Random stuff for the year.

So for the last month or so I really slacked off  on EVERYTHING and now with the new year starting I, Of course, I have set myself some goals. (Not that I don't do that anyways) It really got me thinking how grateful I am for the Gospel. I am thankful for the Atonement and that we can be truly be forgiven, not just make goals and try to be better .. next time. It can actually be washed away and forgotten completely. This year I am excited to grow and to learn and to work hard toward the person *I* and My Heavenly Father wants me to be.

So... I achieved my goal (a little late). I read the Book of Mormon all the way through with out stopping and quitting all by myself. This is the first time I have totally read it not quit and then started over again.  Ive read it MANY MANY times with family, seminary, and church, but never all by myself. I made my own rule to not try to worry about the amount, and just read a little each day, and that helped me not feel overwhelmed and to not give up. I was able to concentrate more on the story, learn, and listen to what the spirit would tell me. The whole experience was AWESOME!
I really was more in tune with what Heavenly Father wanted me to know, and I grew a lot spiritually. Some of the biggest lessons I learned was I really need to have faith in My Heavenly Father and put aside my worldly worries and desires and trust that he knows whats best for me. When I truly do that I am more happy, and any time I start to slip or fall, I am reminded of this, and I get back on track. Its given me a lot of perspective. I seem to prioritize wrongly sometimes and it has helped me find a balance. Another thing that seemed to happen to me shortly after I started reading was my day would go smoother. If I made time for reading, I would seem to have MORE time. I would make it to work when I was supposed to, Traffic would clear up, etc. Call it coincidence, but I know it is not. Too often did this happen to just say it was by chance. 
I have always known in my heart that it has been true. It was never really too much a question for me, however.. I truly didn't know how big of a impact it could have on my life!

So.... Some more temporal goals are
Finish the last season of Lost and 24!  Go to the gym 5 times a week, read a good book, help James in school,read the B.O.M. again--and possibly start the bible, save money, hang out with my friends more often. Call my mom more often (and visit her too), Try to stay optimistic, Learn a new skill--possibly take a class or something--and thats about it. I don't want make unrealistic goals. So thats its for now! but I'm excited for the challenge and the new adventure this year! Go 2011!!