2021 Goals

 The church has moved away from the previous achievement programs for the children/youth.  Scouts, Young Women in Excellence, "Faith in God" programs are now all changed to working on individual goals in the 4 areas: spiritual, physical, social, intellectual.

I love goals so I made a chart to post goals on.  There are so many great things that we did this year.  These are just a few of the things we wanted to do, made a plan for, and achieved in 2021.  I hope the children are gaining an appreciation of what can be accomplished and how planning makes a difference!

The chart had areas for "Planning", "In Progress" and "Completed" with stars, now occluded by all the accomplished goals.

Recently while M and I were on our kayak adventure, we texted dad to make sure the goal was on the chart so we could accomplish it for reals!

Spiritual Goals of 2021
Read the Book of Mormon for Lent (40 days): E
Read the Book of Mormon in 90 days (1% challenge from October conference):lP, E
Sing all the Hymns:  all the family
Play all the Hymns: M
Memorize the articles of faith: B
Memorize the 13th Article of Faith: lP
Memorize Section 4 of the Doctrine and Covenants: M, lP, B
No stealing for a long time: L
Missionary Discussions: B
Baptism: B
Pray for a deaf branch: L
Deaf branch organized: all the family

Social Goals for 2021
NC trip:  all the family
RV trip:  all the family
Pressure wash Grandma's driveway: all the family
Become clan leader in book club: lP
Minigolf: all the family
Return to in person school: G, M
Alligator farm Counselor in Training: M
Band camp: M
Teach piano lessons: M

Physical Goals for 2021
Palmetto roof for playset: all the family
200 days no sugar: E (it took 3 tries!)
80 mile bike ride: P and M
Ride a bike without training wheels: L
Kayak from PC bridge to shores: E, M
Catch a cold snake in our backyard: M
Learn 10 drops on the aerial silks: M
Raise the deck: P
Ride bike around whole neighborhood: B
Make Felt Cat: lP
Student day level 5: M

Intellectual Goals for 2021
Kayak Trailier: P
Tie knots: B
20 points or 1st place in Scatagories: lP
Buy a kayak using mom and dad's money: G, M
Learn to read so he could sell candy: L
Get AC working better: P, E
Read the Constitution: all the family
Make it to semifinals of the nationals: G
Make it to top 4 for trivia cup: G
re-read all the warriors books: lP
Many kerbal creations: G
FPSA: M
Certification in Physics: P

Tangible Goals for 2021
Get a new kindle: lP
Get a buzz lightyear: L
Get a Woody: L
Get mom to make a shoe cake: L
Iphone SE(their older phones were going to be dropped by the carriers soon): G, M
Basketball hoop: P, E

These are not all the things that we accomplished this year!  Many piano pieces were learned.  Many meals were planned.  Many stories were created, and books read.  These are just a few of the things that took planning and continued attention.  It has been difficult year but these were some good moments.

Bucket list Kayak Trip

 I had a goal to kayak from our neighborhood bridge out to the boat ramp near the inter coastal we have launched from as a family.  I didn't know if this was possible or how long it would take.  I used my vast kayaking knowledge to estimate 3 hours and that's about what it took.  We planned to embark on a day of Christmas break so we would have plenty of time.  We also planned to ride the tide out, because the creek flows out with the tide. 

High tide was 8am and we were on the water at 9:30. 

We began in woods with the morning light streaming through the trees.  We were barely able to navigate through some passages, and got lots of cypress needles, spiders, and other debris dumped on us.

The scenery slowly changed to marsh and it was gorgeous.

P brought the kids to the bridge to wave at us.  He has an uncanny knack for meeting us at this bridge.  I love his delight in timing these surprise sightings.

P took the boys home and came to the rendezvous point.  M took a dip in the water.  We survived!

Take a walk

 I've been walking for 4 years now.  Walking in the morning, walking in the evening, walking recreationally.  I love my body's ability to go miles with no pain.  I have learned to buy really good shoes, Altra forever.  

Last week I got the booster on Monday.  Tuesday I was sensitive and sore.  Wednesday I was tired and sore.  Thursday I was feeling better but I think the toll of feeling bad was still lingering.  Something happened and I was so offended and upset.  I saw the situation unfold and each time I came up with a healthy response, something else kicked the ant hill. 

I took the littles on a walk in the dark, wearing reflective vests. This helped me get away from the situation and move toward a healthier response.  The situation never resolved in a way that I would call happy.  As it kept coming up the next day, I did have a better ability to just ignore it. 

I want to model healthy boundaries for the children.  What other people do, is up to them.  I can only control my response.  I learned about the Four Agreements: 
    -Be impeccable with the word. 
    -Take Nothing Personally. 
    -Assume Nothing. 
    -Do Your Best.

If I had been impeccable with the word, I would have spared my children my tantrums.  If I had taken nothing personally, I would have just accepted that it wasn't about me, and would have not been upset.  Had I assumed nothing, I could have asked questions 2 days prior to the event, and known details in advance instead of letting them unfold.

I think walking is incredible.  I'm very grateful that I have the ability and love of walking.

party party party

 Our ward had a breakfast yesterday morning.  The tables were set up outisde and it was a glorious day.  I was not helpful but did take the tablecloths home.  lP had a birthday party right after.  She got to mini-golf, arcade play, and go-cart drive for 3 hours!  I came home and made food for dinner and Sunday events. Our neighborhood had a go-cart/bike parade at 6 followed by appetizers.  Luckily I had made 2 batches of brownies.  

Today we'll be singing "Angels we have heard on high" with bells in Sacrament meeting.  The deaf branch is having a linger longer and baptism afterward.  I'm preparing the hams for the branch.  For my family I'm bringing brownies, rolls, mashed potatoes and broccoli.  

Monday or Tuesday I think I'll put in with a kayak and try to go south to moultrie point.

impulse := prompting

 Today I thought of doing something small.  That impulse turned out to be a prompting to send a specific message to someone.  I love being reminded that we are all God's children and that he loves us. 

I got my covid booster and have been feeling sensitive in bad ways.  I'm glad I was sensitive in a good way too.

Tonight as we studied "The Family: a proclamation to the world" we got into a lengthy discussion about personal revelation and who is allowed to have revelation for you.  We forewarned the children that nobody who says they got a revelation to marry them, is a person they should marry.

L cut his hair very unfortunately yesterday.  It's so close in places that I haven't even bothered shaving it yet.  Skin.  Tonight during our discussion he looked up lovingly at me and said "I want your hair to look like mine."  Love.

We've registered L for school because his needs are different than the other kids.  We aren't in a co-op with classes so he doesn't have structure and peers.  We're so busy getting the big kids to school and following up on lP and B's school work, that L maybe gets 30 minutes of focused attention each day + an awesome nap with mom.  

We got the paperwork started in the fall for him to start kindergarten.  Delta was going crazy and 5+ kids still couldn't get vaccinated.  He's fully vaccinated now so hopefully this is a good time for him to go.

Reviews

 "My family went on a week-long trip in a RV this Thanksgiving week. It was a great experience and I would recommend any trip like it.

We stayed at several parks, like Anastasia State Park, OLeno State Park, and Gold Head State Park. We also went to some of the springs around our campsites, like Rock Springs, Silver Springs, and Gilchrist Blue Springs.

If you want to ride a natural lazy river, Rock Springs is a great experience. It has a long river to ride down in a float and several places to swim without the current and fish that you can see.

At Silver Springs, riding the glass bottom boat is a great use of 30 minutes." lP

 

"Me and my family just got back from a week trip aboard the “People Of
Abinadom”(https://www.outdoorsy.com/rv-rental/st-augustine_fl/2016_thor-motor-coach_
four-winds_62985-listing) RV That we rented through Outdoorsy. It sleeps 8, and has 7
seatbelts. My family was able to spend the week comfortably without having to convert
the table into a bed.The master bedroom slept 2, the bunk beds each slept 1, the couch
slept 1, and the cabover slept 2. The kitchen was equipped with a stove, oven,
microwave, sink, fridge, freezer, and many cabinets. We were able to cook food easily
while stopped. The electronic jacks were easy to use. The Slideout allowed for more
space when we were stopped. Overall, this was the absolute best RV experience I have
had." M

 

"Savannah Sweets: 

            This was a great candy place, we originally were planning to go to Whetstone chocolates, but found this place, and this one’s better than Whetstone’s. Not only was the service actually personal, but the candy was really good. Would absolutely visit again.

 

Mix & Match Candy Shoppe:

            This was a really great place, with a great variety of candies, I do wish that pricing was a little more clear, as I couldn’t figure out the price until checkout, of which it was lower than I expected, still a good thing, but I do not wish to give myself an aneurysm on how much I might be paying.

 

Anastasia State Park:

            I’ve been here multiple times, and the service is always fantastic. It was a little different in an RV, but most of the experience was the same, which was great. Can’t wait to have more memories of this place later on.

 

Gilchrist Blue Springs:

            We drove here, saw there was a place to swim, getting ready to swim, and 2 hours disappeared without realizing it. Great place.

 

Rock Springs:

            Water was fantastic, you have to get used to how cold the water is, in November, but once you do, you never want to get out of the water as everything is freezing. The head of the spring is a lot of fun to explore. I would like to explore the caves, though."  G