Year At A Glance 2009

I was supposed to post this on the last day of December, and kinda did. For those few of you who noticed, Daisyhalos had a new post on December 31, as I had semi-finished this meme and preposted it so that I'd have it done by that day. Obviously, I forgot about it, and it showed up, half finished, on the blog. So, after deleting that one, here's the REAL one.

And, in previous years, I've done this meme and it's always fun to look back on. Next year could be fun to see too.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Got Divorced

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make resolutions. Every day should be a new attempt at being better, not every year. A few goals that I DID make throughout the year didn't come true, and a few ones DID. Like, I didn't ever run a marathon, let alone two, but I did find true happiness and I did figure out what I want re: religion.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
At my age, EVERYONE is giving birth. Amazingly, it was a year where NONE of my siblings gave birth. I have friends who did, and I love them (and their darling babes) to pieces, but no immediate family members. Interestingly, having babies has been a conversation Will and I have entertained, but with a sort of "If We Won 100 000 000 000 Dollars, Let's Talk About How We'll Spend It" type of mentality. It's fun to imagine, but highly improbable.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
luckily, no. Not that I recall. I think only Will's Aunt, whom I didn't know.

5. What countries did you visit?
Canada and the US.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A finished home with Will. With an uncarpetted kitchen, of course.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
LOL.. Well, OBVIOUSLY September 7, my wedding day. And June 5th, Will's divorce day. June 12th. January 26th (day I met Will)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Marrying a man who loves me what feels like as much as I love him. Starting a life I knew I wanted to have.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I'm not sure, but I would venture to say that sometimes I've treated someone unfairly, or I've gotten angry or bitter. Not often, but it is definitely a trait that I would like to further overcome. Sarah's been a constant struggle for me, because of how hurt I felt, but I'm working on that slowly. Will and I have had some aruguments that I would like to go back and 'edit', but thankfully we're both learning how to better deal with our emotions from our previously hurtful relationships.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
nothing big, no. A few colds don't count.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Bought? Wow. I don't think I've bought much worth sharing. My wedding shoes. I know, you're all tired of them, but they made me feel sexy and sassy and I love them.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My children's. All 7 of them have been good to each other, been accepting of each other, and have welcomed the new dynamics of our family with fairly positive attitudes. We still struggle individually and as a team, but on the whole, they're well-adjusted kids who have had to deal with so many things and are still amazingly stable, given the circumstances.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and/or depressed?
Sarah's. My own.

14. Where did most of your money go?
To the wedding, mostly. And second place is clothing. Christmas wasn't too cheap either, but thankfully the Deer Incident wasn't more costly.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Marrying Will. Duh. :)

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
TOO MANY! I have almost a song-a-day kind of life.
Definitely "Fire Burning" by Sean Kingston, as it was our 'family' song and the song we heard most of the time being together, "I've Got a Feeling" by The Black-Eyed Peas, because it was the song we came out of the chapel to, dancing. And "Have You Ever Been In Love", by Peter Cetera..Will's and My song that we danced our first dance as a married couple to.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? a bit fatter. The past 3 months have put on a new 10 lbs that I plan to eliminate soon.
iii. richer or poorer? richer in life, my pocket book's a bit lighter though.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
working out, playing with my kids, travelling, eating healthier, camping, journal writing, blogging, taking pictures

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I felt so busy this year, I don't know what I could have done LESS of. Maybe staying up so late.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Well, 2009 Christmas was spent in a million places. Christmas morning was spent at home, with all the kids and Will's parents, opening stockings and presents. 2010 Christmas could be spent anywhere, as we don't have the kids this year, so maybe we'll save up and go away somewhere.

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Yes. And then some. I've fallen in love in ways I've never fallen before. And, most excitingly, this one is for the last time.

23. How many one-night stands?
HAHAHAH. Seriously!? This questions makes me laugh every year.
None. I only dated Will, and Will alone. And there were NO one-night stands. There were a few nights where there was no SLEEPING, but I wasn't standing up. (at least, not the WHOLE time! :O )


24. What was your favorite TV program?
Survivor and Flash Forward, shows that Will and Em and I watched weekly. I was definitely a fan of Russell from Survivor.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I don't 'hate' people. I only STRONGLY dislike one person but naming her is redundant.

26. What was the best book you read?
I didn't read many books this year, but I did read the Twilight Series. So, they'll do.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Secondhand Serenade was introduced to me by Will.

28. What did you want and get?
Personal clarity to find happiness, a happy relationship, a home closer to my parents.

29. What did you want and not get?
marriage in the LDS temple

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Out of this list I haven't seen many films of 2009. FAVOURITE?? UP. I absolutely love the humour in that movie, but above it, I love the "love story". I teared up in that movie. I have seen: The Proposal, which comes in a close second place. District 9. Final Destination 4, Couple's Retreat, Law Abiding Citizen, This Is It (Michael Jackson), Bride Wars, The Hangover, Shorts

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I trick-or-treated with the kids. Then we went over to Kay and Jim's house, where we played some games with another couple. I turned 29.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Really, there is nothing.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
I don't know that my style changed much. Will and I bought some clothes for each other, but in general, I'm about the same. I did add Crocs to my shoe pile. *grudge*

34. What kept you sane?
My friends. My family. Will.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
i don't like celebrity/public figures like that. But Michael Jackson's passing sure made me appreciate how incredible of a performer and musician he was.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I think the recession is something we've ALL been directly 'stirred' by, in one way or another.

37. Who did you miss?
My 8GVs. Friends in my old ward in Cranston. Dayhome families.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Will. Without question.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
What happens in our lives is probably 90% because of what happened in someone else's.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

To Get Me To You- Lila McCann *click for YouTube version*

Well I, I still can remember times
When the night seemed to surround me
I was sure the sun would never shine on me
And I, I thought it my destiny
To walk this world alone
But now you're here with me
Now you're here with me

And I don't regret the rain
Or the nights I felt the pain
Or the tears I had to cry
Some of those times along the way
Every road I had to take
Every time my heart would break
It was just something that I had to get through
To get me to you
To get me to you

Well I, I still can recall the days
When I had no love around me
Makes me glad for every day I have with you
And I, I look in your eyes and know
I'm right where I belong
And I belong with you
Always belonged with you

And I don't regret the rain
Or the nights I felt the pain
Or the tears I had to cry
Some of those times along the way
Every road I had to take
Every time my heart would break
It was just something that I had to go through
To get me to you
To get me to you

And if I could I wouldn't change a thing
Wouldn't change a thing baby
Because your love was waiting there for me
Waiting there for me baby

And I don't regret the rain
Or the nights I felt the pain
Or the tears I had to cry
Some of those times along the way
Every road I had to take
Every time my heart would break
It was just something that I had to get through
To get me to you
To get me to you