New Years Resolutions 2012: SIX MONTHS LATER

I thought I'd update a previous post:

New Years Resolutions 2012 posted on 1/3/2012
I made myself an extensive list and thought I'd be more likely to stick with these resolutions or goals if I posted them in a public way. I'll have cyber accountability. I think I like the concept of looking at each of these as a goal so I can rise to the occasion rather than beat myself up when I break my resolutions. We shall see.

1. Better relationship with God (He has blessed us with so much)
2. Exercise regularly and prepare for St Jude's marathon December 2012 (I will celebrate my 40th birthday this year and need to be in better shape)
3. Pay off debt (Shame on me for spending TOO much)
4. Be more organized (I'm thinking of making small goals to accomplish this)
5. No more naughty words (I am a flawed human)
6. Read at least one book a month
7. Have "Date Night" once a month at least (Tim and I rarely get to do something alone but we truly need to try)
8. Learn to hem (I don't have a clue but Tim does)
9. Yell less (I'm thinking of investing in a megaphone)
10. Take the kids to museums and musical events (I loved going to hear the symphony in the park)

UPDATE:
1. I continually work on my relationship with God which I believe is what He wants us to do. I will never be perfect, however, each day I strive to be more like Christ in everything I do.
2. I have REALLY dropped the ball on this one and will not be prepared for the marathon. I am disappointed in myself for not getting it together for the health benefits and the opportunity to raise awareness and money for St Jude Children's Hospital. However, I will not completely throw in the towel since the year is not over and there are always opportunities to help St Jude Children's Hospital.
3. Super excited to have written the last payment for our minivan in April! We are using the money from it to make a dent in our other debts. Praise Jesus for blessing us to do this!
4. WORK IN PROGRESS! We still have too much stuff and my sentimental nature does not help in ridding us of some of it. It's definitely an uphill battle I am determined to win.
5. He convicts me EVERY time is all I can say.
6. I have read SIX books in the last six months!! Maybe it wasn't "at least one per month" but it works out :)
7. This one shouldn't be as hard as it is but with four kids and all that has happened in the last year we do the best we can. We have managed to go on two Date Nights (better than none).
8. I haven't had a need for this so I kind of forgot but I will learn to do this soon.
9. Honestly I think a megaphone would be easier with my Foster Four and their inability to realize their decibel level.
10. We have visited a few but I'd like to do a bit better.

I am trying to rise to the occasion in every goal I set for myself. In the areas I have fallen short I will just keep trying. Life is a journey!

St Maarten's Airport Beach was AMAZING

We were blessed with a family vacation on a beautiful cruise ship, the Allure of the Seas. Gammy and Gamps made all the arrangements after Dillan asked for another cruise when he was recovering in the hospital. One of our ports of call was St Maarten! While we were on the island we made our way to the famous beach at the end of the runway of the airport! Seeing the airplanes land was fantastic!

I'll try to post a video soon and a few more fabulous vacation photos. I LOVE SUMMER!!

I will ORGANIZE my family

Today on this super rainy day I decided if I was going in my safe place I might as well find a closet that needed organizing. I headed up to the middle boys room (not our safe place but I had the weather radio playing thanks to a very nervous Dillan). I've been way behind on removing outgrown clothing so I started pulling everything on Ethan's side he no longer can fit into...oh my word we are clothing gluttons! This is JUST Ethan's outgrown clothing!!!! I will be selling some and donating the rest but seriously who snuck into my house and hid all these clothes?!? I guess I better go get started on Dillan's side...Lord knows how much bigger the pile may become! If I haven't been heard from in a few days somebody please send in a search team!!

Our First St Jude's Check-up

A little over a week ago we traveled to St Jude Children's Hospital for our first of many check-ups. The first year after discovering Dillan's brain tumor and subsequent cancer diagnosis will consist of check-ups every three months. (in the second year it could be moved to every four months) This check-up went well. Dillan's MRI showed no growth of the "rind" left on his brain stem and nothing changed in the outer areas of concern (there are areas surrounding where the tumor was removed that may be left over tumor cells or scar tissue-not sure at this point). Dillan had an eye exam and everything was ok, however, his examiner did let me know afterwards we shouldn't bother going to 3D movies right now. I thought that was an interesting side effect. Our second night there Dillan really wanted to go to Hard Rock and eat so Gammy, Dillan and I made our way to the trolly and headed there. The city of Memphis is so kind to St Jude's patients. We rode the trolly for free for our little outing since we did not have a vehicle (we were blessed with kind friends who provided us with airplane tickets). The staff at Hard Rock is super nice! Dillan could pick any table he'd like and get on stage to take a picture plus our sweet server gave us hot fudge sundaes! (I had to ask for a manager to report their kindness) Overall we had a good check-up. I still am unnerved when I see the original scans showing his tumor. This time Dr Wright, who is an exceptional doctor, showed me a scan of the original tumor completely pushing his brain aside and compressing it to a sliver. The only way I can think of to describe the way it looked is an orange-the tumor is the meat of the orange and his brain was so compressed and pushed out of the way it looked like the orange peel or skin. It is amazing he was not having symptoms! God is amazing is all I can think or say.

Dillan did not enjoy getting his eyes dilated at all and thought I knew it was coming and didn't warn him...

Good times at the Hard Rock in Memphis

We will return in April for our next check-up.

Enjoying my Goals/Resolutions

I'm not perfect (I know this might come as a shock to some of you, LOL). I made my resolutions or list of goals and am excited to be working on them. So far I have started a new book (The Choice by Nicholas Sparks) and this morning I completed a P90X cardio workout with Tim (I seriously thought I was about to DIE). I found a a training guide to prepare for the marathon I want to run (six months of training, really?) and I plan to start it in the next week or so (Dillan and I head to St Jude's next week). I reorganized one of our cabinets in the kitchen (it's amazing how many plastic cups you can accumulate). Here's a Before

and After

I've been working harder to make sure I spend time with God every day. One day at a time is what keeps me going each day.

New Years Resolutions 2012

I made myself an extensive list and thought I'd be more likely to stick with these resolutions or goals if I posted them in a public way. I'll have cyber accountability. I think I like the concept of looking at each of these as a goal so I can rise to the occasion rather than beat myself up when I break my resolutions. We shall see.

1. Better relationship with God (He has blessed us with so much)
2. Exercise regularly and prepare for St Jude's marathon December 2012 (I will celebrate my 40th birthday this year and need to be in better shape)
3. Pay off debt (Shame on me for spending TOO much)
4. Be more organized (I'm thinking of making small goals to accomplish this)
5. No more naughty words (I am a flawed human)
6. Read at least one book a month
7. Have "Date Night" once a month at least (Tim and I rarely get to do something alone but we truly need to try)
8. Learn to hem (I don't have a clue but Tim does)
9. Yell less (I'm thinking of investing in a megaphone)
10. Take the kids to museums and musical events (I loved going to hear the symphony in the park)

Christmas-palooza ends as a New Year begins

As I sat in our Christmas Eve service at church thinking about the birth of our Savior my thoughts drifted to Dillan having a brain tumor. I thought how different life has become and how thankful I am our Savior was born. I am so very thankful He gave us the miracles surrounding Dillan's diagnosis. This Christmas has been more special with the knowledge our Savior loved us so much He chose our family to receive a gift we could share with everyone. Obviously no one would ever want anyone, let alone their own child, to suffer through having a brain tumor. However, as we sat in the PICU that first weekend prior to surgery I was overcome with a sense of peace which could only come from God. I knew no matter what happened during surgery or any point from there forward He would carry us through the rough stuff and walk with us through all the rest.
New Year's Eve always causes people to reflect on what happened during the past year and think of ways and things they'd do differently. Although our year may have had twists and turns we were not expecting I have many fond memories from 2011. I will resolve in 2012 to do things better than I did before and continue to put my trust and faith in God. I Wish everyone a very Happy and Blessed New Year!