. Meet more people at our church. I am slowly getting a little better at meeting people at church, mostly through Arnold's group of people he knows, and through getting involved in childcare. I'd like to continue meeting new people at our church and who knows, maybe even hang out sometime :P

9. Drink more water.  This goes along with the healthy and active stuff I wrote about before. I do take 2 water bottles with me to work every day, but I'm still bad at drinking a lot of soda or tea. I might get one of those big water bottles you can reuse, and it has lines or it to show you how much you still need to drink that day.

10. Pay off some debt. We have a loan through Arnold's work that was used to buy my car, and some other things. We also are paying off a few cellphones and some other things, and I'd like to get more serious about paying some stuff off more quickly. Arnold and I own our house and only have less than half to pay on it, and we hope to one day be debt free. That's a huge goal considering we haven't always been the smartest with money, but I think we are on the right track.

2019 Book Review!!!

I read 42 books this year! I started a few more but just couldn't get into them! My goal this year was 75 books.. haha, what was I thinking?! Oh well, maybe 2020 will be my year!!

Before I list them all, here are my TOP 5 picks of the year!!! I'd recommend any of these to my friends! Especially the first one!! :)

1. Where the Crawdads Sing!! WINNER!!!!

2. Five Feet Apart

3. Two Weeks

4. The Storyteller's Secret

5. Things you Save in a Fire

Yes its YA but it was a really sweet story about teenagers with critical illnesses that meet and fall in love. They also made it into a movie! 

Nic Sparks if one of my fave authors so I had to read this! Good! 

 So so good! Was always on the #1 spot on the bestseller lists so I had to read it. A little bit of historical fiction with some mystery and a big twist/shock at the end! I recommend this book to everyone now! 

 Cheesy but sweet chick lit

 Fiction with a story about what itd be like if America had a king, queen, and heir to the throne and she wasn't sure what she wanted to do with her life. Easy read and good.

 Cute story about a girl and her twin sister, and the nerdy one gets a taste of what it's like to be her sister who always competes in pageants. 

 So good! About a girl who gets to pick her "5 people dead or alive" to come to her special birthday dinner and how they all interact. 

 A marriage advice book about how to give more of yourself in your marriage 

 The last book I read this year! So good! About a female firefighters in a man's world, and how her tough exterior softens after time and things that happen to her.

 The story of three people who were friends since college. Had a reunion, and uncover a big secret among them. 

 I liked her first book so I read this one.. peppy and encouraging, but not the greatest. More for people who are bosses, natural leaders, or business oweners (NOT ME!) but would be good for some!

 Your typical story of a girl and guy who are just friends with benefits and fall in love. 

 An old heiress hires a young woman to try to clear her name of a murder that occured.

 Jeremy and Audrey Roloff were on the TLC show Little People, big World, and they wrote a book about their story and some marriage advice, etc. It was a sweet book.

 An interesting story about a young woman who struggled to provide for her and her child, became a Maid, and tells stories of all the things she went through, and witnessed with different people and their homes.. and how she overcame struggles. 

 LOL the perfect book for me!!!! A book celebrating introverted moms, talking about the challenges they face, and the gifts they have that make them special. 

 Cute quirky book about a bookworm who is pretty nerdy and boring then has a big family discovery that makes her life interesting

 Not her best book... but decent. About strangers that meet at a fancy spa getaway, then go through a scary time together. With a weird twist. And kinda creepy at times.

 A woman inherits a store after her father passes away... she meets a man who does her a favor and leaves an IOU.. and the story is about what becomes of them. Pretty good! 

 A mystery about a woman's baby who went missing. Who did it? LOL. Was pretty good! 

 Julia Sadler is on a TV show called Rattled, who had a hard time having babies, and then had triplets. This book is about her faith, her journey, and a lot of inspiration about praying boldly when you have big desires. 

 This book was about the Bush sisters. Was entertaining, told about their childhoods, their family relationships, and the fun they had in the white house.

 A sweet story about a a woman who owns a little toy shop on Nantucket, and then the shops in the area face closing down. 

 Such a good book!!!! A woman who is having a hard time travels to India to learn more about herself and her family's past. Lots of things she learns and discovers while there. 

 A historical novel about some sisters spending time together on Nantucket one summer, and all the things that happen to them. 

 Another YA book about 2 teenagers and their relationship. Not as good as Five Feet Apart, but still pretty decent. 

 Chrissy Metz is on THIS IS US. This is the book about how she became an actress and a lot about herself and her personality.. I enjoyed it.

 I LOVE all Karen K Books! I especially loved this one because its about ADOPTION!! :) About two teenagers that find themselves in a tricky situation and what they go through. Reminded me a little of my story with Joseph. 

 Kinda an ok book, talking about the social media craze and how everyone wants to be friends online and compare their lives to others, but are missing authentic friendships. 

 Such a cute story about a bride and her husband come down with food poisoning, and their best man and maid of honor (who hate each other!) go on their honeymoon so its not wasted! You can probably guess what happens.. but its a cute book! 

 This is a very funny book about a woman who is the Class Mom for a bunch of elementary school students, and all the chaos that goes on with events and school stuff, and interacting with all kinds of parents. very cute book for my fellow moms of school-aged kids! 

Third in a series I have been reading. More cute chick lit about a girl and guy who help plan their friend's wedding and start having feelings for each other.  

 A thrilled about a woman who is obsessed with another womans relationship.. kindof a twist in there. Wasn't too scary to read or anything. 

 A wife finds out about her husband's secret life, and moves to the Caribbean to restart her life. Not thebest of her books, but worth reading. 

 A good book for people like me who suffer from excessive worry and anxiety! Using examples and encouragement from the Bible to show you have to take a grip on anxiety. 

This was a 3-book series about 3 sisters who move back in with their mom for awhile, and the books tell their different stories. SO good! I couldn't wait for the next book each time I finished one! 

What I Love About Hubby: On his Birthday

1. He is a very hard worker and very talented at what he does

2. He respects me and treats me like an equal

3. He is a very involved father. Homework, special events, you name it.

4. He helps out with my parents/family probably even more than I do.

5. He is a good cook.. which is great... because I am not! ;)

6. He often brings me a treat when he comes back from the store.

7. He makes me laugh and feel better even on the worst of days.

8. He texts me funny memes and sweet messages throughout the work day

9. He always untangles my necklaces when I throw them in my jewelry box :P

10. He will take pictures at every event he's at because he knows its important to me

11. He is a very talented musician and uses that talent playing at church now

12. He will get up and comfort me in the middle of the night when I have anxiety attacks

13. He does the things I really hate doing, like taking out the trash and picking up Sheldon poop

14. He will heat up my car on really cold mornings, before I leave the house

15. He comes to my work every so often to have lunch with me on his break

16. He is amazing at having deep conversations with the kids, to make them understand serious issues and what things are right and wrong.

17. He always saves me the ice in his drinks when he's done

18. He will watch just about any tv show with me when Im sick or having a bad day... even... GOLDEN GIRLS!! :) (shhh!)

19. He supports me in what I want to do and doesn't make me feel bad about myself when I make mistakes like we all do.

20. He sings loudly in the car with me when we are alone. And sometimes changes the words to songs which kinda bugs me but is really hilarious :)

A Look Back at 2019!

1. What did you do in 2019 that you have never done before?

Had my first ever cavity and got a crown :(


2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for 2019?
I checked off several of them! Joined a church and got involved, took care of some dr appts id been putting off... didn't make it on a date EVERY month with hubby, but almost! 


3. Did anyone close to you give birth in 2019?
My cousin had a baby boy :)


4. Did anyone close to you die in 2019? 
No thank goodness!!


5. What states/countries did you visit this year?
None this year :( Hope to change that this coming year


6. What would you like to have in 2020 that you lacked in 2019?
More motivation and confidence.. to do things like get active in the gym, and pay down debt, etc

7. What date from 2019 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day Brooke turned 13 and became a teenager :)

8. What was your biggest struggle in 2019?
Some relationship issues, but everything is going well now :)

9. Did you suffer any illness or injury in 2019?
Just some minor sickness, nothing major! My Mom had a knee replacement surgery though.


10. What was the best thing you bought this year?
New living room furniture!!!!

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Brooke made honor roll for the first time ever!!!!!!

12. Whose behavior disappointed you?
My ex-sister in law, like usual. She makes life difficult for everyone!

13. Where did most of your money go?
To bills of course, and food and christmas gifts I guess

14. What did you get really really excited about this year?
Brooke doing so well in her start of 8th grade, and getting her braces off. Taking the summer off to be with the kids. Going to a Collective Soul concert with hubby. Buying some things we'd been wanting for awhile now.

15. What song will always remind you of 2019?
"God's Country" by Blake Shelton was one of my faves from this year.

16. Compared to this time last year, are you: much happier, much nicer or richer?
Much happier for sure.. and probably a little more well off since Arnold and I are both working full time jobs.

17. What do you wish you had done more of? 
Spent more time doing devotions with the kids

18. What do you wish you had done less of?
Worried... like usual!!

19. Did you fall in love in 2018?
More in love with Hubby ;) hehe

20. What was your favorite TV Program in 2019?
The Mandalorian of course.. for BABY YODA!!!!!! :D

21. What was the best book you read this year?
 Where the Crawdads Sing! So good! 

22. What was your greatest musical discovery this past year?
Arnold introduced me to Lincoln Brewster! He is very talented!

23. What did you want and get?
A new job, new living room furniture 
24. What was the best movie you saw this year?
Best kids movie- Toy Story 4
Best regular movie- A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

25.What did you do on your birthday and how old did you turn?
I turned 34. I went to dinner with friends. And mom made homemade lasanga like always!

26. What one thing would have made your year more satisfying?
To pay off some more debt

27. How would you describe your personal fashion statement this year?
Cute but comfy... jeans and cute tops mostly No more uniforms at work, yay!!!

28. What kept you sane this year? 
Jesus, hubby, and friends!!

29. What celebrity did you fancy the most? 
Does Baby Yoda count?!?! LOL! ;)

30. Who did you miss this past year?
I missed all my babies and my few friends from my last job

31. Who were the best new people you met this year?
Hands down its Ana and Maria.. my fellow coworkers at my new job! Theyre sweet and generous and so much fun to work with! :)

32. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned this year:
You have the power to change your circumstances and your life, if you just put the effort forth. I am much happier now than I used to be. I didn't realize before how much I was being taken for granted and how much I dreaded work until I started my new job and I actually enjoy life again!! :)