Cushings set some goals...and report on old ones!

For family home evening this week we sat down and reported on our 2018 goal efforts and then made new goals for 2019.  It's going to be a great year!

Here's how we did in 2018:

Family Goals:
2 family temple trips
1 family camping trip
Get Rhiannon to college
Consistent family scripture study--not so great
Call Collins family at least once a month--not as often as we'd have liked

Jason:
Monthly date with Mom
Monthly activity with Rhiannon--okay but not monthly
Monthly golf with Wade--okay but not monthly
Anniversary trip
50-miler with Wade
Run half-marathon

Verity:
Try diet for thyroid health--nope
Finish CA credential requirements--YES!
Monthly date night with Jason
Donate blood
Publish 2016 and 2017 blog/FB books
Daily Book of Mormon study
Life skill opportunities for kids


Rhiannon:
Finish Personal Progress by 5/30
Summer job
Try something new in Hawaii
Go to prom
Practice piano every Sunday--mostly!
Before college, cook dinner at least once a month--nope
Go to institute
Explore Reno--a little
Write in journal every day

Wade:
Get all Eagle merit badges--some
Run-bike twice a week--nope
Prepare for 50-miler
Do 5 Duty to God sections
High school golf team lessons
More summer jobs


And here are our 2019 goals, challenges, and experiments.  We all felt pretty fired up about these and are excited to work on them!

Family:
3-4 ward or family temple trips
Texas for Thanksgiving
Trek (July 11-13)
Buy Mom a new car
1 camping trip
Come Follow Me curriculum for FHE

Jason:
Half-marathon
Monthly date nights
Monthly golf with Wade
Learn one bass song every month
Come Follow Me study

Verity:  
Love loved ones well.
Eyes up, phone down.
Prepare physically for Girls Camp/Trek
Come Follow Me curriculum
Daily journal writing + weekly blog
40 Hr. Teacher Workweek curriculum
Keep track of all the books I finish

Rhiannon:
Come Follow Me study
2 temple visits
Play piano once a week
Go on 2 dates
See Hozier in concert + 1 more
Call gr-parents and Sandi 2X month
Fun activity once a month

Wade:
Go to a concert
Drivers Ed + license
Eagle Scout completed
Weekly, consistent Come Follow Me
High school golf team adventures
Straight A’s
Active engagement & focus in life
Make $800 over summer

Reporting on 2016 Goals...and new ones for 2017!

2016 Family Goals:

Family Temple Trip at least once--YES!
Camping trip--YES!
Continue daily family scripture study--still working on the "daily" part!
Cushing/Cropper Summer Beach Trip--YES!
Texas A&M Football Game at Kyle Field--YES!

Jason:
CrossFit boot camp--YES!
Zion’s Ragnar in May--didn't happen due to injury
Backpacking trip with Wade--YES!
Half-marathon in fall--didn't happen due to injury
Monthly date night with Mommy--YES!
Buy a Porsche--bought an Infiniti Q50S instead!

Verity:
Hit 10K steps 4 times a week for 8 wks, continue--YES!
Become active member of Friends of Library--not yet
Be active Scout committee member--while I had the calling, yes!
Find family name and do temple work--not yet!
Complete 2 Just Serve projects--YES!
Montana trip to see Linden--YES!
Make 4 new recipes in solar oven--not yet!
Donate blood again--YES!
Complete 2015 blog book--YES!
Monthly date with Daddy-_YES!
Cook with kids on Saturdays--not yet
Prepare 15-30 minutes daily for institute--now for YW calling.  Not consistent yet!

Rhiannon:
Write in journal every day-YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Not a single day missed!
Learn to cook 10 different meals--not 10
Invite 5 different friends over during summer--YES!
Personal Progress Experiences done by May 30--YES!
Learner’s Permit by May 30, get license by Dec--learner's permit yes, still working on license
Get patriarchal blessing--YES!
Narrow down 5 colleges, majors, and occupations--working on it!
Over summer, find activity that I like to stay in shape--nope
Get a summer job--YES!

Wade:
Run with Dad once a week--No
Finish Book of Mormon by the end of the year--YES!!!!!!
Play tackle or flag football--YES!!!
Invite friends over here more--YES!
Keep a GPA over 4.0 entire year--YES!
Scout goal: TBD--earned his Star advancement!


Overall, we all felt pretty good about our progress in 2016.  We'll put those feel-good vibes to work with our new goals! :)

2017 Family Goals:

·         2 Family Temple Trips

·         Utah/Idaho Summer Trip

·         Landscape front yard

·         Work on consistent scripture study

·         2 Family Camping Trips

·         Turkey Trot or Jingle Jog 5K

Dad:

·         Cross Fit and/or run 4 times a week

·         Backpacking trip with Wade

·         Monthly date night with Mom

·         Monthly daddy/daughter time with Rhiannon

·         Monthly golf with Wade

·         Spend at least a week preparing for High Council talks

Mom:

·         Find a family name and complete temple work

·         Donate blood again

·         2016 Blog Book

·         Join Friends of the Library

·         Finish CLAD/CTEL certificate courses by end of year

·         Create a habit of regular journal writing

·         Invite kids to cook every day

·         Hit 10K steps 4 x week for 8 consecutive weeks

Rhiannon:

·         Write in journal every day

·         Get a job

·         Read Book of Mormon

·         Find family name and do temple work

·         Ride bike twice a month with Wade

·         Get license by May 30^th

·         Apply to at least 5 colleges

·         Visit a college campus with parents

·         Carry out a ward talent show

Wade:

·         Write in journal once a week

·         Go for a 1-mile+ run twice a month

·         Finish New Testament

·         Ride bike 5 times a month

·         Do a football sport

·         Get Life Scout advancement

·         Finish Deacon experiences in Duty to God by June and start Teacher experiences

2016 Goals: out with the old, in with the new

For Family Home Evening night this week we reviewed last year's goals and made new ones for 2016.  We all agreed that our performance in 2015 as a whole was the worst yet, but that certainly didn't stop us from making new ones, haha!  We aren't beating ourselves up too much and are excited for what 2016 has in store.  We also plan to do a better job checking in at least monthly during a family night to report on progress we're making.

Report on 2015 Goals  (I've underlined the ones we did make happen!)

Family Goals:
Continue to work on family scripture study
Sheen Family Reunion for 4th of July
Family camping trip
Turkey Trot in November
Family Temple Trip when Wade turns 12

Jason:
40th Birthday adventure trip with high school buddies in June
Backpacking trip with Rhiannon and Wade
Fitness goal--run half-marathon
Work on church calling every day
Finish backyard fence

Verity:
Write in journal every week
Teach kids how to cook 6 meals
Go to the temple 3 times or more
Expand subbing circle (more schools) once Wade starts middle school
50,000 walking steps a week for fitness

Rhiannon:
Attend EFY Express in March
Cook an entire meal by herself once a quarter
Continue Personal Progress
Bike 2x a month and swim 10 laps each time she gets in the pool
Start foreign language sophomore year

Wade:
Finish Book of Mormon before becoming a Deacon
Finish Faith in God program
Do something football (flag or tackle)
Run/bike 8 times a month or twice a week
Read a book every week
Write in journal 3 times a week

Dogs:
Get a walk every day
Take them to the new dog park

And now for 2016 Goals!

LET’S DO THIS!

2016 Family Goals:

Family Temple Trip at least once
Camping trip
Continue daily family scripture study
Cushing/Cropper Summer Beach Trip
Texas A&M Football Game at Kyle Field

Jason:
CrossFit boot camp
Zion’s Ragnar in May
Backpacking trip with Wade
Half-marathon in fall
Monthly date night with Mommy
Buy a Porsche

Verity:
Hit 10K steps 4 times a week for 8 wks, continue
Become active member of Friends of Library
Be active Scout committee member
Find family name and do temple work
Complete 2 Just Serve projects
Montana trip to see Linden
Make 4 new recipes in solar oven
Donate blood again
Complete 2015 blog book
Monthly date with Daddy
Cook with kids on Saturdays
Prepare 15-30 minutes daily for institute

Rhiannon:
Write in journal every day
Learn to cook 10 different meals
Invite 5 different friends over during summer
Personal Progress Experiences done by May 30
Learner’s Permit by May 30, get license by Dec
Get patriarchal blessing
Narrow down 5 colleges, majors, and occupations
Over summer, find activity that I like to stay in shape
Get a summer job

Wade:
Run with Dad once a week
Finish Book of Mormon by the end of the year
Play tackle or flag football
Invite friends over here more
Keep a GPA over 4.0 entire year
Scout goal: TBD

Report on 2014 goals, and new ones for 2015!

We spent the last two Family Home Evenings reviewing goals and making new ones!

2014:  (completed goals are crossed out)

Family Goals--
St George reunion with Cushings
2 family camping trips  Death Valley and Chimney Creek
November Turkey Trot  (nope--we enjoyed a UT Thanksgiving instead)
Consistent scriptures study--still a work in progress

Jason--
Complete P90X3
Run Wasatch Ragnar in June
Run another half marathon (we're giving this to him because he ran a 2nd Ragnar in November!)
Establish official golf handicap
Get pilot license--some day

Verity--
Make new volume blog book
Participate in a community service project (RidgeProject)
Go to the temple 3 times--I went twice (two times more than the previous year, haha!)
Complete P90X3--not sure why I stopped, but I did start it
Teach kids how to cook 6 meals--didn't make that number, but they are in the kitchen more with me

Rhiannon--
Make good grades and friends in high school
Join club in high school
Start reading Book of Mormon again
Keep working on Personal Progress
Ride bike 2 times a month

Wade--
Get Arrow of Light on time
Do a golf clinic
Play flag football again
Father/Son backpacking trip
Finish Book of Mormon

Oscar and Samson--
Go on a family camping trip


And here is our list for the new year!

2015
Family Goals:
Continue to work on family scripture study
Sheen Family Reunion for 4th of July
Family camping trip
Turkey Trot in November
Family Temple Trip when Wade turns 12

Jason:
40th Birthday adventure trip with high school buddies in June
Backpacking trip with Rhiannon and Wade
Fitness goal--TBD
Work on church calling every day
Finish backyard fence

Verity:
Write in journal every week
Teach kids how to cook 6 meals
Go to the temple 3 times or more
Expand subbing circle (more schools) once Wade starts middle school
50,000 walking steps a week for fitness

Rhiannon:
Attend EFY Express in March
Cook an entire meal by herself once a quarter
Continue Personal Progress
Bike 2x a month and swim 10 laps each time she gets in the pool
Start foreign language sophomore year

Wade:
Finish Book of Mormon before becoming a Deacon
Finish Faith in God program
Do something football (flag or tackle)
Run/bike 8 times a month or twice a week
Read a book every week
Write in journal 3 times a week

Dogs:
Get a walk every day
Take them to the new dog park

Chimney Creek camping trip

As soon as Wade got home from school on Friday, we piled into the truck and headed to Chimney Creek for a family overnighter campout.  The drive through Nine-Mile Canyon is a little crazy, and the dogs sure didn't like the bumpy road to the campsite, but once we got there, we had a fantastic time.  It was maybe an hour's drive, tops.  So close and such a change of scenery!

Chimney Creek was NOT crowded.  There was one other camper next to us, but we couldn't hear them at all (unfortunately they probably heard US a lot).  Normally when we've camped we have been surrounded by lots of other campers.  Maybe because this is a very rustic site (no water), it's not as popular.  We liked having the place to ourselves!  We brought water and firewood with us, and there was a "bathroom," so we did just fine.

Our camping menu included:

--hamburgers, chips, fruit, and veggies with dip for dinner

--campfire dessert was roasted Starburst and a different take on s'mores (put a roasted marshmallow between two Fudge Stripe cookies; I loved that it was less messy, but the family preferred the old-school version)

--For breakfast we had Smokies sausages, pancakes, and fruit.

We used the campfire to cook our desserts and used the wonderful RoadTrip grill to cook everything else.  Love that thing!!!

Rhiannon and Wade had a blast climbing the rocks around the campsite and taking TONS of pictures together.  We could hear them giggling and having a great time.  Wade got a small injury on his head from hitting a branch, but he was fine.

Probably one of our favorite things was the night sky, filled with stars.  The absolute stillness of the campsite sure added to the majestic atmosphere.  The only thing I heard besides ourselves was a couple of birds in the morning--it was THAT quiet.  It was fun playing card games in the tent at bedtime, too.

Camping with the dogs was interesting.  Overall, we think they did well.  It was ALL new to them, so they were hyper and edgy and on full alert the whole time, especially Oscar.  We probably need to camp with them more often so they chill out a bit!

If we did this campout all over again, the only things I'd change would be to bring more warm bedding for the dogs--it got pretty cold when the sun went down, and I'd pack bug spray!  We were fine once the sun went down, but the rest of the time there were lots of little pesky bugs flying around.

What a blast!  Hurray for family camping trips!

Many thanks to Rhiannon who took these wonderful pictures!

The dogs whimpered and whined most of the drive there.  They were FINE on the way home, though! :)

We're not in the desert anymore!

Thank you, Daddy, for the perfect campfires!

One of MANY sibling selfie shots taken up on the rocks

Dogs are a lot like toddlers on camping trips.  They are under foot and don't want you to be out of their sight for an instant, or they freak out.

Cute boy!

Watch Dogs

Trip Photographer--what a cutie!

Fun!  Loved camping with this girl!

Peace!

Hiking boot selfie

Yay!  We got Dad in a picture!

Rhiannon called this "Twinners."  Glad we could make memories together and have a great time camping at Chimney Creek!

Reporting on old 2013 goals and new ones for 2014

Here's how we did in 2013:

2013 Family Goals:
Rich and Donna Sheen Family Reunion in TX in July   Check!
Utah Christmas  Check!
Keep working on consistent family scripture study  (negative, we're like a roller coaster on this one!)
2 family camping trips  (we did one!)
Star Wars Death Valley trip  (nope!)
Go to Mammoth   (nope!)

Jason:
Ragnar race in April  Check!
P90X in the summer  Check!
Weigh 210 pounds by the end of the year  (close but no cigar)
Remodel downstairs bathroom  We're giving him this one because he's remodeling the guest room!
Spend 15 minutes a day on church calling  (50%)
Attend 20th high school reunion  Check!

Verity:
Finish the Book of Mormon  Check!
Create Volume III blog book   Check!
Weigh 130 pounds by the end of the year  (not even close, but I did lose 8 pounds somehow)
Blog more consistently  (50%)
Teach the kids how to cook 12 favorite meals  (these kids can make an impressive salad, but we need to work on more cooking basics)

Rhiannon:
Read Book of Mormon again  (nope)
Take summer class--archery, badminton?  (I've giving it to her because she's in a volleyball camp right now)
Take babysitting/first aid class  Check!
Write a full-length book  (nope--Rhiannon made me laugh when she said, "I don't know WHY I put that one down!")
Run a mile in under 10 minutes  (nope--got close, though)
Join a club at school--Jazz Band?  Check!  Yearbook class, baby!

Wade:
Get Cub Scouts Bear award by the end of the summer  Check!!!!
Run a mile in 10 minutes  (nope, but came close)
Pitch in spring baseball  (nope, but that was out of his control--see "Tell Me How You Really Feel" post)
Take a golf class or clinic  (nope)
Father/Son backpacking trip    Check!
Finish Book of Mormon  (nope!)

Oscar:
Stop counter-surfing, begging for food, etc.  (heck-no)
Camp with family Check!


And here are our 2014 family and personal goals!  Bam!

Family Goals:
St. George Reunion Trip with Cushings in June
2 camping trips
Work on consistent scripture study
Participate in November Turkey Trot run/walk

Jason:
Complete P90X3
Wasatch Ragnar in June
Run another half-marathon
Get pilot license
Establish official golf handicap

Verity:
Go to the temple 3 times
Complete P90X3
Make next volume blog book
Participate in a Ridgecrest community clean-up project
Teach kids how to cook 6 meals

Rhiannon:
Make good grades and good friends in high school
Ride my bike 2 times a month
Join a club in high school
Start reading Book of Mormon
Keep working on Personal Progress

Wade:
Get Arrow of Light on time
Finish Book of Mormon
Do a golf clinic
Play flag football again
Father/Son backpacking trip
Spring baseball?  (undecided)

Dogs:
Take them camping with us


Hurray for fresh starts, opportunities to learn consistency, and new things to try!

Goals are stars to steer by

Here's how we did with last year's goals:

 

Cushing Family 2012 Goals

 

 

Family Goals for the year:
Go camping 2 times  (okay; the boys camped a lot, we did one family camping trip during the summer)
Utah Spring Break  (YES!  Plus we snuck an extra one in there and went up to UT for Thanksgiving!)
Texas Christmas  (SO MUCH FUN!)
Use Universal Studios annual pass at least once
Family scripture study at least 6 times a week  (didn't happen; we'll keep trying!)

Jason's Goals: 
Run Ragnar race in April  (YES!  Plus he did a SECOND one in November!)
High Adventure--climb Mt Whitney
Workout 3 times a week
Help Wade with Cub Scouts  (Jason helped Wade on his Pinewood Derby car, which is huge in my book!)

Verity's Goals:
Volume 2 Blog Book  (YAY!)
Complete Feeling Great in 8 program at least once
Start and finish Book of Mormon (started but didn't finish; that will happen in 2013!)
More cooking lessons for kids
Get family to the dentist more
More date nights with J  (I'm giving myself that one--we get out for group game nights regularly!)

Rhiannon's Goals:
Finish Faith in God program  (YAY!)
Tennis in the summer
Try out badminton if class is offered  (it wasn't offered)
Join Concert Band  (Doing great!!!!)
Read Book of Mormon again 
Get good grades in 6th grade  (YAY!)

Wade's Goals:
Take piano lessons (YAY!)
Baseball in spring
Basketball camp in summer
Tackle or flag football in fall  (He's getting it this season--has done so much better!)
Keep riding bike; learn how to skateboard  (Mom is secretly okay that the skateboard one didn't happen)
Go to golf range with Dad at least 6 times  (went once)
Read more  (Got a million words read so far this school year!)

Oscar:
Learn to roll over
Go on family camping trip

Toby:
Get out in the sun more  (moved on to Greener pastures with the Green family)

And, drumroll, please:  here are the goals we've set for 2013!

2013 Family Goals:
Rich and Donna Sheen Family Reunion in TX in July
Utah Christmas
Keep working on consistent family scripture study
2 family camping trips
Star Wars Death Valley trip
Go to Mammoth

Jason:
Ragnar race in April
P90X in the summer
Weigh 210 pounds by the end of the year
Remodel downstairs bathroom
Spend 15 minutes a day on church calling
Attend 20th high school reunion

Verity:
Finish the Book of Mormon
Create Volume III blog book
Weigh 130 pounds by the end of the year
Blog more consistently
Teach the kids how to cook 12 favorite meals

Rhiannon:
Read Book of Mormon again
Take summer class--archery, badminton?
Take babysitting/first aid class
Write a full-length book
Run a mile in under 10 minutes
Join a club at school--Jazz Band?

Wade:
Get Cub Scouts Bear award by the end of the summer
Run a mile in 10 minutes
Pitch in spring baseball
Take a golf class or clinic
Father/Son backpacking trip
Finish Book of Mormon

Oscar:
Stop counter-surfing, begging for food, etc.
Camp with family

Happy New Year!

"Goals are stars to steer by, not sticks to beat yourself with!"  --Barbara Smith

Rewind: Mt Whitney August 2012

A couple weeks ago our ward had a Court of Honor.  I tagged along with Jason and really enjoyed the presentations given on the Scouts' summer adventures, especially the one that Jason was a part of--the 50-miler goal to climb Mt. Whitney.  There were hundreds of pictures taken and lots of stories, but that's something you'll have to get from Jason.  I didn't experience the altitude changes, the blisters, the exhaustion, the worries, or that once-in-a-lifetime feeling of accomplishment that I'm sure the group felt as they stood at the top of Mt. Whitney. 

For now, these wonderful pictures will tell some of the tale!  Way to go, guys!

It feels good to get this done

Cushing Family Adventures by Rhiannon (5th grade) and Wade (1st grade) on the 1st day of school, 8/24/10 | Make Your Own Book

One of my 2012 goals is complete! I finally completed the Volume 2 blog book, covering our lives from August 2009, when we got back from DC, to December 2010. It's ordered and should arrive in a couple weeks. Right now I'm working on the year 2011, and then 2012. It should get a lot easier to keep up once I've finished 2011. Enjoy the preview!

Cushing Family 2012 Goals

Family Goals for the year:
Go camping 2 times
Utah Spring Break
Texas Christmas
Use Universal Studios annual pass at least once
Family scripture study at least 6 times a week

Jason's Goals:
Run Ragnar race in April
High Adventure--climb Mt Whitney
Workout 3 times a week
Help Wade with Cub Scouts

Verity's Goals:
Volume 2 Blog Book
Complete Feeling Great in 8 program at least once
Start and finish Book of Mormon
More cooking lessons for kids
Get family to the dentist more
More date nights with J

Rhiannon's Goals:
Finish Faith in God program
Tennis in the summer
Try out badminton if class is offered
Join Concert Band
Read Book of Mormon again
Get good grades in 6th grade

Wade's Goals:
Take piano lessons
Baseball in spring
Basketball camp in summer
Tackle or flag football in fall
Keep riding bike; learn how to skateboard
Go to golf range with Dad at least 6 times
Read more

Oscar:
Learn to roll over
Go on family camping trip

Toby:
Get out in the sun more

Report on 2011 goals

Here's how we did in 2011...

Family:
2 family reunions in July
Disneyland
Family camping trip
Family scripture study every night  (we do okay but miss here and there consistently, so I didn't feel like I could check that one off)


Dad:
Work out 3 times a week
Lose 20 pounds by July  (I think he did this, but I'm not sure--will have to check)
Run in at least one 5K race (Did 10K in February!)


Mom:
Get piano tuned (Finally had it checked in February!)
Lose 10 pounds by July  (um, instead I broke my foot and gained weight)
Make Volume 2 blog book  (I've been working on it but it's not finished)
Read scriptures every day  (nope, hit or miss)


Rhiannon:
Work on Faith in God book
Limit gum chewing  (kind of tough, since we ALL like to chew gum)
Continue to work on posture
Tennis lessons in the summer
Flag football in the fall  (she had zero interest in doing this, maybe because she might be the only girl on her team?)


Wade:
Prepare for baptism
Baseball in the spring
Flag football in the fall
Practice golf  (he did go out in the backyard a handful of times and swing a club around)
Take piano lessons  (not yet, but if he really wants to, I think we could do it)


We'll set some 2012 goals tonight during family home evening--I wonder what they'll be!