2012 Review

Oh, my goodness.  I have missed my blog more than I realized!  My second post in all of December!  Whoa!  Yet partially purposeful.  I have enjoyed this month so much, in part because I removed all I could from my plate, put no pressure on myself, and just stayed in the moment!  I thought about blogging a couple times, but just didn't want to take the time.  So now I'm way behind.  I have some fun things to recap in the near future, but for now I need to think about ending 2012.

I love to end a year with a little reflection.  It's good for the soul.  But in a more light-hearted way, I like to reflect on the highlights of the year, so here we go!

Me in 2012:

1.  What did you do in 2012 that you had never done before?

I went to Washington D.C. for the first time:

I got into the world of Instagram:

I entered myself into the county fair:

And won second place for my cupcakes!

2.  Did anyone close to you give birth?

No, not this year! Although Brenna did get to experience her 24 hours with "Baby Think It Over".  It was a little bit like having a newborn in the house!

3.  Did anyone close to you die?

Our sweet pup Archie.  That was one of a sad, sad goodbye for all of us.

4.  What dates in 2012 will stay etched in your memory?

I think I will pick moments rather than dates:


Being blissfully stuck at home in the midst of our big snow dump and power outage:

Watching my son accomplish great things: 1st in State, Solo at Washington Center, among many:

Sitting with our sweet dog as we all said our goodbyes and he took his last breath.  A very tough and tender moment:

Watching Brenna run her way onto the varsity cross country team and go all the way to state!

Watching my baby girl collapse to her knees sobbing when she met our new puppy Lucy.

Having the privilege to watch this lovely couple get married:

Watching sunsets that defy description in Hawaii:

All the simple moments of holding my man's hand throughout another year together.  So blessed.

5.  Did you suffer any injury or illness in 2012?

Well, I spent the first month of 2012 recovering from my nasty slam of anxiety that started in December.  I am so thankful that was then and this is now.  I've reflected about that time a lot during this Christmas break.  The scariness and darkness of that time was intense, and what a difference a year can make.

6.  What was the best thing you bought?

Probably I'd have to say the plane tickets to Hawaii.  I'm not a big "thing" girl, so buying the "thing" that took my family on that great adventure ranks at the top.

Wait...does food count??  Because I loooooved the pancakes we bought in Maui.  That could easily be my best thing.

7.  Where did most of your money go?

Oh my.  I can name that song in three notes:  Alex, Brenna, Beth.

8.  What song will most remind you of 2012?

"10,000 Reasons" is high on the list.  I love the simplicity of that song.  "Bless the Lord, oh my soul..."  Yes, soul...bless Him indeed.

And I would be remiss to not include "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"...our cheer dance this year.  I listened to that song this Fall enough to fill my lifetime quota.  And yours too, actually.

But these girls rocked that routine and took first place, so well worth that song ringing in my ears!

9.  What do you wish you'd done more of/less of?

I wish I'd taken more action and done less pondering.  That's coming soon.

10.  What was your favorite t.v. program?

I'm a consistent girl.  I still love Amazing Race.  The Middle just cracks me up, and makes me feel better about the wackiness in my own peeps.  And very recently I've discovered Downton Abbey, and I LOVE it.

 

11.  What was the best book you read?

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.  Hard to read in parts, but so worth it.  I finished it on the plane back from Hawaii, and I literally gasped outloud when I got to a very meaningful part, batted away tears and wanted to grab my seatmate and say, "You won't believe this!!!"  (Fortunately for someone, my seatmate was Brad.)

12.  What was your favorite movie this year?

I really don't see gobs of movies, so this is always tough.  But I just saw Lincoln and I loved it very much.  Very much.

13. What did you do on your birthday?  How old were you?

Let's see, I turned 43 in September.  I worked and then had a magnificent evening with my family.  Chipotle for dinner, yum yum.  And truth be told, I had to ask my girls what we did for my birthday this year because it seems so long ago!  That's what happens when you are 43 I guess.  Brad got me a new watch that I love, love, love...I do remember that.  And I still haven't had it fit to my wrist almost 4 months later.  Maybe I'll do that for my 44th birthday!


14.  Did you travel anywhere this year?

Oh, yes.  A big travel year for us!  We went with the whole family to Washington D.C. in June.

In September Brad and I got away for 2 nights for our anniversary...Cannon Beach, our favorite local get-away.

And for Thanksgiving, we all went to Hawaii...such an special blessing.   I need to blog about that soon...it was spectacular.

15.  What national event stirred you the most this year?

I was beyond moved by the mass shooting in Connecticut, as we all were.


16.  A valuable life lesson you learned this year?

Hmm.  I think I had lots of lessons re-taught to me.  I had a massive refreshing of the power of Hope.  The depths that rough times take us into are sometimes the only places we can experience the power of Hope.  I felt it, lived it, learned it.  Now I live by it in a new and fresh way.

And I am learning a lot lately about surrendering.  I choose often not to worry, but it's an efforted choice.  But when I truly surrender something, the worry fall off.  And I'm truly loving the freedom in surrender.

HAPPY New Year.  I am praying it is one of peace, hope, and JOY!