1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before? Turned 35, threw my awesome husband a surprise party (thanks, Kelley!), started working as a case manager, started working from home, kept off the 50 pounds I lost in 2011, became the mom of a fantastic FOUR year old and TWO year old, moved away from Orlando and to Tampa, sold a house. Not bad.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Hmmm. I don't make resolutions, as that's pretty much a guaranteed way I will BREAK them. But as far as goals... I want to spend more time with the people who matter most to me (my husband, my boys, my God), find more ways to be a blessing to others instead of being selfish, write a little more (hey! I'm already starting strong!), lost those stubborn last 15 pounds, and run my second half marathon! Also, cut myself a ton of grace for the goals I don't quite achieve.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Why yes, yes they did! And several more cutie patooties due to come in 2013!
4. Did anyone close to you die? My sweet Nanna passed away. And I didn't actually know any of the dear angels in CT, but that hit me pretty hard.
5. What countries did you visit? Stayed in the good ol' United States. 'MERICA.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you didn’t have in 2012? To live amongst snow and/or mountains. To save more than I spend. (Those two needn't be mutually exclusive, now.) To expand our family, by fur or by flesh. (NO I AM NOT PREGNANT.)
7. What dates from 2012 will be etched upon your memory, and why? March 3 - moving to Tampa. August 25 - Jason's rockin' surprise party. December 25 - because I just freaking LOVE Christmas. And it was awesome.
8. What was your biggest achievement of this year? Maintaining a 50 pound weight loss, pushing for a better job and getting it, and potty-training Aidan.
9. What was your biggest failure? Believing all those lies in my head, the ones that kept me from dreaming, achieving, spending time with the people I loved, not worrying. Also, not winning the Powerball, despite the ONE ticket I bought.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? A couple of running-induced strains, and a nasty bout with walking pneumonia around Halloween.
11. What was the best thing you bought? My dad's Miata, for $1. (Yes, ONE DOLLAR). Also Aidan's potty-training intensive weekend.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? It's hard to narrow this down, but probably mostly from two dear friends, Shannon and Brianna, who continually buoyed me up, challenged me, made me laugh, and kept me sane. I really don't know what I would do without them. Jason should get some praise, too, for putting up with all of my swiftly changing moods.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? People who turned on each other around election time just because they didn't vote for the same person; most of the drivers on I-4; Honey Boo-Boo and most of reality TV.
14. Where did most of your money go? I'm still trying to figure this out.
15. What did you get really excited about? I threw Jason his first surprise birthday party in August - first he'd ever had, and the first one I'd ever thrown. It could not have come together any more perfectly, and it was such a fun evening with dear friends. I always get mega-excited about Christmas and my birthday (in May), too. Pretty much anyone's birthday.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012? Forever by Chris Brown. Yeah, I know. But I rediscovered it after watching a rerun of The Office (where Jim & Pam get married) and it has been on my playlist ever since.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? Probably about as happy, just about the same weight, and definitely monetarily poorer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Writing. Spending time with my family. Being in prayer.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Laying in bed at night reading my iPhone. Farting around on my computer. Worrying.
20. How did you spend Christmas? We had everyone over to our house, first to open gifts, then for Christmas dinner. This was the first Christmas I feel like both boys really GOT Christmas, and it was so much fun to watch them open up all their many (inexpensive) gifts. The wonderful thing about the under-5 set is that you can get them a ton of very inexpensive little toys, wrap them all up individually, and it looks like Toys R' Us exploded all over your living room when in fact you hardly spent much of anything on it. (It's the small handful of "big kid" gifts that hit your wallet hardest!)
21. Did you fall in love in 2012? I stayed wonderfully in love. Seriously. I have the best husband in the world.
22. What was your favorite TV program? In case you couldn't guess, The Office. Also Parks and Recreation. Downton Abbey - although can I just say... THAT CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. WHAT.
23. What was the best book you read? I got to reread all of the Little House on the Prairie series AND Anne of Green Gables/Avonlea series. I loved it all over again.
24. What was your greatest musical discovery? The new worship CD from Elevation. Seriously amazing stuff.
25. What did you want and get? A change of scenery, the opportunity to work from home AND a fantastic boss, healing for some long-standing hurts in my heart, a sweet pair of pj's, a chance to go to Disney and see the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT, new friends, a copy of Brave.
26. What did you want and not get? Nothing of any consequence. I'd love to have a good ice cream maker, but it's probably a blessing I didn't get that.
27. What was your favorite film of 2012? I think 2013's will be Les Mis, but since I haven't gotten to see it yet, I'd definitely have to say Brave. Even better that I got it for Christmas to watch at home! Thanks Santa.
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 35 this year - what - and spent the evening with the love of my life eating steak and drinking coffee.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? There are several distant relatives and friends that I wish weren't so distant.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2012? *sniff sniff* "Okay, it's clean."
31. What kept you sane? My dear friends, my awesome husband, the times I remembered to pray, and - not gonna lie - Netflix.
32. What political issue stirred you the most? The election did, mostly for peoples' reactions to each other. Can't we all just get along? I hate conflict.
33. Who did you miss? In no particular order: my cousin Jen in CA, all my family in DC area, my friend Brianna also in CA, and an entire throng of people all part of one particular church in Orlando.
34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012. It's just a bad day... not a bad life.
35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. 'Cause it's been fear that ties me down to everything But it's been love, Your love, that cuts the strings So long status quo, I think I just let go You make me wanna be brave
36. Bonus Question: What else will always remind you of 2012? Taking the boys to Chick-fil-A, Bubba saying "nuffing" and "Winnie the Pewp", trying out new recipes from Pinterest, driving down the country roads of Plant City to Orlando, tons of text messages back and forth to Brianna, Jason sitting at the dinner table at his computer... and a lot of smiles and giggles from my boys.
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