101 in 1001 at a close

Back in April of 2013 I made a '101 Goals in 1001 Days' list. I failed pretty miserably. The end date isn't until January 20th, 2016, but it's not going to happen and I would like to just put it to bed and start 2016 with fresh, less and more doable goals. I did managed to do some of them though, so here is the final report:

Start date: April 24rd, 2013. 

End date: January 20th, 2016

1.Finish Anne of Green Gables series 
Did it! I love them. 2.Go a month with no treats.
Did it! I still love treats.3.Sew something
4.Take family pictures
We got one this past weekend with Johann's family, so while it's not exactly what I meant to do, Imma count it!
5.Write a short story
6.Transcribe dads journals
Worked on it, but not close to done. 
7.Send out Christmas cards
8.Entire family dress up for Halloween
We did all dress up, though not as a collective. Henry was Frankenstein's monster, Thea Capt. America, Leo a lion, and Johann and I were Yin and Yang. 
9.Welcome a new member of the family
Mr. Leo himself! 
10.get a pedicure with Thea
11.Purchase a new vehicle
Our van, Groucho
12.Have a mommy son day
13.Have a mommy daughter day
14.Go a week without any electronic device present at dinner time (cell phones)
Yup
15.Have a 'golden day'
16.Visit 2 states I've never been to
17.Find an ancestor
18.Hand write 3 letters
19.Sleep 8-9 hours, seven nights in a row
20.Learn how to grill
I did more grilling, I'm not sure what I was aiming for with this one to be honest, but I know how to work one well enough to cook meat and veggies on it, so good?
21.Unplug completely for a day
22.Reread the Old Testament
23.Reread the New Testament
24.Study church history in depth for a month
25.Watch the sun rise
26.Eat somewhere 'famous'
27.Join or form a book club
28.Attend 3 temples never before attended
29.Go to a museum I've never been to
We went to one in San Diego I hadn't been too, I think their Natural History one, as well as another I think...
30.Purchase an original piece of art
The Gardener by Elise Wehle  
31.Make 50 new recipes
I'm not sure how many I did, but probably closer to 15 or so. 
32.Blog every day for a month
33.Attend a lecture
34.Attend a class
35.Get a hobby
36.Go on a bike ride
37.Go on a boat ride
Did this for Thea's 3rd birthday and it was cold and fun
38.Go on a hike
This past summer
39.Learn and acquire a new 'board' game
40.See hot air balloons take off
41.Go to Disneyland with the kids
Did this on Henry's 5th birthday
42.Go camping
43.Visit a national park
Sequoia National Park
44.Make a birthday cake from scratch
45.Spend a day at the beach
46.Organize the sheds
47.Grow an herb
48.grow something outside
A couple different flowers, the aptenia especially grew well under the play house window 
49.Write a poem
50.Read Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit in a day
51.Watch 5 foreign films
52.Get a pet
Two fish, flip-flop and Orrie
53.Go to the movies 10 times
I'm pretty sure I did this.
54.Develop a family tradition for Christmas
55.Develop a family tradition for Easter
56.Do a family service project
57.Read the Book of Mormon w/Henry
We did finish this one in March 
58.Watch fireworks
59.Go to a parade
60.Go on a mini vacation w/Johann
61.Take the kids to play in the snow
We did this last New Years with Johann's cousins when they visited from Uruguay. 
62.Get a massage
Yesterday! 
63.Take part/attend a community event
I coached Thea's Tiny Tots team
64.Attend a play
65.Attend an opera
66.Attend an orchestral or symphonic concert
67.go to a fair
68.Go apple picking
69.Do all the planning for a date w/Johann
70.Teach Henry how to prepare 2 different meals
71.Make a memory scrapbook/album for Thea
72.Visit Solvang
This past summer
73.Visit a mission
74.Go to the Provo Tabernacle Temple
75.Go to a water park
76.Do a swim class with Thea
This past summer 
77.buy a family Christmas ornament
78.Visit Hearst castle
79.Make a pie from scratch
80.Write/send a package to a missionary
81.Go to a baseball game and don't complain
I went to a Mavericks game in May of 2014
82.Do 50 crafts/activities with the kids from Pinterest
83.Attend the church service of another faith
84.Find something worthwhile at a garage sale or thrift store
85.Write a story for Thea and Henry
86.Get a picture of all the grand kids together
Done! Again, only because my mother-in-law did it.
87.Go through the entire yoga book
88.Read 50 books
 I have no idea, I doubt it though. Probably closer to 30 or so unless I could the novels I read with Henry, the potentially quite a bit higher. 
89.Organize file box
90.Do YW personal progress
91.Read a novel with Henry and 300 books with Thea
I know I read at least 10 novels with Henry and I may not have read 300 different books with Thea but I'm confident I read at least 300 book to her. 
92.Frame pictures for Johann's office
93.Organize master closet
94.Create a writing notebook/blog something
95.Make the car travel friendly
96.Have a picnic
97.get to know one of my neighbors
98.Ride a horse
For Johann's birthday, right before I found out I was pregnant with Leo. Aye aye. 
99.Read BoM along with Christ and the New Covenant
100.Memorize 50 scriptures
101.Invite 5 other families/couples over for dinner 

So 30/100. That's actually better than I thought. This is also why I'll probably be making about 10 goals per year again. It seems to be what I'm capable of doing! 

The Last Christmas

I have a lot of bittersweet feelings tonight. Since the age of 8, every Christmas Eve or Christmas Day has been spent in our current home. It's both exciting and somber to think this is probably the last year that will be the case.
Right now, while it's quiet, I can think about all the nights it was so still like this, and I, very slowly, anxiously, fell asleep waiting for the delights of Christmas.
This is the only place Henry or Dorothea, and Leo (to whatever extent he can) have felt that lovely bundle of nerves leading up to an exciting Christmas morning.
It's been a long, hard year. I've lived in and out of a terrible, soul numbing, joy stealing sadness that I've never experienced the extent of before. I often wish I had a re-do on the year, and on myself without it. I also find myself wishing I had more time to prepare for the warm ache of our last Christmas here. I know I can't have either of those things.
Instead, I've realized how important hope is. Tonight everyone sat together, and read the 'Journey To Bethlehem' in the The Friend magazine. It wasn't until we were almost finished that Leo had stopped screaming, and it seemed like either of the older two were listening. There was even quiet resistance from some adults. But we pushed on, and by the time we finished the stories, and began to sing some Christmas songs it felt like those days long gone where all I had to do was partake of the Christmas spirit, instead of fight for it, shape it, and share it, often with grudging recipients.
I mentioned to my mom afterwards how it reminded me of Elder Renlund's talk a few conference back-he said the Lord doesn't expect us to be without flaws, but he expects us to always keep trying. I suppose that's true of our worthwhile pursuits in life. I wanted to give up tonight, but I'm glad I kept trying. I've wanted to give up all year, and in many ways I have for good and ill.
As I thought more about the night and Christmases past, I remembered how as a child, I always thought Christmas was the last day of the year. It just made sense to me,frankly, it still does now- to leave the best day for last, and then begin again. As an adult I think it still feels that way, but there is a dose of grace in those days after Christmas until the new year; days to reflect on what was felt, and to remember the hope of the Savior's birth, and to try and find ways to manifest, and reinforce that hope through acting in faith during the coming year.
I'll miss this year, if only because it is the last Christmas in the place that's been home to me the longest. But I'll also be glad of the newness of the coming year in the hopes that I can remember what I've felt today, and know there is hope at the end of it all somewhere.
There is a Savior come. There is reason to keep on trying.