Something Wonderful!

I thought I would follow up on how I am doing on the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year. I am happily surprised with how well things turned out! http://lisamakesart.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-years-goals.html

Goal #1. Make art everyday

Alright, I am doing a great job on this one! Something I had not been anticipating in January is that I would get a job teaching art to the community. I really enjoy it. I always knew I loved art, but I never thought I would love teaching it… When I started working for The Center in Provo, back in March, it was really challenging! I had no idea what to expect or what was expected of me.

I know how to make art. GOOD art. Art that has meaning and adds to the larger Art Conversation. I don't know how to teach "hobby" art to adults and children of all ages. Luckily I have resources nobody else has. Sure, the experiences and education I have received has really helped me, but more than that, more than perhaps anything else, has been my mom!

My mom is an extraordinary woman with an abundance of gifts, talents, and abilities. She made sure to provide a well-rounded childhood for me and my sisters. From the countless fieldtrips, projects, and programs she came up with, the arts and crafts she created have been a strength to me in this job.

During the first session especially, I found myself searching for activity after activity to do with my classes, and ending up calling my mom for advice nearly every week. I am really grateful to have a mother capable of so much! I have been able to come up with a really nice schedule of lesson plans to fill the whole 5 weeks/10 classes that’s in each session. My students enjoy the work, and love having me as a teacher as much as I love having them as students and making a difference in the community.

In addition to the art I have been teaching and making due to my job, I have also been working on the art for another wedding – MINE! I created some really awesome announcements (you have to acknowledge your own greatness, or nobody else will…) that are super cute and descriptive of our relationship. I have been working on the animation for our reception but not confident that I will get it done in time, I only have TWO weeks (yikes! (yippee!)).

Goal #2. Exercise regularly

Uh... we’re back to this goal already? Okay, so here’s my proposal: I submit that stress should count as exercise. I’m sure it burns calories and makes you sweat just as much as running around the neighborhood would. Okay, fine! It’s not a recognizable form of exercise, but let’s face it, people, I don’t have time to run down the street unless I’m late to work or picking something up for my wedding. Life is busy right now. Maybe I’ll be better at this goal after I get married… (don’t judge)

Goal #3. Apply Alma 38:12

Let me share what I wrote about this goal back in January:
Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness. I love that it says to use boldness, but not overbearance. I want to incorporate this into my everyday life, and into the parts of my life that are not as successful as others. Okay... Do you want to know a secret? The scripture wasn't exactly the goal I wrote down, but I think it is a more reasonable one. I'll leave the actual one up to Kimber this year... Oh yeah, I think i'm doing okay on this goal too.

In case you put two and two together and came up with 7, let me spell it out for you, my original goal was to get married.

In January, this seemed like an unreachable goal for this year. I could maybe meet the guy I would eventually marry, but I really had no expectations of it actually happening. Then something wonderful happened. Someone I considered to be a good friend, and always enjoyed talking with became something more to me. After trying to spend less time with him, because I didn't want to give him the wrong idea, I began to really MISS him. I needed him in my life. He made me happy.

After a series of events, including game nights, cross-country skiing, a hot spring trip, and (most importantly for me) sledding and spending the day with some of his family, we became official. 19 days later he told me he wanted to marry me. We bought a ring, and on April 17th while dancing on a stage in the middle of a park in Orem, he knelt down and asked me to marry him. Of all the days to forget my camera, this was not it. Thank goodness for camera phones!

I love this man with all my heart. He is so good, kind, and thoughtful, and just look at that smile. He goes out of his way to make my life better, and I am so excited to spend the rest of eternity with him!