Lists

I've always been a fan of making lists of things to do. I think it all started when I was an immature teen and used to make myself a note to remember to still be mad at my little sister Carol the next day- you know how if you're mad at someone at night, then the next morning when you wake up and it's a new day, you kinda forget about your feelings from the previous day? Well, that used to bug me- that she didn't get the full mean treatment from me- so I made a note for myself. . . I know, I know--- I've grown up a lot since then. Sorry Carol! Anyway, I'm a big fan of writing stuff down. So I thought I'd share my ideas of what I keep track of. I have many different books for keeping all this info in. First and most importantly is my regular happenings of my life journal that I write in every day. I have been writing regularly in a journal since 1976 (that was an earlier post if you recall).

Since 2001, I have been keeping track of all the gifts given and received for birthdays and Christmas and amounts spent. This has been valuable info, because not only is it good to have a written reminder, it's also helpful to remember what you gave as neighbor gifts (for example) from year to year so you don't repeat! In that same journal I also keep a list of gift ideas that the kids and Mike have given me throughout the year. It's great when gift giving time comes, and I have a ready list of ideas.

In a small book, I have a list of my favorite things, and a list of things I don't love. I love that list! It's fun to add to, and reread. You'll be happy to know my list of things I love is longer than the one of things I don't love. I'll give you a few just for fun. I love: taking a bath while reading a good book, I love going for alone walks with one of the kids or Mike. I love my Christmas shopping weekend with Freda, Teresa, Stacie and Jessica. I love exercising every day. I love having a glass of ice-cold water wherever I am. I don't love: spending a lot of money in a restaurant, unnecessarily long and boring meetings, when people say they'll do something and then don't, when sticky price tags don't come off an item, and, when people wear make-up to work out at 6:00 in the morning.

Since 2004 I have kept an exercise journal of what I do everyday for a workout. It's fulfilling to see how consistent I am, and how I vary in what I do. I also make a mark for each day if I didn't eat past 7:00, and if I refrained from sweets that day. Those marks (or lack thereof) are not so fun to see at times. . . I'm a weak person sometimes okay?

Since 1996 I have kept a journal of funny things the kids have said. About once a year we get it out and read it around the dinner table. It makes for some great entertainment. We call it "the funny book." Here are a few favorites: Kylee, age 7: giving a FHE lesson on temples: "a temple is a scattered place where I'll be salad to my family for all enteree." Jessica, age 6: she was trying to think of the word 'yesterday' but couldn't, so she pointed to the side, and said "you know that day back there?" Jake, age 5: "I just love looking at the sun. It makes me feel about love. And so do girl songs." (another one from Jake because he has so many) age 5: In his prayers one night: "I like the good people I know, and I love the good people I don't know and I sort of like the bad people, but I don't like Satan." OK- one more from Jake: In church one day, Jake asked Mike why we take bread and water. Mike said it's to remind us of Jesus. Jake said: "It doesn't remind me of Jesus- it reminds me of food- like cookies!" Cam, age 4: I took Cam for an evening bike ride and it was a little chilly, but he wouldn't wear a jacket. On the way home, he was freezing, and said: "this is the coldest day I've ever met!" (one more from Cam): age 7: One day out of the blue Cam said to Mike: "I sure am glad I'm not a weed." As you can see, these quotes are priceless. I encourage everyone to start today writing down the funny things your kids/grandkids say, because they are a treasure.

I have a book filled with my favorite quotes or sayings. It's inspiring to read and refer to- and have available for talks or lessons. A few of my favorites: "The course of our lives is not determined by great, awesome decisions. Our direction is set by the little day-to-day choices that chart the track on which we run." Gordon B. Hinckley "Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeadedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle

I have kept track in the back of my regular journal for years, a list of books I've read, the author, and the number of pages in the book. It's fun to see from year to year how much I read. Several years I've read around 15,000 pages. I enjoy rereading certain books, so it's nice to see how long ago I read it in the first place and determine how bad my memory is and how much I can or can't remember from it. Many times I claim to have never read a certain book, but looking back at the list proves that I actually did! It's also nice to have so I can recommend books I've especially enjoyed to other people. (I put a star on the books I really loved) So if you're ever looking for a good book to read- I'm your girl!

I hope some of these ideas have been helpful to you. If any of you have ideas to share for more lists I can start, please let me know!