Easter 2011

Is there really such thing as a perfectly posed family picture :) I love this one because we are all doing something just a little quirky...that's us quirky :)

Me and my sweet wonderful crazy boys!!!

Those same boys with my sweet wonderful crazy hubby! :)

We have a tradition of creating a "Jesus wall" each Easter as we remember the events of the last week of the Savior's life we place the picture on the wall. This helps us to continue to ponder these things throughout the week. Each year we add to this. This year was very rewarding as my 5yr old, Joaquin was able to tell us the events of the Savior's last week.

We also added some great books to our collection.

We added the tradition of setting the table with our very best and setting a place for the Savior. This I did to remind us that He lives and that He will return to the earth some day. Setting a place for Him is my way of teaching my children of the reality of His eventual return. It is also my way of conveying that we are inviting Him to be with us now and always.

I came up with our tradition following loosely the beautiful Hebrew tradition of the Passover Seder. Due to the sacred nature of this tradition for the Jewish faith I only took what I thought would show respect to this tradition.

We added a little easter fun with our center piece too.

We Do Hard Things - Part II

The good thing about evaluating yourself is the opportunity to grow, to change, to become what you know you can and should be. Knowing that I wasn't pushing myself to excellence in very many things helped me to see the so called "obstacles" or more like excuses that I was using to take the easy road. And if, "I do hard things", then is there any obstacle or excuse that can or should or could keep me from reaching the best within me? (Insert a big resounding NOPE here :)

I decided the first thing I had to do was to choose an area in my life in which I could achieve excellence but wasn't. I chose getting fit. As I pondered all these things I realized some very important things. First, I have to define what excellence looks like in detail so that I know it when I reach it. Second, only I can define for myself what excellence looks like. And lastly, the only person I should compare myself to is well, myself.

I have always been a person that values exercise and eating well but pregnancy wasn't easy for me. I worked full time with both pregnancies and was all too happy to accept complacency :) in my exercise habits. I am living with the consequences of that complacency now. The positive is that I have lost all of the "Zeke weight" but I still have most of what I gained with Joaquin. So, what does excellence in fitness look like for me, Karmen?

1. Exercise has to be consistent (at least 4 times a week) and constant - a lifetime habit even during hard times, no especially during hard times.

2. The type of exercise I do must push my body in a way I haven't before...it has to be hard, it has to be work, it has to be a test.

3. When it becomes easy I have find new activities that test my physical limits.

4. The side effects are weight loss not the goal.

A body that can perform daily functions without tiring, has energy to play with my children, that can tirelessly serve others this is what excellence looks like for me, Karmen.

Interestingly, last night Rodrigo was talking to me about the very same thing regarding his own life. He too wants to leave a legacy of reaching for excellence to our children. It is easy to become complacent when the only person you really answer to is yourself. But remembering my boys and how I would want them to be helps me to push myself.