2009

I'm stealing this from Julie!

In my 2009...

What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Celebrate Gracie's first birthday. Yeah, that's kinda a cop out answer, but I can't think of anything else.

Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't really think I made any last year. This year, I've got just a couple things, but I don't really consider them resolutions, more changes that need to be made.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
ME!! I'm pretty close to me. Bri was born October 11th, 2009. My sister-in-law, Jenni also just had a little boy on December 21st, and I can't wait to meet him (hopefully in March!!). This coming year will be baby central, with my other sister-in-law, Julie due in late Feb, Erin in late March, Naomi in April, and Carrie in August! What an exciting year ahead of us!


Did anyone close to you die?
Nope, had a couple of scary moments, but we're all good for now! I did have a more distant relative pass away though (my Grandpa's brother).

What countries did you spend time in this year?
Just the US. I'm pretty content just spending time with friends and family.

What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Buy a house, but it may be wishful thinking at this moment.

What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June-Got offered a job in Hudson, and had to chose if we wanted to return to friends and family, or stay with our new friends that had grown to feel like family. One of the toughest decisions we've ever made, but we felt that God was pushing us to get closer to our family and we're really glad to be here.
Really, the whole summer was a whirlwind. It was the single most stressful summer of my life, with many terrible things and a few good things that happened, and I'm glad it's over!!

What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?
My interview with Hudson. I got advice from my principal at the time and used all of it. I never felt so good about something as I did when I left that interview. They told me they'd make a decision in the next two weeks, and called me the next day to offer me the job! I was scared because I was pregnant with Brianna, but God cleared a path for our move. It was hard, and financially crippling but we are recovering, and the benefits definitely outweigh the stresses.

What was your biggest failure?
Our finances. I think we need to seek help.

Did you suffer any serious injury or illness?
Does pregnancy count? Sometimes I think it should. . .

What was the best thing you bought?
I guess our van. My new phone is pretty cool too.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
Daddy's. He has a hard time with change, but he has been very supportive of my insecurities and is now working to also improve himself too. One of the best parts of moving home is that he now gets to return to school. I know he's scared, but he's starting classes on the 11th, and I am so proud of him.

Whose behavior made you appalled and/or depressed?
I plead the 5th, but some of you know who I'm thinking of.

Where did most of your money go?
New van, moving, new apartment, maternity leave. SIGH.

Compared to this time last year, are you,
a) happier or sadder? Mostly happier. I am so glad to be home with family and friends that I have missed so much, but also miss the people back in Milwaukee a lot.
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter. Booo.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer. Moving and maternity leave sucked it all up.

What did you get really, really excited about?
Brianna, moving, being close to people we've been missing.

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Sleep! Ha! With a toddler and a newborn, there wasn't much of that happening.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a wasted emotion.

What was the best book you read?
Oh how can I choose?
I guess Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult. I've never been so happy but mad about how a book ended.

What did you want and not get?
A house, but that's a good thing, since we ended up moving!

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 31, but I don't remember doing anything special.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If Josey was still happy.
Being able to chop the middle of Wisconsin out of the map so Milwaukee and Hudson are close together (who needs Madison?). Then I wouldn't have needed to move or start a new job and I wouldn't be missing my Milwaukee family.

Who did you miss?
Before the move, everyone near Hudson...after the move, everyone in Milwaukee!


Who was the best new person you met?
I don't think I added anyone to my friends last year. . .Clearly, if I did they are such an important part of my life that I feel like they've been here forever!

Tell us a valuable life lesson(s) you learned in 2009.
Nothing is more important than family (and the friends that are considered family)!

What sums up this year?
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes.