Thursday, December 31, 2009

A Decade in Review

After I finished my last post, I thought about all that's happened not just this past year,but this past decade! All the news websites are doing this type of thing, and it's amazing to do that on a more personal basis..... so here goes:

1999: Graduated high school, started full-time at Tomball College, struggled with headaches and other health issues, tried to figure out what it would take to transfer to Texas A&M, started working at the FLC (Family Life Center) at church working the early morning shift.

2000: Continued my studies at Tomball College, also continued to struggle with health issues and finally had my back surgery, which caused me to take a semester off of school. I started working with Dot Hill as her assistant in Premier Designs, Inc and absolutely loved it. I was in the choir at church and loved being the dancing snowman in the Christmas production.

2001: Got accepted to Texas A&M! That summer I was an intern at Champion Forest and really enjoyed learning more about what it really means to run a youth ministry. I started school and 2 weeks later 9/11 hit and all our lives were changed. I loved my first year at A&M, but found my share of struggles due to lack of a car and cell phone. But boy was I in shape from riding that bike everywhere!

2002: In the Spring I made the Dean's List and that summer I got my certification as an Emergency Medical Technician. I spent some time in the back of ambulances, in firehouses, and many hours (it seemed) in the ER, practicing my skills and observing many amazing things. In the fall I got a job at the on-campus Rec Center as a medic, which is the best job I've ever had.

2003: Continued studying at A&M, but finally had a car! Actually I had the big blue minivan, which was fun taking all my friends all over town in style. In December I received my Aggie Ring, which was an encouragement to me to keep going!

2004: The Spring semester was my last on-campus, and it was a doozy! In the summer I did my internship at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston in the Volunteer Services office. I was in charge of managing all the Junior Volunteers for the summer. It was kind of fun at times, but let's just say I got reeeeeallllly good at fixing paper jams in xerox machines. In August I graduated with my BS in Community Health and a month later started working at The Health Musuem in Houston as a Science Educator. I taught field trip science classes and dissected all sorts of animal organs for an audience. No, actually, that was the best job I've ever had.

2005: Worked at the Health Museum until May, then moved to Indianapolis for a new job at Summex Health Management, now WebM*. And I am still there. Oh and in December I met the man of my dreams.

2006: I dated Mike. That pretty much covers it.

2007: Mike and I were engaged in February and married on July 14th. I have never learned so much about myself in such a short period of time!

2008: I started my Pampered Chef business and celebrated my first anniversary with Mike in the same week! I also switched from Supervisor to Health Coach in my job (which was a step down) but it was totally worth it.

2009: See above post.

Wow, so much! So to sum it up: In 10 years I had a major life-changing surgery, went to college, went to another college, graduated, got my first real job and got my first real boyfriend and husband (all in one!).

A Year in Review

2009 was without question the worst year of my life and I am glad to see it go! There. Got that out of the way!

However, I am glad to say that I came closer to any 2 New Years Resolutions than ever!

1. Reading the Bible. This time last year I resolved to read through the entire Bible in 1 year following a plan from the Discipleship Journal. Due to the looooongness of the Old Testament, I am only about 1.5 months behind! I got up every weekday morning, took a shower, read the Bible, and then ate breakfast. This was made possible by me beginning to work at home in January. I found that sitting on the bathroom floor (with the shower running--- don't judge--- it's my favorite sound in the world) with my Bible was my favorite part of the day. Thank you, Lord!

2. Flossing. Every year I vow to floss my teeth every day, and each year I get better. This year was probably the best for flossing, and it showed at my latest dentist appointment! Score!

This year was full of lots of ups and downs. Pros and cons. Happiness and tears. You get the idea.

The Bad:
** Mike was in England on business for 5 months, when it was originally supposed to last 2 months.
** My PC sales went down the toilet (early in the year) because I didn't care about anything and had to work hard just to get up every day from January through May.
** Work was so stressful that sometimes I just break down in tears because I'm so exhausted, tired of dealing with it!!
** I struggled with more discontent and had more stress than any other time in my life! (see previous bullet point)

The Good:
** I got to travel out of the country (England) for the first time to see Mike. Now I finally have a stamp on my passport!
** My sister Melissa got engaged and married, and we were able to travel to Savannah, GA for the wedding and then a vacation. It was such a special week!
** I learned how very much I love my husband.
** After a rough Spring, my PC sales bounced back up and I met many of my goals!
** In January I started working from home which is a huge blessing, considering how awful winters can be! Life is a lot better when you don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to scrape off your car and hope you don't die on your way to work.
** (more recently) Mike and I got to visit Texas for Christmas and I got to see more old friends than any trip in the past!
** I learned how to sew
** I learned how to live as a single-but-married girl for 5 months, which was the hardest thing I've had to do. Looking back on it, I still can't believe we made it! I have a whole new respect for you military wives out there!

So... on to 2010! I am so excited and am really looking forward to all that will be in store for us in the upcoming year. I've been thinking about it all week, trying to come up with resolutions, and honestly I don't have any, except just to keep up what I've been doing... flossing, reading the Bible, exercising, etc.

Do any of my readers have resolutions?

PS: This year, one of my resolutions is NOT to blog more. I always fail at that one!! LOL