A Goal

"Boots, do you make New Years Resolutions?"

"No."

"Never?"

"Well, the only one I made that I ever really stuck to was when I quit smoking for eight months."

Do you make New Years Resolutions?
I usually do.
When I was younger I made long lists and then as I grew up I just picked a few.
Last year I picked a word: "forgiveness," and I think I did pretty good working on that.
I feel like as a word, I accomplished that.

This year I have a word again.
Slash a diagram.
Sorta.

The word of the year for me in the year 2011 is: heart.
(Here comes the diagram thingy.)

Heart

/          \

Physical     Emotional

/           \               /              \

Food    Exercise     Food     Exercise  

Heart-Physical-Food: This year I want to eat better.  Less fried food, more veggies.

Heart-Physical-Exercise:  This year I want to exercise to build heart muscle and stave off heart diseases.

Heart-Emotional-Food: This year I want to read my Bible more.  Last year I started off pretty good but went downhill quickly.

Heart-Emotional-Exercise:  This year I want to practice kindness more.  This is probably the hardest one.

This is my New Years' Resolution/Word of the Year.

A year from now I hope I can say that I accomplished what I set out to do.

Dear Boots,

You're the best.

This morning I took a shower.
I shaved my right leg, but forgot to shave the left.
I'm feeling asymmetrical.

The Christmas Post

Instead of buying a tree I borrowed one of my mom's.

I wrapped the presents in glittery paper.

One of the things I was looking forward to doing was picking out an ornament with Boots.

My work schedule has been hectic and I haven't been able to see him as much as I'd like and when I have seen him I've been too tired.

I was pretty disappointed that we didn't get to go pick out an ornament together, but I am so happy that Talia and her husband gave us this!

The "5" is mine, the "H" we bought, and the snowman was a handmade gift from my cousin Norman.

One of my favorite Holiday Barbie ornaments.

Boots and I did buy this one together.

The magazine that I folded into a "tree" and painted gold.

This is an alpaca from Peru that our neighbor lady's daughter brought back for us when she went there on a mission trip this fall.

The topper!

I've got a thing for glitter.

Boots' "Chloe" ornament.

Another favorite.

Dude......Why Am I So Ill?

I just came from church.
Why do people have to sit in front of me with their cute, fat, slobbery babies?
(I can never pay attention when there's babies within eyeball distance.)
Why do people always ask me when I'll have one?
Dude......you're not helping my childless-for-a-while marriage campaign.

I just came from Target, had my coffee delight, and FINALLY!, picked up mine and Boots' Christmas cards.
Why didn't I know beforehand that they came with envelopes and I didn't have to buy any?

Sunday night is not a good night for me.
I don't like sleeping at the funeral home, away from my Boots.
It's our weekly night apart and I. don't. like. it.

I am ill.

Dear Boots,

Today I did something I knew I shouldn't.
I was hungry, you see, and the imitation maple flavoring was calling my name.
I did something I said I would never do again-- I made pancakes!
I followed those directions to a P and the first two were awesome I tell ya.
But something went wrong and everyone after that were awful.
Boots, I promise I won't make myself pancakes again.
Next time, I'll just wait, and starve!, until you come home again.