The ABC's of Living an Abundant Life

I read a talk by our Prophet Thomas S. Monson that I thought was a good way to start off this years book. 

I haven't included the whole thing but it's really uplifting and just the basics of this talk spoke to me.

Living the Abundant Life

At the advent of a new year, I challenge Latter-day Saints everywhere to undertake a personal, diligent, significant quest for what I call the abundant life—a life filled with an abundance of success, goodness, and blessings. Just as we learned the ABCs in school, I offer my own ABCs to help us all gain the abundant life.

Have a Positive Attitude

Believe in Yourself

Face Challenges with Courage

This year will be a year of change. 

Change at our house is hard sometimes but it is the only way you can achieve progression.

Just like every year, we made our goals and it will be a challenge to stick to some of them. 

But with a positive attitude, a belief that we can do it and by having the courage, I know we can conquer!

It seems as though I was just writing this post for 2013 and here we are a whole year later. 

*~*2014*~*

It would be an understatement to say that we are looking forward to Ty's Graduation in June this year.

It has been a long time coming and the anticipation is building every day! 

Brynlee will be turning 5 and we will probably have her first real 'friend' party.

This is the year we will be putting her in all kinds of fun things. 

Maybe swimming.... soccer..... dance...piano?

We haven't been able to so far because of my work schedule and Ty going to school so it will be fun.

Ty turns 30 this year! How exciting is that?

We get to do Trek as a Ma and Pa, Disneyland, a fun family Reunion, Girls Camp for me and who knows whatever else is in store for us! :)

 

Some other fun things we are really looking forward to this year with our families. 

First Kim's wedding in June.

Next, Brynlee is getting a new cousin in July and we are so excited!

It will be so good to have a new little one around. They bring so much joy with them. 

Joy you can't find anywhere else in this world. 

Besides, Brynlee needs all the cousins she can get!

I'm so glad Tisha and Mark decided to have another one! 

Fun times to be had!

I am going to finish my Personal Progress this year. 

It didn't happen last year and I'm so close. 

Ty has said after graduation he wants to discover a new hobby. 

Interesting to see what he finds...

So far January has been just as exciting as always. 

Which is basically saying that I can't wait for it to be over.

There are some document worthy firsts, however. 

 

For the Dillon Family Winter Party we headed up to Midway for some grub.

We went to see the ice castles and it was so neat. There was a maze, narrows, Olaf and a tunnel leading to a slide. The child was pretty cold and had had enough so we called it a night. 

Before one of our soccer games we took Brynlee to feed the ducks. 

There were SOOO many of them and she soaked it all up.

When we left she said, "Good thing we came to feed the ducks today. Now their bellies are all full."

The kiddo had her first dental appointment. She was fine to sit in the chair but as soon as they laid it back she did NOT like that so I laid with her only with the promise that next time she would do it on her own. 

Just some randoms. 

Top: For Family Night we all drew pictures of good things to do in Sacrament meeting. Family Night is usually about something we need to work on. Brynlee definitely could be a lot better during church. 

Ty's picture was about praying, mine is in the middle and it's about thinking about Choosing the Right and Brynlee's is a plethora of things, of course. Although, I don't really know what. It's a work in progress.

Bottom Left: Up in MIdway at the Family party we all were shooting hoops, look at that form? It's so interesting to see Ty when he steps onto a field, court or anything sport like. It's his element and he just comes alive. He really is a natural athlete and is good at most every sport he tries. I love that about him! 

Bottom Middle: I bought these yummy raspberries, a whole bowl full, and Brynlee and I practically ate all of them in one sitting! She wanted me to take that picture. Silly girl!

Bottom Right: Seldom selfie. I really don't take that many pictures of myself but I love wearing my husbands hats and this one turned out cute so I thought, 'Why not?'

All these pictures are good reminders to me of what an 'Abundant Life' is like. 

Full of family, fun times, forgiveness and love.

Forgive yourself every day. Forgive your spouse and everyone around you, every day.

We all deserve it.