simplify...

so much has happened lately, but I must look forward and not stress out trying to play catch up. i'm on a quest to {simplify}.

~ first: work... i am working part-time now, mon-fri, 8am-1pm. this was such a hard decision because i love my job, but i knew it needed to be done. john is still traveling most of the week and the kids still need supervision/attention. my employers were so gracious. they even kept me at my full-time salary!

~ second: church... i am now in primary teaching sunbeams! can't get any better than that! back when i was still working full-time, it was just too much and i felt i couldn't handle being in the relief society presidency anymore, so john and i made the decision i would ask to be released. before i could do so, bro. worthen called for a visit. the bishop was inspired to release sis. worthen and i as our hubbies are in the bishopric -- you know, can't have two high profile callings in one family! it really was an inspiration.

~ third: chores... oh, how i've battled this one. the kids were down to just one chore, along with keeping their rooms/bathrooms cleaned. the older girls had harder jobs of course, but it just became too much of a battle. after becoming so stressed out about it, i took their chores away. i've got to pick my own battles, and this just wasn't one i wanted to fight anymore. i am a very clean and organized person by nature. i need to have the control here -- it was hard to let go of it as the kids got older and i depended on them more to help out. but, the clean freak back!

~ fourth: facebook... after deciding to simplify, i got on facebook and cut back my "friend" list. i went a little crazy: from over 400 friends to under 100. not because i didn't like these people. not because they did something to tick me off. i just decided that facebook was all-consuming. i was trying to keep up with too many people, many of whom i haven't had contact with since high school. i felt like i had to get on there all throughout the day just to keep up with everyone. i don't need that kind of pressure anymore!

~ fifth: playlist music... i love this online capability. i love pulling up my blog at work to play my favorite tunes. i love all kinds of music. and with teenagers, i am exposed to a lot of "crap" out there that "has a great beat" but not the best of lyrics. so, i combed through my playlist with the intention of having more inspirational music on there. i added many of my christian favorites from k-love. however, there were a few i just couldn't part with (love me some justin bieber!) -- they have good messages, too!

~ sixth: dinner... i am not the best cook. never claimed to be. i can whip up a mean "oh-boy" casserole though, a total family favorite. i don't know why i stress myself out with this -- it's just food! so, i'm keeping it simple. instead of making a ton of food with many sides, it's just protein and a couple sides of veggies and/or fruit. so much easier and healthier. there have been a few things lately that john even complimented -- which is a big deal!

~ seventh: lists... if you know me at all you know i love making lists. i need a visual. if i don't have this visual, i accomplish nothing! nothing pleases me more than taking a highlighter and marking off a completed task. i am melancholy by nature -- a bit of a perfectionist, if you will -- and these lists keep me sane. well, i have been lazy to say the least, with my lists. and i'm talking years here. not any more -- the lists are back, baby!

~ eighth: time... time with my family is what i'm learning to treasure the most. having dinner each night together, sharing the best experience of our day, laughing. this is the good stuff! the t.v. shows don't matter, the laundry can wait, the house doesn't need to be perfect all the time. the kids and i love heading to the timeshare to hang out at the pool. we love going to the zoo and taking in nature. i love spending time with john on date night! i get a little anxious thinking that in a little over a year kaisha may be leaving the nest. she's a senior this fall! and when did that happen??? i swear she was born yesterday. hence the need to simplify my life and really examine my priorities.