Reflections on 2009

My friend Amanda had this on her blog and I thought it'd be interesting to share...

1) What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? shot my first destination wedding in Cabo San Lucas!!!

2) Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't do my best at keeping my resolution to draw closer to God. I had my moments, but didn't pursue him as much as I wish I had. It's still a goal this year!

3) What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? balance.

4) What date(s) from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Hmmm.... I have a lot of wedding dates stuck in my mind... which seems silly, but they're all special to me. :) And Christmas. And Aaron's surprise 30th b-day party!

5) What was your biggest achievement of the year? Happiness and contentment. :)

6) What was the best thing you bought? my purple purse and my green pea coat :)

7) Where did most of your money go? besides home/bills? my totally awesome camera, computer, business stuff...

8 ) What did you get really, really, really excited about? Pat Green concert!!! Awesome! Getting to hang out with Aaron and have a mini-vacation in Cabo (and getting paid for it)! Abby starting school and watching her "grow up"

9) What song will always remind you of 2009? "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz, "Then" by Brad Paisley, and "How He Loves" by Dave Crowder

10) Compared to this time last year, you are: more focused.

11) What do you wish you’d done more of? Prioritizing. Balancing. Being PRESENT instead of being halfway into a lot of different things.

12) What do you wish you’d done less of? mindless time in front of the computer

13) Did you fall in love in 2009? I'm always falling more in love with Aaron. I feel like we got to know each other on a whole new level in 2009.

14) What was your favorite TV program? Community and Lie to Me (and The Office... and Top Chef)

15) What was the best book you read? Fast Track Photographer by Dane Sanders, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

16) What was your greatest musical discovery? Taylor Swift, Fearless.

17) What did you want and get? iPod Touch

18) What did you want and not get? a point and shoot camera, shelves for my living room, Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer

19) What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Aaron and the kids took me out to dinner at Houlihan's. I turned 27.

20) Which celebrity/public figure did you like the most? Brad Paisley... he writes amazing songs (Letter to Me, Then, Waiting on a Woman) and he's just a good guy

21) What kept you sane? Conversations with my husband and Monday night date nights at home. Reading. Prayer. The Internet. Awesome friends.

22) Who did you miss? Friends from "back home" in Howe. The good news is that I reconnected with some of my best friends in 2009 after a lot of years! Also, our best friends, the Phelps' moved away. I still miss them.

23) Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. I'm not sure I can sum up some of my biggest lessons from 2009 in short. But I learned a lot this year about balancing my family and my business. I began to really soak in the idea that I could build my business to fit my life. I could go on and on, but it's been freeing.

24) What did you gain this year? I learned a LOT of things from a lot of really awesome, really smart people. I had a lot of time with my kids, and especially with Carson since Abby started Kinder and he's home with me. I feel so blessed about all that I've gained this year. Except all the weight I gained!

25) What did you lose this year? Not a lot! Towards the end I did lose 8 pounds! Hope to keep that up!