I can hardly believe that it is almost the end of another
year. I had high hopes for this year and some of my expectations were exceeded
and some were not. This post is going to be a long one, but I hope that you
take time to read it.
January brought that huge snowstorm that nearly stopped Adriane
and me from the Zumba cruise. But we were able to reschedule out flight (3
times) and fly around the storm. The cruise was a little rocky but an amazing
experience. Adriane and I were front row for the LIVE tapping of a ZIN DVD with
Beto. Wow. I can still hardly believe it. We visited Hati and Jamaica. We took
many classes and enjoyed laying on the beach. Our beds came out of the ceiling
which was really neat, and a little nerve wracking at the same time. We made some
new friends and reconnected with some we haven’t seen in a while. And who can
complain about 70-90 degree weather in January right? Oh and note to self for
next year… lift your frog necklace and apply sun screen while laying in sun,
other wise when you lay down and your necklace moves, you will have a frog burn
on your chest…
February had me wishing I was back in Florida as we flew
home on the first. It was a great vacation and I made a lot of memories.
February also brought almost weekly dinner and bruin’s nights with the cousins
(I miss those so much right now) and Carter and Carl celebrated birthdays (1
and 28). We had a leap year which gave us an extra day this year. I had many
friends that got to celebrate their “real” birthdays for the first time in 4
years.
March always seems like a LONG month. The snow melted and
its muddy. I looked at several houses and even made an offer on one, but it
wasn’t meant to be, (I mean I was one of sixteen offers so that chances were
slim!) I really felt like giving up, but I kept looking, daily, sometimes
several times a day. I started taking the Intentional Peer Support 9 week
course for work. I am really blessed to be in the line of work I am in. The
skills I learned and brushed up on during this course are ones that I use daily
at work and in my own life.
April brought the DVD that we filmed on the ship. It also
brought my parents anniversary where they celebrated 32 years of marriage. I
started to crochet them a queen size afghan for camp. It took me months to
complete. I also celebrated 2 years of working for Youth MOVE Maine. I attended
a baby shower for Kayla that turned into a surprise wedding and I said good-bye
to a good friend who moved to Florida. I also celebrated 5 years of my fitness
adventure. I took my first Zumba class on April 25 2011 and I haven’t looked
back.
May brought my 30th Birthday. Adriane conspired
with my parents and threw me a surprise 30th Birthday party. It was
a great mixture of family, friends, Girl Power Fitness folks, church and
Rainbow. I am a very lucky girl to have so many people in my life. I spent my
actually birthday at MOOSESTALK dancing and enjoying the start of my third
decade. Just a short week later I went under contract for my house. It was a
dream come true! I also got to watch my Best Friend walk across the stage and receive
her diploma –graduating with almost a perfect 4.0!
June seemed like a long month. I thought my closing date
would never arrive. Then once it arrived it was time to get painting and making
my house into my home. My parents and Adriane accompanied me to my closing and
I was proud to have hand picked my team. I had a great real-estate agent
(thanks Amy!) as well as mortgage broker (Julie you rock and still continue to
answer my questions) and Kim did all my legal stuff.
July brought me my FAVORITE holiday. Yes, July 4th,
Independence Day, is my favorite day of the year. It means our annual out door
movie night, where we project a movie onto a canvas on the side of the camp and
boats from around the lake come and park and enjoy a night under the stars
watching a movie on our very own big screen. Then the 4th and the
BOAT parade. We get up and start decorating the boat. Boats from all around the
lake take part in this tradition. It is a time spent with family and friends
and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I
also moved into my house, one month after closing, lots of painting and all new
windows and furniture being delivered. Marg also came home for a surprise visit
and showed up at my class! I think Bruce could hear my screams from Florida!
August brought the end to Mum Moody being Supreme Worth
Advisor and a huge Maine delegation to Rhode Island. We got to meet up with
some friends between sessions and see the town. It also brought me my roomie.
Elizabeth moved back from Arizona to attend nursing school and moved in to the
second floor of my house. It’s nice to have someone to share my home, and
bills, with. It was also a rough month for work, as we found out that we were
loosing a major grant that funded a lot of our programing. It seemed to be an
emotional rollercoaster but we were able to come out on top, eventually. The
summer brought many weekends spent at camp, enjoying the hammock, the boat and
the lake.
September brought someone into my life. Its funny how when
your not looking for someone that they find you. In had just said to a few
friends that I was done trying to find someone and tired of being in the
“dating world” A month earlier I had received a friend request. I don’t accept
people I don’t know, even if we have 16 mutual friends. So I had let if sit
there a little while and at the end of August I, for some reason, accepted it.
The day we found out that we lost the grant, I posted how thankful I was for
Zumba as an outlet, hobby and job and Tim posted that I could always talk to
him. I said, in my out loud voice, I don’t know who you are, why would I talk
to you. HAHA. Then one night, after I hadn’t slept, I wok up to a message. We
talked back and forth all weekend and then met for a game of mini golf. From
there… well… it’s been a fun ride.
I also got to attend my cousin Sarah’s wedding this month in
New York. I got to see some west coast family and I’m looking forward to the
next cousin wedding next summer in Seattle. This was the same weekend that
there was an explosion in the city. The location where it happened was right
outside our friend’s apartment, where we had been just a day before. We were so
thankful to be safe and to finally reach our friends and learn that they were
safe as well. And how could I forget that I started teaching swim lessons on
Saturdays at the YMCA?! You may think that being at the YMCA every Saturday
morning could be a drag, but I get so much joy watching the kids learning how
to swim. How much they grow and change over the course of the 6 weeks that we
have them. Watching them advance to a new level and build such confidence. I
truly love getting to do it week in and week out.
October brought fall weather. Tim met my parents and Mumsy
came home for a visit and joined us for dinner. Tim and I took part in a rainy
and cold corn hole competition and came in 3rd place. We were lucky
to advance with little effort, as the two teams we were suppose to play in our
first two rounds didn’t show up so we got to advance. We also attended Jeff and
Belinda’s open house/ Halloween party as a lifeguard and swimmer, (thanks for
dressing up babe). I had a cookout/ fire and handed out over 200 pieces of
candy. Elizabeth and I hung up a sheet in the front window and projected
“spooky” images along with scary music on the front window. People kept coming
by to see it. It was a success.
November didn’t slow down. I had an open house where I
opened my home to family and friends to see what a wonderful place I have, that
I get to call mine. I enjoyed having everyone sign a photo of my home, that now
hangs on my wall. We attended out first Holiday party the week before
Thanksgiving and had a great time. On Thanksgiving we had lunch with Tim’s
family before heading to Jeff and Belinda’s for Thanksgiving with my family.
The following weekend brought breakfast at Cole Farms with Dads family.
December. Here we are. There have been concerts, more
holiday parties, snowstorms, tree cutting, decorating, Christmas movies and
crafts. I celebrate six months of being a home owner and fulfilling my dreams
of having my own home, with everything that comes along with it. Mom and Dad
both celebrate birthdays and in just a few days I will get to attend the Christmas
Carol, on Dad’s birthday, with family and my guy. Next weekend we will
celebrate the birth of our Savior and King. I have enjoyed doing the reverse
advent calendar and look forward to bringing those items to church Christmas
Eve. I look forward to seeing Alicia while she is home and will miss having
Hanna, John and Erin this year. Part of my heart always seems to be somewhere
else. But I guess that is what happens. People move away, but it doesn’t mean
that you don’t miss them and wish they were still hear. The end of the year
will be here soon. I’ll celebrate Adriane’s birthday before the close and
cherish another year of friendship, (Jeeze we made a lot of memories this year
didn’t we girl… I didn’t write about two events that happened at Sapphire, but
we both know what those were ;) )
Before we know it, in less than 2 weeks, it will be 2017. I
may not have accomplished everything that I had hoped to in 2016 but that
doesn’t meant hat it wasn’t a great year. This past year, as in every year,
there were ups and downs. I experienced heartache and love. I found a guy who
accepts me for who I am, my good days and my less than good days. Who supports
my hopes and dreams and tells me I can do anything I set my mind to. I am
grateful for that day that by chance I accepted his friend request, that I
opened the message and responded to him, that I took a chance. I’m beyond
thankful for all of the people in my life. I know that I am continuously busy.
That I seem to have every second of every day planned. My goal for 2016 is to
try not to be so planned out. To take time for me. To try new things. To be
happy. To work hard. To set goals and crush them. To enjoy time and make time
for family, friends and my man. To have date nights, friend nights and me
nights. To make 2017 the best year it can possibly be.
