Monday Memories— “If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it; every arrow that flies feels the attraction of earth.” ~Henry Wadsworth

Ty had a late birthday so we held him back a year in school. He was more than ready for some added responsibility and interaction that fall, so I promised if he would tend Ande while I milked the cow when I returned we would play the game he liked best: Tigers. It was supposed to be nothing more than both of us on all fours growling and clawing every now and then, but it was much more to Ty. He attacked and pounced on my back and couldn’t be shaken no matter how hard I shook or tried to pull him off. I called uncle within a month and declared him the king of the zoo.

Oh gee. Enter today. Ty asked me to sit down and help him form some of his goals for the year. Feeling ambitious, I thought I’d formulate a few of my own while he built his list. The last two years I chose to focus on a word for the year (and, thanks to Hannah and Donna, had wonderful canvas art to remind me of my words). I decided this year to return to my four point format and set spiritual, physical, social and intellectual goals (based on Luke 2:52). I quietly wrote my list in a recycled notebook while Ty sat across from me and typed his. After quite some time he said, “How do these sound?” and read me perhaps three dozen goals and then asked for more improvement suggestions. His goals were very specific, very comprehensive, very big. After I uncrossed my eyes, I looked at my little list and chuckled inwardly, “Don’t hurt yourself stretching, Jane” and “Who gave birth to him?”

Ty carries 22 credits, military duties and participates on the Sandhurst team; I hope to accomplish 3 classes. Ty runs 25 miles a week; my goal is to run a 5 K in five months. Besides accomplishing an act of service daily, Ty plans to volunteer monthly on a larger basis (tutoring, boys & girls club, etc.), while I didn’t even have a service organized. I certainly recognize that we are different people in different stages with different opportunities, but I felt inspired when he finished reading his list and knew I could try harder to be better.

Look out 2010, I aimed high and someone is riding my back. (The other day we were out jogging and Ty said, “What did President Kimball always say?” I wasted a valuable breath and puffed, “Lengthen your stride.” Ty said, “Uh-huh. That’s right. We’re going to measure our strides and then improve them. You’re bouncing too much. Start counting.” And that was before I set the 5K goal.)