1. What did you do in 2017 that you've never done before?
When Jay and I went to NYC in February, I saw the musical Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen and Waitress for the first time, attended the Manhattan LDS temple, walked the Brooklyn Bridge, visited the 9/11 Memorial Museum, and did my very first escape room. In March, I visited Texas for the 2nd time ever but did lots there I had never done before. In May, I went to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California for the first time for a U2 Concert with my sisters. In July, we had our family pictures taken at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah and I have never been there before. I also finally stopped in Ouray, Colorado instead of just driving through and did the Box Canyon Falls and hot springs when Jen came to visit. In September, I hiked to Ice Lake in Silverton with my friend, Sue. Sam and I also attended our first ever Denver Broncos football game at Mile High Stadium. In October, I went to my first Imagine Dragons concert in Salt Lake.
2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and will you make more for next year?
I don’t remember very many specific resolutions but one was to review the books I read and I didn’t review a single one so….that’s a no. I would like to review books again in 2018 and just generally write more. It’s a part of expressing myself that I miss.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I had lots of women in my Relief Society give birth, one friend even had triplets! What’s weird is that my friends are no longer having kids but some of my friends and family members’ kids are now starting to have kids. That makes me feel a little bit old.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. Thankfully. 2016 was a blur of grief after my mom died on January 22nd and I was grateful 2017 had so much more clarity.
5. What countries did you visit?
None. But that is changing in 2018!!!!
6. What would you like to have in 2018 that you didn’t have in 2017?
I would like to hire someone to come and give me some ideas on how to remodel my house. I’m nervous to do it because I know me and once I open that door, it’ll be tough to shut and I’m not sure I’m ready for the headache and expense but it needs to be done eventually. I guess I want a plan in 2018. Maybe.
7. What date from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
May 24th, 2017, I visited with the nutritionist Dr. Ashley Lucas at PhD and started on a course that has changed my life. It’s a monumental day in my memory.
8. What was your biggest personal achievement of the year?
There are two big ones. Following that initial May 24th visit, I have since lost 90 lbs. There are moments I fail to own this achievement as personal since I required the help of a professional but even with all of her knowledge and support, I have been the one that has given up bad habits, cook healthy food and sustain an exercise regiment that have all given me greater control and health. I need to own that. But there are still days I deflect this personal achievement. The second achievement I am proud of is that I have planned and carried out a Relief Society Temple Trip to Monticello, Utah every month this year. I have driven dozens of women to the temple. I have learned so much and strengthened my own testimony and understanding of Jesus Christ by going so regularly. I feel like the spirit prompted me to offer these trips and I feel like it makes a difference in our ward, families and individual lives.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I have failed to follow some promptings in regards to members of my relief society and family. I don’t even know the fallout from my disregard to act. It gnaws on me.
10. Did you suffer injury or illness?
I actually feel better than I can ever remember feeling. I have given up sugar and all of its artificial forms and eat in a way that fuels my body instead of giving it treats. I sleep better. I digest better (TMI?) It’s all better. And I haven’t had so much as a sniffle since May 24th. I do still have this nagging shoulder/neck issue on my right side but I manage it with monthly massage and lifting weights.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
We paid off our boat so I consider that fully “bought” and it’s my favorite thing to do in the summer. I love that our family has this time together and that my kids are the ones begging for it (OK…Henry doesn’t beg to go to the lake. Ever). I also love each and every trip I’ve been able to go one. I don’t need more stuff or a designer home. But, I love the memories and experiences I’ve had with my loved ones.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Seth and Sam both completed Boy Scouts of America Eagle Projects and I learned that these are a very big deal. I’ve never really cared if my boys progressed and earned the Eagle rank and I still don’t all that much except that I have witnessed the amount of work and perseverance that goes into completing a project and…dang it…it’s worth a brag! They aren’t easy and aren’t designed to be so I get it a little more and I’m proud of them. I’m also proud of Jay for persevering during a difficult year of work. They were down a partner all year and their call schedule and schedule in general was brutal. They hired two new radiologists in July and life has gotten a lot sweeter.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Henry was a victim of some pretty atrocious bullying from some girls at school this fall. They accused him of sexually harassing/groping them and the school counselor and families of the girls seemed out for his blood (literally. An older brother was threatening to beat him up and one girl’s mother wanted “heads to roll.”) A wise and patient principal got to the bottom of the accusations which revealed the girls made all the accusations up. Henry seems unscathed, because his sweet, naive make-up protects him from some of the harsh realities of life, but I’m still appalled and depressed by their actions and lies.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Life is expensive. Seth wrecked a car in February so we had to get another “kid” car because ain’t no way mama is going back to driving to the high school every day. Nuh-uh. Our refrigerator died so we had to buy a new one. I paid for the entire interior of our house to get repainted by a professional (worth it!). Jay bought an old truck and a new plow for it that will come in handy if it every snows. We are blessed.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I get really excited at my boys basketball games. I may embarrass them. Sam has learned that I am loud at high school games and says he can pretty much only hear my yells. Seth’s team last season got to the sweet sixteen round and it was really exciting to be a part of that basketball family. This year’s team is not as successful in terms of wins but I’m excited every time I watch Seth play in his last year of high school sports. I'm also really excited that Henry is into music and learning the trombone and other instruments with his Stillwater band. Jay got really, really, really excited about winning the Silver Steaks competition at the fair this year with Henry's heifer so, by association, I am also a part of that excitement.
16. What song will always remind you of 2017?
I’m truly becoming an old person because I just looked at the “popular” songs of 2017 and I either don’t know them or don’t like them. There are a few that remind me of good times in the car, however. Attention by Charlie Puth, Look What You Made Me Do by Taylor Swift, Location by Khalid, Believer by Imagine Dragons, and Bruno Mars are fun to jam to with my kids.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
a) happier. Truly. It was a good year.
b) thinner. Yay!
c) I’m not sure. I think we managed to save a lot but with boys approaching mission age and college, it’s not without stress.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I had done more organizing. I know this is an area of my life that requires discipline and regular attention but if it has a door or cover, I’m much more likely to just stuff it in, balance it on top in there somewhere and shut the door. My house needs help.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
This is weird, but I wish I’d read a little less. Or at least less of the fluffy books I've been reading. I subscribed to Kindle Unlimited and read more crap than I should. I’m hoping my resolution to review all the books I read will help me choose more wisely.
20. Did you fall in love in 2017?
I finally fell in love with Durango because I re-fell in love with hiking. I’ve been living here with a bit of a grudge for 9 years. This summer, I decided to hike at least once a week as part of my effort to get healthy. Durango has awesome hiking and there was a moment this summer, when descending from a climb, that I felt this euphoric, all encompassing love for this amazing town I am blessed to live in. It took a while but I’m finally converted.
21. What was your favorite TV program?
I have only watched SYTYCD (So You Think You Can Dance) this year. I was so relieved they went back to having adult dancers and I even liked the new format of having a top 10 instead of 20.
22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
23. What was the best book you read?
My favorite read was A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles but I also really liked Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.
24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I had never even heard of the musical Dear Evan Hansen before Jay took me to New York but I LOVED it. And I obsessed about Die Young by Sylvan Esso for awhile this past summer.
25. What did you want and get?
I got my body back. I finally look closer to the way I feel like I look in my mind (I joke that I'm anti-anorexic. Body dysmorphia but in the complete other direction).
26. What did you want and not get?
My large back deck sanded and re-stained. I tried to hire a young man, personally related to me with the time and ability as well as needing the income to do it but he flaked out on me. *cough* It’s Seth *cough*
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
I really loved Coco, which totally took me by surprise. I think Jay was thrown by how much I laughed in Jumanji (me too). I liked the story of Wind River.
28. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
My birthday seems to always be the week of the county fair and this year, it was spent around animals and auctioneers. It’s fine. It’s just another day, right? (NO!) Sigh. I turned 42.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don’t know about immeasurably, but I need to be a better friend because I want to have a better friend. I think women need other women and I have my sisters, but they don’t live here, and I live in a house of boys and men. I need to be a better friend so that I HAVE friends. I have a lot of good acquaintances and friends but nobody that I see or do anything with regularly. I miss that. I think.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept for 2017?
I have bought a lot of clothes during the second half of this year and I’m surprised that I have been drawn to more fitted jeans and…there isn’t a better word, I guess…blouses? Fancier shirts?
31. What kept you sane?
Jay keeps me sane. He is my best friend, makes me laugh constantly and time with him is what I look forward to the most. My family grounds me. Hot baths recharge me. My weekly counseling session at the nutritionist refocus me. Hiking energizes me. Monthly massages relax me. My testimony of Jesus Christ and belief in Him keeps me motivated and reassured that all the work and service that comes with my busy calling as Relief Society president matters.
