2010

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
Played guitar with a strings group at church. Joined a book club. Got called for jury duty and actually got picked as an alternate. Played hockey against a college women's team. Got fingerprinted. Went to the Bodies exhibit. Went surfing (in March...in Washington), and then did it again in August. Trained 150 people how to use an AED. Got a biopsy on my thyroid (creepiest experience ever). Joined the Women's Ministries at church. Managed the pool. Started taking ballet. Saw Jack Johnson at the Gorge. Watched volleyball. Saw Ingrid Michaelson perform in Seattle. Taught four lifeguarding classes. Taught a babysitting class. Earned my Lifeguard Instructor Trainer certification. Donated blood.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?


Here’s what I wrote last year, with my updates beneath.

Resolutions for 2010:

• Get into better shape.
I kind of just stayed the same. Sadly.

• Play my guitar.
Done and done. I've been playing a lot this year. In front of people even.

• Read my bible every day and journal more. Get through the bible in one year again.

Well, I did okay sometimes, and sometimes not, but I'm almost through the bible again.

• Complete some sort of wall art for our dining room.
Fail. I started and then got bored.

• Scrapbook more. Finish Audrey's scrapbook.

Double fail. I just can't get into it anymore. I tried though.

• Decorate Audrey's room.
Nope. We just kept putting it off and waiting. Maybe this spring.

• Score ten goals in hockey this season.
Did that.

• Teach Audrey her ABCs.

This actually happened. She can even write most of her letters.

Okay, looking ahead to 2011:

• Do more artsy stuff. I miss it.
• Get in shape. Lose five pounds. Gain muscle.
• Do the splits. I'm getting closer.
• Nurture Audrey's artistic side. I see it developing!
• Grow out my hair. I'm doing well so far...we'll see how long I can stand it.
• Really get into the bible. Every day.
• Get a hat trick (three goals in one game) in hockey.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Um, I hate these ones because I feel like I'm always forgetting someone...Heather. Amber. And there are quite a few pregnant ladies out there now...

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Not super close, no. I only went to one funeral this year.

5. What countries did you visit?
None.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Direction. Patience. More surfing/snowboarding/getting away with Justin. And one more thing.

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

The weekend of March 20 was pretty good. Surfing with my best friend for the first time. July 31, one of my best friends' weddings.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Getting my LGIT cert. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but it was a two year battle that should have taken much less time. I'm one of three in our entire area. Also, we finished landscaping our front and back yards.

9. What was your biggest failure?
My lack in patience sometimes.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had to get a biopsy on my thyroid. They found abnormal cells which they have to keep an eye on. I got a stress fracture in my foot from surfing in August.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
iMac.

12. Where did most of your money go?
Vacations. Medical bills. College loans...lame.

13. What did you get really excited about?
There were a lot of things to get really excited for. I had a lot of amazing experiences this year.

14. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Dynamite by Taio Cruz. Anything Ingrid Michaelson...143 by Bobby Brackins.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:

– happier or sadder? Happier, although there was a couple low months.
– thinner or fatter? Fatter, but more in shape endurance-wise.
– richer or poorer? The same. Pretty much.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Swimming. Snowboarding. Seeing my best friends.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying. Getting poked with needles in the neck.

18. How did you spend Christmas?
We always have three. Christmas Eve with Justin's mom, Christmas morning with his dad, and Christmas day with my family.

19. What was your favorite TV program?
We started watching Grey's Anatomy and Bones this years. Both are pretty good. Bones is probably my favorite. Glee was definitely not.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?
I read a lot of C.S. Lewis books. That guy has amazing insight.

21. What was your favorite music from this year?

This is Love worship album. Parachute by Ingrid Michaelson. Jack Johnson's new album.

22. What were your favorite films of the year?
Eh. I haven't been impressed with movies in years...but, Date Night. Life as We Know It. Harry Potter. Burlesque. Because they actually surprised me by being slightly good.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
We went to Cave B winery and stayed. Went wine tasting. I turned 26...


24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less drama and worrying.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Lame...

26. What kept you sane?
Exercise. Friends. Justin.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.

Oh wow...lets see...worry less, pray more.

Happy New Year.

I got this idea from my friend Sarah. It hadn't occurred to me either that in less than a week, a decade is ending. That's kind of a big deal considering I've only been alive for a little over two decades. In high school, when they asked us what we thought we'd be doing in ten years, I'm not sure this is what I pictured. I would have never imagined that I would have had many of the experiences that I have had in the last ten years.

I've never been one to make grandiose plans about the future. I barely plan farther than a week ahead. Thinking ahead ten years is such an abstract thing for me. I mean, I can think of a million things that I would like my life to be, but that doesn't mean they're realistic. I guess, as cheesy as it might sound, I like to live one day at a time. I think it makes for less disappointment in the end. Really, who am I to say what my life should or shouldn't be like. I can't see the big picture. I'm not really a big picture person. I love the details. I'll leave the rest up to God. He's better at it than I am.

And on that note, some things that I have accomplished in the last decade (and Sarah, some of these might be repeats...sorry:

1. I survived Y2K.
2. I watched the Twin Towers get hit and collapse. I remember attending a candle light prayer vigil in our small town and truly appreciating the fact that even though we were thousands of miles away, we could be a part of the healing through prayer.
3. I graduated from high school.
4. I became a lifeguard.
5. I met the love of my life on New Year's Eve 2002/03. We met on a Twister board and never looked back.
6. I snowboarded for the first time. It was a goal of mine since I first heard about snowboarding in elementary school.
7. I broke my first bone while snowboarding.
8. I graduated with an Associated degree.
9. I lost my grandpa to lung cancer and had the worst year of my life.
10. I got engaged on a mountaintop while snowboarding.
11. I met people who are some of my very best friends to this day.
12. I got married.
13. I travelled out of the country for the first time on my honeymoon.
14. I got stung by a jellyfish.
15. I had an amazing first year of marriage despite all the people who said it would be the hardest.
16. I travelled to Minneapolis, visited my best friend, and went to the Mall of America.
17. I got pregnant and had a miscarriage.
18. I moved to Seattle.
19. I got accepted to the Art Institute of Seattle's photography program.
20. I got pregnant again.
21. I did the practical thing for once and said no to the Art Institute and enrolled at CWU-Lynnwood to finish my degree. So long, photography school.
22. I survived 24 hours of labor.
23. I had a baby and had one of the most sleep deprived and stressful years of my life.
24. I spent a winter as a snowboarding instructor.
25. I finished my Bachelor's degree while dealing with a colicky baby.
26. I bought a house.
27. I did a triathlon.
28. I finally learned to surf.
29. I started playing ice hockey.
30. I found out who my real friends are.
31. I went to six funerals.
32. I went to eleven weddings. I was in three. Justin was in one.

That's just a glimpse of the last decade, but it definitely didn't turn out the way I thought it would. I'm not even sure I had any idea what it would be like. All I know is, even through the mistakes and regrets, I wouldn't trade any of it. I learned, I grew, and I got closer to God. I'm not even going to try to guess what this next decade will bring. All I know is that I want to keep growing and maturing. I don't want to become stagnant. This year really will be a new chapter in our lives. There are many things that are falling into place even now that are going to make this another decade to remember.

And if I have learned one thing from this past decade, it's this: You can plan and hope and dream all you want, but only God knows what the future holds. If you hang onto your own plans and desires too closely, you're only asking for disappointment. Letting God take care of the planning can be one of the most difficult things to do, but His plans are more fulfilling and amazing than yours ever could be. I'm not great at doing this. In fact, I'm pretty bad at letting God take control, but when I have given everything over to Him, I've had some of the most amazing experiences of my life.