2010

A goal not written down is just a wish!
Sarah's Personal Goals for 2010:
~Lose 20-25 lbs (yes I let myself go, and I'm finding myself again)
~Surround myself with people that lift me up and inspire me to become a better person
~Run a 10K the end of February
~Run a Half Marathon the end of April
~Be in the best shape of my life in September for my 30'th Birthday (YIKES!!!)
~Read my scriptures and say my prayers DAILY!!!
~Start cooking dinner for my family every night, so we can sit down as a family (this one is going to be hard for me, I'm not a cook)
~walk my dog
~NO SODA
~Organize my house, AGAIN
~Read more
~Refrain from Gossip
~Scrapbook
~Turn our Blog into a few books :)

Family Goals:
~Save $ and get ahead (if that's possible in this economy)
~Have Family Home Evening EVERY Monday night
~Monthly Temple trip
~Bi-weekly date nights (at least)
~Nightly family prayer
~Sunday family walks
~Listen to church music in the car on Sunday's
~Read the Ensign every single Sunday!

Brooke's Goals:
~The baby stuff like crawl, walk, start talking, actually enjoying solid foods....
~learn basic sign language
~fall out of love with her binkey and baba by the end of 2010

Kip's Goals:
You will have to ask him but I do know that he does want to...
~Lose weight
~Start running
~Get hired on with a Fire Department (his DREAM)
~Re-start school

2009 was NOT the easiest year of our married or un married life. We had many challenging times through the year and at times we wondered if it could get any worse and then it did. We, along with half the US, struggled with unemployment which led to financial hardship. I got injured at about 5 months along in my pregnancy which led to more of a financial burden due to my lack of being able to work. We definitely had times that tested us like when our niece Makenna almost died, when we got a notice that our house payment was going up $500-, when I had knee surgery and had to be on crutches for 6 weeks with a 7 week old baby..... I could go on. BUT I would have to say that our testimonies of tithing and of this gospel in general have grown much stronger in this year! We have seen the lord at work in our lives this year, always providing a way to get through whatever trial had been presented to us. We are grateful for the wonderful friends and family that supported us through this time in our lives. And most of all we received the BIGGEST Blessing we have ever had in the midst of all of the trials! There could not have been a better time for me to get pregnant. Even when little Brooke was growing in my belly she was giving us strength, hope and joy. She was our HAPPINESS this past year, sometimes our only source happiness. She has been such an AMAZING blessing!!! I am so grateful to have been able to experience pregnancy and to have an easy pregnancy at that. I am so grateful for every single detail about Brooke and the fact that Kip and I now have a child of our own. I realize what an amazing and HUGE blessing that is. She has made every day of struggle SO WORTH IT!!!! I would go through it all over again as long as I got to end this year with her in my arms! I am so grateful for the Lord in our lives, for the fact that he knows each of our lives so personally. I am so grateful for a husband that has picked up the slack wherever he could to do whatever he could to provide a wonderful home for his wife and child. I am so grateful for the fact that our marriage was not effected negatively through our trials, in fact it was strengthened. I have never felt us being such a team as we have been this past year. We are grateful for our trials, for our lessons learned, for God's hand in our lives, and for the most amazing blessing we could have received, our daughter. We are thrilled to say goodbye to 2009 and start a wonderful 2010! I have a good feeling about this coming up year! We are looking forward to the amazing memories, the wonderful experiences, and the friendships we will gain and strengthen in this year ahead. We wish you all the best in 2010!!!!