Delights of 2011

Another year?  Really?  Wow!  I am amazed how fast life is flying by.  I feel like I just blinked by eyes and here we are again, reflecting on another year come and gone.  2011 did not bring quite as much change and adjustment as 2010, but it showed up with its own packages of joy and adventure.  

Delights of 2011 included:

1. Our first full calendar year of marriage

David is wonderful.  He is the best friend I've ever had and makes everyday a joyous occasion.

2. The great Dominican Republic adventure

This not-so-little excursion was quite the learning experience for us.  We had so much fun planning and preparing for it.  We adored working together and fundraising and getting all ready to go.  The actual time spent there was not exactly what we had planned on, but we learned a lot and grew closer together.  We had to depend on one another more than usual and we came to greatly appreciate things like family close by, a church meeting house closer than an hour's drive, laundry, cockroach-free living, students who listen and respect teachers, and being surrounded by people who keep the same standards we do.  We didn't realize how good we have it until all of these luxuries were taken away.  

Despite all of the "learning opportunities," we did have our share of pleasure.  We were able to make wonderful friends, Ashlie and Santos, the only other members in our whole city, and play a lot.  We were able to visit the temple in Santo Domingo, play with monkeys, ride a zipline, spend our anniversary in an all-inclusive resort, climb waterfalls, jump cliffs, learn to surf, and become better teachers.  I hope we were able to make a difference in the lives of those we served.  I know we left better than we came.  

3. Garet returning from his mission to Porto Alegre, Brazil

What a great birthday present to me!  I got to see him for the first time on my birthday.  We went to Tucanos Brazilian Grill to celebrate the grand event.

4. The first JD Bunch reunion

We spent a week in McCall, Idaho on the lake with Mom & Jim, Jimmy, Vanessa & kids, Garet, and Sam & Andy.  Unfortunately, I was near death due to a sore throat, but it was fun nonetheless.  My favorite part was the Italian Soda bar Mom set up and our super cool T-shirts. :)

5. Love Family reunion

We spent the following week at Bear Lake with the Love Clan.  I loved the raspberry ice cream, riding the tube with Caroline and Julia, watching David wakeboard, our gigantor pizza, and staying up all night to play hearts with Andrew and Sydney.

6. David becoming Elder's Quorum President

7. Discovering Dropbox and Pinterest

8. Year two of teaching, year one of fifth grade: This year's theme has been the American Revolution.  Mrs. Love's Fifth Grade Fireworks dazzle the school.

9. The second annual Lagoon birthday bash

In September, we have birthdays for David, Sarah, Sydney, Chris and Jim.  This is our second time spending the day at Lagoon with everyone.  It was super fun again.

10. The first ever JD Bunch Christmas

We just spent the week in Oregon with the whole gang.  We finally met all of Jim's kids and family and had a great time eating and playing the gift exchange game.  It was great to get to know everyone better and have some fun.  

11. The second annual Torman House Nerf War New Year

There are not many things David loves more than playing with Nerf guns. :)

So, what to do with 2012?  I love the cute little image at the top of this post.  This really is a new year and I can do with it anything I want.  I love that feeling.  I know New Year's Resolutions are often overrated and quickly forgotten, but there is something special about a fresh start.  I love the idea that I can start something new and try my best.  I was looking back on my goals from last year and realized that I failed miserably at some of them, but found great success with others.  My first goal is to post my goals somewhere I will see them often.  I don't think I've seen the ones from last year since the day I wrote them!  Oops!

2012 Goals

Organize and view goals on a weekly basis.  Hold personal and companion inventory each Sunday.

Spiritual:

1. Daily personal and family prayer

2. Daily personal and family scripture study

Personal: Standard Works, Scripture Mastery

Companion: Book of Mormon & Conference Talks

3. Fast Sunday

Monthly Planning

Family History (Blog/Journal, Scrapbook, Genealogy, Relationship/Parenting Skills) 

4. Temple Attendance: Master Class weekend

Physical:

1. Home-cooked meals M, T, W, Th, Sun

Use calendar map, schedule on Sunday

No Soda

No Fast Food

Pizza 1x/mo

Restaurant 1x/mo

2. Activity time Mon-Sat

3. Calorie count on Loseit.com

4. Early to bed, early to rise...with a smile

Other:

1. Prepare 72-hour kits

Add something each Saturday of Fast Sunday 

2. Read the Liahona in Spanish each month

3. Finish the Chronicles of Narnia in Spanish

4. Make $500 at Farmer's Market

5. Visit Teach each month by the 15th

6. Write one Thank You note each week

7. Complete No-Excuse Projects Daily

No-Excuse Projects

1. Pray

2. Scriptures

3. Exercise

4. Dishes done

5. Laundry done

Here goes another year!