So often I find myself writing a “to do” list of things that need to be done for the day or for the week. What happens with that is that I feel a sense of failure if I don’t finish what was on the list. What I’ve been thinking about for the last few weeks is making a “got done” list where I put on there everything I did for the day. Most of the time I veer from my “to do” list and do other productive things. I think it will help me see where my hours are going during the day and feel a sense of accomplishment. So here are a few things on my list today…..

*Fed Brayden
*Cleaned the guest bathroom, including the toilet AND mopping the floor/wiping the walls
*Brushed my teeth
*Folded one load of laundry and started another one
*Picked up the living room
*Got Thomas dressed for the day
*Read the Young Womens Motto two times

Wow, it’s only 8:30 am and I’ve already done so much!! I like this new “got done” list idea!!

As a Young Womens Leader I can personally participate in the “Personal Progress” program and receive my own Young Womens Recognition Award. I’m really excited to set these goals for myself. Here are a couple I am setting for experiences….

*Write in my journal every day for 30 days in a row.
*Memorize the Young Women Motto
*Memorize the Articles of Faith

I haven’t decided what I am going to do for the projects. I only have to do 3 of them while the Young Women have to do 7. For those of you reading my blog who are not familiar with the Personal Progress program, here is what it is…..

What Is Personal Progress?
Personal Progress is a goal-setting program that helps a young woman develop a testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. A young woman can work on Personal Progress even if she is the only young woman in her ward or branch.
Personal progress gives a young woman activities to do that will help her:
Know she is a daughter of God.
Rely upon the Holy Ghost.
Develop personal religious behaviors, such as prayer, scripture study, obedience to commandments, and service.
Keep her baptismal covenants and prepare and qualify for temple covenants.
Develop talents and skills that prepare her for her future roles.
Establish a pattern of step-by-step progress through her life.
She will have a pattern of progress for her life that will bring her joy and happiness!

I am going to use these goals to help my life stay more on track. I am excited for my girls to turn 12 so they can participate in Young Womens. I did not grow up a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints so I did not have that opportunity. I think it is wonderful!!

This morning I woke up happy. My girls were feeling better and were going to go back to school after having 2 sick days. I said my prayers and even read part of an article from the Ensign (a monthly magazine put out by our church that has uplifting stories and articles.) I was feeling great!! I got my girls up and of course they were both complaining that they didn’t want to go to school. I wasn’t going to let it bother me. I cheerfully helped them along the way UNTIL I had to finish some reading homework with M. She just plain did not want to do it. So, I told her I would not sign it unless she did. It would make me a liar if I put that she read when she didn’t. It turned into a major struggle and I lost………. MY TEMPER!! How can this happen everytime I am trying to do the right thing?? We both ended up crying. She was crying because I raised my voice and was pretty bold with her. I was crying because I did not want this to happen. I want to be the loving mommy that my kids remember when they are older. The kind they want to be like, not the monster I was this morning! After M and I had worked everything out I was still a little upset. So I was slouched over on the couch with my head in my hands, shedding a few more tears. That is when my 8 year old daughter, Katelyn, came up to me and started rubbing my back. She said something so profound …. “Mom, it’s going to be okay. We aren’t perfect.” She understood my feelings of wanting to be the best mom and how I was so disappointed when I didn’t achieve that. I got the kids off to the bus stop and then I came home and said a prayer. I just need strength right now. I know that people think that having the baby and the toddlers is hard but honestly my challenge is with the older girls. Are they turning out okay? Do they know how much they are valued and loved? Our oldest daughter is having a little struggle at school with a certain friend. I hope she always knows that “she is a daughter of her Heavenly Father who loves us and we love him.” I want my children to have strong self worth and not feel the way I felt as a child. Sometimes it was just a hopeless feeling. Especially the older I got and the struggles I went through. I did not have the backbone of “faith”. I hope my children know how much they are loved because even when we have our struggles it is out of love.