Entwistle Year in Review-- 2012

2012-- Another year past, how does it go so quickly? It seems to roll by at an achingly slow pace, but then before you know it, it's 2013 and you're looking back at the year you've had. 


2012 was very good to our family, we had a great year!


February 13th, we found out we'd be adding to our family!

We celebrated Emma's 1st birthday!

Matt's work paid for us to go to Mexico, March 2012:

Prego went camping...

We made it back to Illinois! (and next time, I won't be pregnant and it will be nice and green!):

Emma went from little baby to being an adorable and independent toddler:

I laid low, ya know, being pregnant and all...

Baby Charlotte Anne was born! 10/19/12

Emma had her first real Halloween/Trick or Treating experience:

We ended the year with wonderful Holidays with the family:

Each year we have been blessed with great things, we are truly being watched over. Matt's doing awesome at his job, and is continuing to increase his clients which means more income for us. I officially resigned from work at the end of December, and am now an official stay at home Momma. I love being home with the girls, and I love being able to raise them while they are babies. We are so lucky!

Here's looking to 2013, in hopes that we receive just as many good things that we did in 2012 (except no babies this year, this Momma is taking a pregnancy break).

Happy New Year! 

xoxo

The Twistles

Body, Mind, and Spirit

Last year, I became completely complacent in all of these areas. I lost touch of the burning fire that is the Holy Spirit, which in turn helps my own spirit grow. I became lax on keeping my mind active, and fed my body sugar and... well, more sugar. 



Body- 

To my defense, I was pregnant and dealing with the change in my life- that is Motherhood, during 2011. I have been blessed with a fast metabolism, so losing my baby weight wasn't something I had to work for. I think I exercised once... on the treadmill for 20 mins...  and it was 4 months after I had Emma. Don't hate. I have a friend at work who sees what I eat, and I know it makes her die a little inside! She is more on the healthy side of the food spectrum, where I am on the very unhealthy side. I am addicted to sweets. I love sugar. My body pumps chocolate instead of blood. I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner just so I can have dessert afterwards. Eventually, someday this fast metabolism I have will be extinct. This year, I want to be more healthy, and eat some green stuff (like broccoli?) and maybe some orange stuff (carrots? ugh) more than I have in the past. I also would like to be more active, and do things like Yoga, Zumba, and basic work outs. I did find a great blog, that should help us eat out less and eat at home more. The blog is called: "The Girl Who Ate Everything" I have already made a few things off her blog, and it was all delicious! Now, I am not saying I am never going to have sweets again, it's just that I am going to balance it out with some healthy meals as well. 




When it comes to my Mind...

 That has been a big question for me. I haven't enrolled in any college classes since the end of 2008. I would love to finish my school, but financially it has not been possible. This year, I am hopeful to increase my learning, by attending school, and finishing my Associates degree. I love to learn, and I enjoy the way I feel when I sit in class and have thought provoking discussions about different topics. Hopefully my mind will also be fed this year!






Spirit-

Let me tell you one thing about repentance- when you are in the thick of it, and you feel hopelessly lost and in the dark, that is when you feel the spirit the absolute most. It's like God's gift to you, that although you may have done something terrible, there is still hope and happiness waiting for you, if you have faith in the Atonement. I feel as though that strong, helpful spirit I once felt, that motivated me to feed on the words of Christ whenever I could, has not been so strong lately. Of course, it has been the fault of my own that has brought this upon me. I have become so complacent in the gospel;  it's like it is hit or miss whether I am touched by the spirit or not. I need to be better, I have to be better, and this year, I will be better. The gospel of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, has absolutely saved me. I owe so much, and will never be able to pay the debt for the mercy and forgiveness I was given. The least I can do, is feed my spirit, and grow to my full potential. 


Here's to 2012! Body, Mind, and Spirit!


xoxo
Rachel

New Year's Resolution, better late than never!

I recently heard a talk, where it was mentioned that, "Goals not written down, are just dreams." So having pondered that all week, I have decided to write my dreams down to make them into goals. I am not sure if you know, but I am horrible at setting goals. The reason for this, is because I don't like being let down, especially by myself. If I set goals, and I do not attain them, it gets on my nerves, and I become really hard on myself. So, I usually set "pretend goals", where if I end up achieving it, I am happy and proud, etc... and if I don't achieve it, then it's OK because, *whispers* it was just "pretend." 


Well this year, I am going to make some goals.  


Yep, I said it: G-O-A-L-S (I know you can spell, but this is for me, to reiterate to myself that I am actually making REAL goals this time).

My main goal this year, is to call and/or send a card to my family and friends on their birthdays. I remember everyone's birthdays, but I don't always call them to tell them "Happy Birthday!" I am guilty, as many of us are, of using Facebook to let my friends and family know that I am thinking of them on their special day. It's just not the same, when you're comment gets lost in the multitude of birthday wishes. It's not personal; I don't feel like they know that I was actually thinking of them.

My awesome sister Shannen has been making a family calendar for the past few years, that has everyone's birthday on it (not that I need it, my memory is like that of an elephant). I am going to use this as a reminder to call and/or get a birthday card sent out for each of my siblings, nieces, nephews, Mom, Grandma, friends, and In-Laws. 

I love birthdays, and I love to celebrate all my friends and families day of birth. In the past, I have always thought about them on their birthdays, and have intended to do something for them, but it has always stopped there. This year, it's a GOAL (yes, again, reiteration for me).

Ready, Set, Go!

xoxo 
Rachel