2010 Year In Review

I meant to do this yesterday, but yesterday did not provide the spare minutes I needed.  So today it is.  As I begin this, it is 1:15 in the afternoon on New Year's Day.  I am still in my jammies, and the only plan for the day is to take down the Christmas tree and pack it all up.  A great day for sure, I love the clean look of having all that put away.  Although I will miss the cozy glow of the lights.

I did this post last year, reviewing 2009, and I enjoyed it so much.  It's so good to look back on a year and be able to reflect on all it brought.  I am finding that I always feel slightly different about years ending.  Sometimes they can't end soon enough, and I'm so ready to begin a new one.  Sometimes they are years that I am a bit sad to see go.  This year I find myself smack dab in the middle.  It's been a GREAT year overall, and yet I'm very excited to plunge into 2011 and see what it will bring.

If I had to assign a word to 2010, it would probably be "change".  As I look back on all the uncertainty that I started the year with, knowing change was in the forecast, I realize now what an in-between time I was in.  Change is always going to be there, growth is always going to be there.  This year will be no different, I'm sure.  But last year I went into it knowing that I was staring down some changes.  This year, I'm not sure what they will be.  But I have even deeper assurance that I can wholeheartedly embrace the change and jump in with both feet.  And the reason I can do that with such confidence is knowing that my Anchor is unchanging.  The same God who escorted me through tough changes and fabulous changes in the past will continue to escort me through this next year.  I have a very personal Guide who already knows the bends and twists up ahead in this road.  So I'll just keep following, while He keeps leading.

With all that, here's my look back on my own 2010:

1.  What did you do in 2010 that you had never done before?

SO many things, both internal and external.  I'll stick with two fun highlights, both of which were in the last month of the year:

Brad and I ran our first 10K!  Though I started the year with a plan to train for a half marathon, a lot of things derailed that.  And I'm totally fine with it.  Will I this year?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  But I love that Brad and I can set goals and encourage each other and accomplish things together!

On the last day of 2010, I went tubing at Snoqualmie.  In all my years of living here, all my years of driving past this, I have never once gone to do any type of winter activity at the mountain.  We had a great time!

2.  Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and will you make more this year?

Last year I said I was going to continue stepping out and facing fears and trying new things.  I certainly did that, in many ways.  And I also said, again, that I was going to cut back on my sugar.  That I certainly did not do.  As for this year, I honestly haven't pinpointed any specifics.  But I do have some things in mind, in many ways continuation of changes I've started: in the area of organization and not accumulating clutter, and in some personal areas.

3.  Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, my niece brought the beautiful Kaylee Jean into the world!

4.  Did anyone close to you die?

Yes, my sweet grandma.  Though it was her time, I miss her so very much.  Goodbyes are very hard.

5.  What places have you visited?
We visited Lake Entiat again this summer, Cannon Beach in September.

6.  What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

This made me say "Hmm..." last year, and it does again this year.  The first thing to come to mind is some clarity.  Some relationships I just don't understand, as much as I've tried.

7.  What date in 2010 will be etched into your memory and why?

Celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary in September.  We had a very special weekend away together that I will never forget.

8.  What was your biggest achievement this year?

Well, I would have to start with reaching the 20th!  I don't need to say that being married is not always easy.  The achievement part for us is that we stayed surrendered to the One who brought us together, that we chose to choose each other every day, and that we chose to do all that with joy.  The fact that we then showed up at the doorstep of 20 years is the Lord's achievement.

Another achievement was stepping out into the working world.

And another was running the 10K with Brad.

9.  Did you suffer any illness or injury in 2010?

NO!  Thank you, Lord. 

10.  What was the best thing you bought?

Does bought for me count?  I guess that's for me to decide, since it's my blog.  For Mother's Day, I was given an e-reader.  I love, love, love it.  I have read so much this year, and have enjoyed this new toy immensely.

And I love my giant white board calendar that has color-coded markers for each of my kids and has helped preserve some sanity in my home.

And I also love my muffin top pan, that has helped me produce some glorious cookies.

11.  Where did most of your money go?

Happily, no unexpected major expenses this year.  As far as where it went?  Mostly into the mouths of 3 growing children, in the form of orthodontics and FOOD! 

12.  What song will remind you most of 2010?

Probably any song by Chase Merrell, as this is the year his music really took off.

Also, the Glee mix of Halo/Walking on Sunshine, because it was my squad's dance song for competition (they won!), which meant that I listened to it A LOT!

13.  What do you wish you would have done more of in 2010?More time with friends.

14.  What do you wish you would have done less of in 2010?

Spinning my wheels.  In so many ways.

15.  What was your favorite tv program?

Still the Amazing Race, and I can't wait for the new season to see a bunch of the old favorites back at it!  I also still love 24, although I'm laboring a bit through this last season on dvd.  Rumor has it that I'm going to love it.  And I love Cupcake Wars, though I seldom get to watch it.

16.  What was the best book you read in 2010?

I cannot pick one.  If I HAD to, I would choose "The Help".  But I don't have to, so I'm also going to pick "Have A Little Faith" by Mitch Albom (the very last line of this book is "I am in love with hope."  I love that line so much.).  And "Her Mother's Hope" by Francine Rivers.  And "Choosing To See" by MaryBeth Chapman.  So many.

17.  What was your favorite movie of the year?

The new Chronicles of Narnia movie, Voyage of The Dawn Treader.

18.  What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

I was 41 this year, and my biggest memory is receiving the box of cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcakes!

19.  What political issue stirred you this year?I know that last year was a year to be stirred, and that stirring has certainly continued.  There are many, although health care remains high up there.  And the rest I think I will hold my comments.

20.  Who was the best new person you met?

Oh, this was easy.  Kari from Blueberry Hills!  I cannot possibly do this experience justice in a little paragraph, and I've gone on and on about it in the past, so I will just leave it at that!


Seasons of change this year, to be sure.  And I've loved it all!

Now we are walking into the start of another new year, excited to see all that's ahead!