50 books this year

So I don't make too many resolutions, I pretty much know my faults and if I can't fix them the rest of the year, I'm not likely to fix them because a new year started. I do make small, doable goals frequently. Long term goals are just a set up to failure for me. I am going with one goal though, to read 50 books this year, and keep track of them. I already read a lot, but rarely keep track of what I am reading. I figure I need to read 4 books a month and a couple more here and there. This month I'm reading Scarpetta, The Giver, Shipwreck at the bottom of the world (again, it's a favorite), and finishing up Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. If anyone has any suggestions, please give them to me. I'm not above a cheesy romance novel here and there, love a good dork book, mysteries are a favorite, and of course anything I can read with my students. I'll keep you posted (heh heh) on what I've read, and what I think of it.
I also want to lose 10 lbs, give up caffiene, keep the house cleaner, stop procrastinating, finish any number of half completed projects, get Christmas sewing done before Christmas eve...seriously, this list could go on forever. Like I said, I know my faults so I'm not going to stress myself out by making a huge list of stuff I could do better. When someone comes up with the "eat junkfood, sit around and watch TV and lose 10 lbs" diet, I'm all over it! Until then...I'm going to read.

Happy Birthday Lizzy!

Sorry this is a couple of days late, but it still needs to be said. Happy Birthday Lizzy, I hope your day was fun. I know it was fun for me! I love our tradition of going shopping on your birthday. I have no idea where you get your energy from. All of us were dragging by the end, but you. I think you could have gone on forever.
I hope I don't sound too hokey here, but I really cherish our friendship. You are an inspiration to me every day. You inspire me to try harder and be a better person. You also gave me one of the greatest compliments I have ever received when you told me you wanted to raise your children like Dad and I had raised you. Maybe you are just making up for the years that you tortured me, but really you don't need to. What we have now is probably as strong as it is because we know how hard we had to work to get here.
You have known what you want and how to get it from the moment you arrived...feet first. Or at least tried to arrive feet first. I forgive you for breaking my body, you have 4 younger sibs so I clearly got over it. Well, you have given me a great son in law and the 2 most wonderful grandkids on the planet, so I am willing to overlook a lot! You have great focus and an ability to work out any problems for anyone. You are a lot like your Grandma and Grandpa Downard, so compassionate and caring.
I love you more than I can say. I love hearing you give talks and lessons in church, you have such a strong testimony. I love that you are the "real" mom in our family. It lets me be a slacker without feeling too guilty about it. I love lots about you and could go on forever. Just know that you are a fantastic person and a great friend. You are also a great mom.