Pick a Goal ... Any Goal!

"Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so you shall become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you what you shall at last unveil." James Allen

"Man is a goal seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals." Aristotle

"Progress has little to do with speed, but much to do with direction." Author Unknown

"The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or even seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you when they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them." Denis Watley

Hey, we got to have Football quotes for Eric!

"In life, as in football, you won't go far unless you know where the goalposts are." Arnold H. Glasgow

"The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score." Bill Copeland

I love New Year's Resolutions!!!! Is that weird or what? 

As a personal coach, one of my number one challenges is to help all kinds of people set goals and then work to achieve them. Today, I choose to be Coach Deb and share with you, my friends and family, three questions that will support you in setting and achieving some fabulous 2009 goals ... Yippee! So fun!!! These have worked beautifully in my own life.

For every Goal or Resolution you set, ask yourself these three questions:

Question #1 (VISION) 

Who will I become when I reach this goal?

For example: you must have a vision for each goal you set. Picture your future in every detail, as if you have already achieved your goal. Describe to yourself (on paper if you feel ambitious) who you are in every detail now that you have successfully achieved your goal. If a goal does not improve you in any way, reevaluate your goal so it creates personal growth.

Question #2 (PURPOSE, UNDERSTANDING & FLEXIBILITY) 

What is it that I REALLY want? 

For example, you may set a goal to buy a new and bigger house. You're hoping the house is going to give you something. What is it? Define exactly what feeling you hope to have once you get a house. Ask yourself again if you believe that goal will truly give you the results you are hoping to get. If not, then set a goal more specific to achieving the feeling and less to the "vehicle" you think may get you there. 

Question #3 (STRATEGY, SACRIFICE, FAITH & ACTION) 

What is the price I must pay to achieve this goal, and am I truly willing to pay it?

For example, if you desire to loose ten pounds, you must know what it will take and be willing to sacrifice those things that get in the way (sugar, couch time, sleeping in, etc.) and add to your life those things that will support you (exercise, vegetables, water, a trainer, etc.). If you're not willing to pay the price, the goal must be modified to something you are willing to change. Sometimes bite-size goals are more achievable than trying to "eat the whole turkey in one bite".

Remember always who you ARE,

have the courage to dream,

the faith to make the steps,

the understanding to know where all gifts originate,

and the humility to acknowledge the Lord in all things ... 

especially in the successes 

YOU WILL ACHIEVE 

THIS YEAR! 

YEAH FOR 2009!!!!!

Elder Thompson's Christmas

My Christmas Present from Ry was these pictures!!!! I jumped up and down and clapped my hands. I love seeing my boy in the field. What did families do without e-mail and digital cameras? So sad. But today, I am so happy!

A very happy Ryan finally gets his Christmas package ... a little bigger than he expected

Does anyone know iridology? I think this kid needs to be checked for loony-syndrome!

It appears that they're watching Christmas fireworks

I'm pretty sure what we're seeing is considered illegal in Utah??? What do you think? Maybe not ... happy explosions!

Here's Ryan's Christmas letter ... Enjoy!

Well, this has got to be hands down the weirdest Christmas of my life. Let us begin. First of all, it's summer down here. Thus the absence of snow or anything that might be cool. Next we had received word from the Grinch (aka Presdient Fierro) that we had to work Christmas ... (that's what I thought too). And it also turns out it was just me and my comp that worked because apparently he likes to keep rules. I wasn't as inclined. So we went around Quilmana. No one was at any appointment. The streets were empty, and we just made contacts. Hurray! BUT before I go any further I must tell you about Christmas Eve, also known as Noche Buena here.

So we were workin' like normal, rockin' in the numbers, but that night we spent with our Pension's family. First I got one of the best gifts ... callin' the fam! And afterwards we did, well, Christmas stuff. We had a small dinner of chicken, rice, some weird sauce (but very very tasty) and Pepsi. Luego we had a gift exchange - fashow! I scored the worlds smallest library; three books that talk about Peru, but really small. So if anyone ever has a question about Peru, I can pull out this small vault of information and burn anyone who doesn't know things about Peru. Later we lit off fireworks - Happy 4th of July! But not really. And then we just happened to be there until 3 in the morning.

Now for Christmas. After our day of work, we went back to the Pension and there had a SWEET game of sherades. Wow, that game is hard in Spanish. But this family here rocks my socks. They are so fun to be with. And we also recorded the entire game. Ah, good times.

But what really blew me away was the package from my fam, the Dowdle/Thompson/Bakers ... I was pretty much speechless. Really it blew me away how much effort you guys put into it! I loved the letters (especially Eric's Triple Combo note :)) And ohhh the food. I should be good until next Christmas. And now Elder Belon has fallen in love with what is called a Cashew. 

My love was just strengthened.

Really, thank you thank you thank you for everything. I love you all! I just can't wait until I can be with all of you passing Christmas away. But don't get me wrong. I absolutely love the mission! This has been a blessing! This next month we should have about 6 to 8 baptisms. The Lord truly prepares people.

Love 

Elder Thompson

P.S. Oh and I also found out that the time limit for calling was 30 minutes. Yeah, I blew that rule out of the water.

I know! I know!

I'm a blogging freak!!!!!

Okay, I said it ... that's the first step, right?

Whatever

Annual Sledding Party

The Collins family annual sledding party is today and despite the bitter, cold we are willing to throw our bodies (as well as our children's) down treacherous hills ... all in the name of "fun".

Brennan and Eric prepare the younglings for their first trip down the baby hill

Shawn walks the small victims back up for more of the same treatment.

Cody tried a daddy-double-decker-dive

Uncle Mike graciously takes Caleb down his first run

Shawn and Brennan are already starting to shiver

Needing more of a challenge, Cody throws himself on his belly and then thrusts himself down the baby hill

Cody and Caleb collaborate on a plan for more adventure ... they'll be graduating to the "big people" hill. No more baby stuff for them!

Atop the baby hill, Shawn and Brennan huddle for warmth ... kidding, they're tree huggers

Cody does a face plant, gets up and tries it again

Caleb's dressed and ready for the next challenge

Uncle Mike to the rescue! Down the big hill we go ... together

Mom and Cody give it a whirl ... what a blast!

Cody and Brennan race ... it appears the big guy is a little behind ...

But with some grit and determination, he finally catches up.

Time for the big boy race!

Being left in the dust, Shawn enjoys a little snow on his down time (really, look close. The kid's licking the snow. What a freak.)

Big hill time, Dad and Cody make multiple trips up the mammoth mound

An accomplice, Mom straps babies onto sleds and sends them plummeting down the hill (with shrills of delight)

Lydia gives the disk a try ... never to use it again

Another Daddy sandwich ... Cody's favorite

Dad, Mom and Brennan photo op

One last run before getting out of dodge ... Caleb's having trouble fitting on the sled

Ready ... Set ...

Go!

Splat!

Mom, stop making me take pictures. I'm cold!

Okay, okay ... a few more runs. Cody's looking a little frostbitten but pushes on

Another crowded baby train

Eric and Uncle Mike pick up the pieces at the bottom of the hill

Aunt Dinah drags them back up the hill for more punishment ... when will they learn?

Not yet ... Cody wants an Uncle Mike turn

Brennan wrecks from "I didn't know the tube was that bouncy!"

Where's Cody? I find him in the car with Aunt Kirstina who didn't last long in the snow due to a cold.

Aunt Jane shows up just as we're getting ready to leave ... what a cutie

Audrey and Lydia (best cuzie-buds) have to do a run together ... full of squeals (and sugar and spice of course)

What a fun day we had with our family, racing down snowy and treacherous hills with our little ones. The memories we make each year are fabulous (even if there are small injuries, frozen toes, and drippy noses). 

We went back to Granny's house for chili and cornbread and then unwrapped more Christmas presents. We enjoyed the warmth of home and a wonderful, large, and loving family.

Thanks Mom and Claire for staying home and getting the grub ready for all the frozen sledders. We love you!