2012 already....

So many entries to get caught up with, but I feel like I need to put my thoughts about the coming year down first and then get back to those that have been missed.  2011 was a fabulous year for our family.  There were many highlights- starting the year off in Disneyland with cousins, visiting Ellen in Washington D.C., the First Annual Family History Pageant in Manti, a trip to Mt. Rushmore, boating, Lake Powell, purchasing and using our motor home, Oakley and Eli starting school at American Heritage, a cruise to the Bahamas with Scott, and all of the other fun activities that filled our days during the year.  But Eli helped to put all of these "activities" into perspective last night.  We were sitting in front of the fire, each of us with a goblet of sparkling cider in hand.  We asked the boys what some of their favorite things of 2011 were.  With all of the fun and exciting places we'd been, Eli's response was, "Being at home with our family."  Really?!?!  It's not Disneyland?  A cruise? The fancy boat and motor home?  Nope.  What makes him the most happy is being in our home with our family.  That should have been all of our answer...

The speaker at church today spoke words that were especially meaningful to me as I contemplate a new year, a fresh start, and deciding what will be the priorities for me and our family.  She talked about this "list" that we all have in our mind, the things we "should" be doing- even good things like providing service for others.  This list gets longer and longer and soon turns into guilt about not having the time, energy, or resources to get to the things on that list.  I am all too aware of my list and it will often make me feel so guilty that it turns to anger, which is then manifest in the way I treat those I'm around most often.  I get resentful of their needs and the fact that their needs require my time and energy, time and energy that I feel like should be devoted to those things on that endless list in my mind.  She shared an experience she had at a fireside with Sister Beck, the General Relief Society President.  There was a question and answer session and she raised her hand and asked, "What role should guilt play in the life of a Latter-day Saint woman?"  Sister Beck then shared this insight, if what you're feeling says you're not doing enough and aren't good enough, it's from Satan.  If what you're feeling makes you feel, you could do better in this area and I WILL HELP YOU,  then it's source is the Father.  Sister Beck also talked about how she arranges her days.  She puts three columns on a paper with the following title for each- essential, needs to be done, and would be nice to get to.  The essentials include: prayer, personal study, anything that helps us to keep the covenants that we've made with our Heavenly Father.  The essentials list should be very short, just a few items.  The next list should include things like: feeding the children, exercise, and other items that really should get done.  This list should not be very long either, but not absolutely critical.  The final list should include those things that would be nice to get to, but not essential.  I would like to make my daily three column list, also.  One of the essentials I would like to improve on is personal study.  With the calling to teach Relief Society, I need to be dedicating time each day in researching and gaining greater understanding of the principles of the lessons I will be teaching.  It will be a tremendous blessing for me, and hopefully meaningful to the wonderful sisters in our ward.

As I was contemplating what should be my Word of the Year, I decided upon FUNDAMENTAL.  As I was brainstorming different words and read the definition of FUNDAMENTAL, I decided it was perfect for the coming year.  The definition is, "A leading or primary principle, rule, law or article, which serves as the ground work of a system."  I need to include the FUNDAMENTAL activities first, then all others will find their place and time.  If we are to have success in this "system" of family life, the principal duties must be accomplished first and daily.  It will serve as a constant reminder when deciding how I will spend my time, "Is this essential or just something that I would like to do?"


Here's to another outstanding year for the Beeson Bunch!