A Year In Review :: 2009

Reflecting...

Just continuing the tradition...

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Got dumped.

2. What are your New Years Resolutions?
To try harder when it matters, to forget about it when it doesn't

3. Did anyone close to you give birth in 2009?
Mom of my nanny girl, now my nanny GIRLS :)

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Nana - just a few months after I told her she needed to live long enough to see her great-grandbabies

5. What countries did you visit?
Stayed here. Too busy with school to go anywhere but Disney in May and Florida earlier in the spring to go through Nana's things

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
My fiance to be my husband

7. What date(s) in 2009 will remain etched in your memory and why?
The day my Nana died. Also the night I had the nervous breakdown where my mom cried on my bed with me until my fiance left his prescheduled event to come hold me. Taking my baby sister to see Taylor Swift - floor seats!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Completing an entire semester of clinicals (fall) and standing up to a ridiculous professor, being a nanny

9. What was your biggest failure of 2009?
Not pushing myself to take clinicals in the spring

10. Did you suffer any illness or injury?
The exact same illnesses, thank God no new injuries. Definitely a few more panic attacks and nervous breakdowns than last year though.

11. What was the best thing someone bought you?
A Pandora bracelet with charms & a book of my blog

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Every/Anyone who gets out of the bed in the morning and gives the day their best effort

13. Whose behavior appalled and depressed you?
Someone I definitely didn't expect and ironically, one of his/her relatives

14. Where did most of your money go?
Expensive indulgences like my new TV/blu-ray, new Pottery Barn bedding, tons of pedicures, sponsoring Julenia in Nicaragua

15. What did you get really, really excited about?
Going to Disney World! (We'd been there 20-30 times before, but my sister (19) and I (21) year old run around the parks like we had never in a million years imagined it would ever be so magical! Ahh, Disney.

16. What song(s) reminds you of 2009?
I hate to say it, but I didn't lisent to too much music this year, I still had my "Song kicks" where I'd listen to a song over and over until I got sick of it, but nothing that stands out in my mind.

17. Compared to last year are you...
a.) Happier or Sadder? Sadder
b.) Thinner or Fatter? Fatter (but last year I lost an insane amount of weight from a medication, so it's a "good" fatter!)
c.) Richer or Poorer? Richer (but money doesn't provide happiness)

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Breathe

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Mental and emotional fighting

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my fiance and I's million sides of family

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
More and more every day

22. How many one night stands did you have?
I belong to someone else, so that's not an option.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Grey's Anatomy, Friday Night Lights, One Tree Hill, The Office, Private Practice...

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't this time last year?
No

25. What was the best book you read?
The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan, a memoir that will change any woman's perspective on life

26. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I turned 22. And no idea. Babysat? Went out to dinner? I really don't remember.

27. What was your best musical discovery?
Nothing in particular. Definitely listened to too much Baby Songs, Disney and Hannah Montana!!

28. What did you want and get?
See #11

29. What was your favorite film of the year?
My Sister's Keeper, the Time Traveler's Wife

30. What did you want and not get?
Married

31. What one thing would've made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being married to Jonathan

32. How would you describe your fashion concept for 2009?
Black or brown lounge pants/capris. Loves it!

33. What kept you sane?
My mom and fiance. My best friend. Loads of Ativan. God.

34. Which celebrity or public figure did you admire most?
Sarah Palin

35. What political issue stirred you most?
Healthcare reform

36. Who/what do you miss?
My Nana and my naivety

37. Who was the best new person you met?
My OB clinical instructor

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned.
No matter how hard you try for anything, it's never enough. And at this point on my journey, I can't quite figure out why.
Another lesson is by nannying, I am reminded every single day of the precious innocence of children and the huge miracles they are.
Nursing, although I'm fighting every part of my being to get there, is an honorable lifestyle, not a simple career.  At the end of the day, there's nothing like seeing you helped make a human being better or they say you gave them a good day just by your smile.  Nothing like that in the world.

39. Quote a song line that defines your year.
I guess I'd rather hurt than feel nothing at all.
(It's a quarter past one and I'm all alone and
I need you now.
I said I wouldn't call
but I've lost all control
and I need you now) - Lady Antebellum

So that's that. 
After I filled it all out, over at (InCourage), I found these 20 questions that I think I like better. 
These may just be my new tradition.  They're much more introspective, don't you think?.

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
I'm 2 clinicals closer to graduating!

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
Losing my precious Nana, ignoring my illnesses and disabilities to go back to school after my year-long hiatus, losing someone at church who always inspired me to hope and try, almost losing the person who I thought - of everyone in the entire world -would always be here forever.

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
Finally finding a nanny family who treats me like I'm part of the family; I adore spending days with those precious girls

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
Wrecking my car driving an hour up to clinicals - I was half asleep and some guy side-swiped me.  Or something.  I don't exactly remember.  I ran over our brick mailbox that morning, too.  It really was a bad day.  But that's what you get when you force a narcoleptic to live outside her means.

5. Pick three words to describe 2009.
Hard. Surprises. Changes.

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2009 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you).
Hard. School. Nervous.

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2009 (again, without asking).
Same. Growing. Trying.

8. What were the best books you read this year?
The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan, and My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult was pretty good too

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
My mom, sister, fiance, best friend & nanny girls

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
Deciding to finish school ASAP so we can get married.  I don't care if it almost kills me.  I now know I'm going to have to take charge of the situation and physically endanger myself to get the dream of me and the one I love.  I took spring '09 off from school, so this idea has been evolving for months.  I, of all people, a nurse, should know my health comes first, but I refuse to believe it when there's something so huge out there.

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
I can handle stressful situations a little bit better using my "toolbox," but on the other hand I'm also more prone to nervous breakdowns and panic attacks for some reason.  I learned to survive someone's death I previously thought would kill me, so my emotions definitely grow as I still learn to live without her.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
Trusting God more, talking to Him more.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?
I learned short hair is the only way to get through nursing school and nannying and the insane life that surrounds each.  But it's cute, so I'm happy.  :)

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
I'm closer with my mom, sister, fiance, and fiance's sister.

15. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home?
Decorating!

16. What was your most challenging area of home management?
Sometimes the dogs, lol  Or if I was my mom, I'd have cut off my dad's feet by now for all the times he tracks his nasty, muddy shoes ALL over the house.  The hardwood gets soaked and then after he's on the carpet long enough, I guess they dry on their own.  Disgusting.

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
Worrying

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
Working on my nursing degree, loving God, loving my fiance, loving my friends and family

19. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?
Nothing is ever enough.  Children are precious.  Days are short.  Fight for what matters. 

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2009 for you.
Glad it's over. And regarding 2010?  I sure am praying for a better year - one with clearer paths, more evidence of an impending marriage, nearly completing my education... and maybe, just maybe, a few more good things.  :)

Lord, as this New Year begins, We come to you and ask for your blessing. We pray that you would give us joy to fill our days and peace to fill our hearts and love to fill our lives. Thank you for the plans you have for us in the New Year.  Thank you for promising to be with us every step of the way.