Let’s look at 2010, shall we?

So three makes it a trend. I’ve decided to again answer these questions for the new year. Feel free to see how far I’ve come in life by reading my past entries here and here.

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?

I led a group of 19 kids and five adults on a mission trip to Florida and it was amazing and awesome and the words “life-changing” seems too lame to do it proper justice. Also, after that, I got a paid gig as a youth leader for a church. YAY GOD!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Last year I planned to get more oil changes, and I can safely say that I totally failed in the endeavor. Although I would like to point out that I finally got new brakes and those seem important. I guess my new year’s resolution for this year is to give up soda and to stress less and trust God more.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No, but my friend Stephanie is preggers!!! YAY!!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No. Thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?

I went to Florida. That counts right? Dudes, that car trip was 20 hours. EACH WAY!

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

A new car. My youth group kids make fun of my car all the time, and one time I was telling a story about how I had fixed my phone after getting it wet by putting it in a bowl of dry rice and then one kid was all, “Why don’t you put your car in a bowl of rice?” Personally, I think the black duct tape is classy.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Last week in June. Mission trip change lives. Also,  the first Sunday in Aug., because that’s when I started at my new church. Also, Nov. 11 because.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I got a paid job as a youth leader, and somehow didn’t quit after enduring mice, a couple breakdowns, and mice.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I feel pretty good about the last year.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Just the usual sprained ankle.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

All my new Express jeans, which fit me because I lost weight. YAY! Also, I’ve bought a bunch of the youth group dinners for my high school youth group and the return on investment is insane on that pizza.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

God is awesome.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Dating is rough.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Taco bell, car repairs, church stuff.

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

God.

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?

“The guy that says good-buy to you is out of his mind” by Griffin House.

“Hold us together” by Matt Mahr

“Airplanes” by B.O.B.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Happier

b) thinner or fatter? About the same.

c) richer or poorer? Richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Sleep.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Facebook.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

At my Aunt Sandy and Uncle Glen’s house. We played Telestrations and I laughed so hard I almost died.

21. Did you fall in love in 2010?

I think so.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Mad Men and Burn Notice.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No.

24. What was the best book you read?

SOLO, a devotional that has daily tidbits about The Message version of the Bible.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Griffin House and Matt Mahr.

26. What did you want and get?

A paid job as a youth director. To take the youth on a mission trip.

27. What did you want and not get?

Maybe a new car.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

I really like the show Mad Men. Does that count?

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 27, and I worked. I’m super cool like that. Also, I got a bajillion Facebook messages.

30. What’s one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

I loved this year. But again, here I’m going with the mission trip.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?

Express is my new favorite store.

32. What kept you sane?

God. April. Taco Bell. Starbucks.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Obama.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

The mid-term election.

35. Who do you miss?

It’s been about 8 years since he died, but I still miss Bob.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

All the awesome people at my new church.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.

Do not stress. A bowl of dry rice can fix water damage to a phone. Walk into Target stores because if you run, you could sprain your ankle.

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

“And love will hold us together/ Make us a shelter to weather the storm/ And I’ll be my brother’s keeper/ So the whole world will know that we’re not alone.”

  • Share/Bookmark

Holiday crap.

I kind of don’t like Christmas.

There. I said it. I’m the youth leader who doesn’t really like Christmas.

I mean, I like hanging out with my brothers and sister and family, and I like my Uncle Glen’s twice-baked potatoes because those things are like heaven and fairy magic on a plate, and I LOVE that we’re celebrating Jesus’ birth and whatnot because he rocks.

But there’s just so much other crap that goes with the holiday and I kind of hate all of it.

First, everything happens when it’s so freaking frozen outside. What kind of idiots decided blizzard season was the best for shopping, driving long distances, and Santa parades? It’s just too freaking frigid for all that crap.

Also, everything cost so much and has so many calories. I can’t deal with it. WHY did I spend $13 on a SOCKS for my sister? WHY did I eat 47  Mint Meltaways on Christmas? WHY did I spend $198 on Peppermint Mochas, each with 4,000 calories, this season? I don’t know, because I suck at life?

Another thing I hate is the assumption that I will get to see every single person I want should during the season. I did not go to any non-family Christmas parties this year and I don’t think that makes me a loser, all right?

Of course, New Year’s Eve is even worse. A billion times worse. I hate New Year’s Eve with all my heart worse.

So what if I’m not going to be kissing anyone at mid-night all right? ALL RIGHT?? Exactly. It’s none of your stupid business that I’m going to be alone. It doesn’t make me a bad person. It doesn’t even make an iffy person. It just means that I will probably be getting a really fantastical night of sleep. So ha!

Back in high school I at least had an excuse for that stupid holiday. I always had to work at Wal-Mart at like 6 a.m. on New Year’s Day so I never went out. But now. This year. The expectation that I have something fun to do makes me sick.

Why do I always have to have fun things to do? Huh? I can do fun things at 3 p.m. on  Thursday if I want, so why can’t 3 p.m. Thursday be a stupid national holiday when everyone and their dog and their Chia Pet are supposed to kiss? That seems like just as good a time to celebrate newness and what not, and in fact it’s probably better because everyone will be wide awake.

Actually, maybe Obama should get on that. I bet he knows a guy or something that could change that.

But ya, anyway, my friend Ron told me once a long time ago right before taking the youth on a mission trip last summer to just let go of any expectations and everything will be awesome.

And I did, and it was.

And in fact, today, Ron and his wife Lynn and their two kids Kris and Chelsey came to visit me, and up until the moment they walked through the door at my church, I wasn’t really expecting them to come. I mean they’d said they were probably going to come, but it was a long drive, and so, for whatever reason, I just didn’t let myself expect it.

And so, when I saw Lynn come in from the snow, I screamed pure joy so loud that I teared up and I gave her the biggest hug ever because I love her so freaking much.

It was perfect. And unexpected. And awesome.

And I need to do that more with Christmas. And life. And everything.

I’m pretty sure it would lead to a lot less stupid crap and a lot more awesome.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tripped up

I’m pretty sure I could gain an easy 50 to 98 pounds working at the candy magazine.

My first day, I gained like six.

Dudes, literally like a couple hours in, my new boss called me into his office and I was worried for half a minute that my first column sucked or something, but all he wanted to do was give me four packages of free candy to try. And it was delicious.

Too delicious.

My plan right now is to give up soda so that I can balance things out, but that didn’t work so well today because I ended up having that very same free candy for breakfast, and then I had a Coke with dinner.

I also was planning to join a gym today, but it actually ended up being a really good thing I didn’t because as I was running (yes, literally running because I was COLD) into Target to buy bows and wrapping paper I tripped on nothing and sprained my ankle like a mofo.

I was trying to just walk it off because you know, a girl’s gotta shop, but then I sat on the display futon and took off my boot and I realized that my ankle was the size of a tennis ball. I cried a little on the inside at that point. But, ya, in conclusion, I obviously wouldn’t have even been able to go to the gym for like a week anyway.

Right now, I’m on Vicodin, which I had left over from when I had my gall bladder out, and I’m not going to lie, I’m kind of out of it.  In a fun way, but still. I just finished writing out all the Christmas cards for my youth group, and I’m really hoping I spelled everyone’s name right and that I didn’t say anything too crazy.

Speaking of holiday cards, if you are among the four that sent one my way, thank you much!!

And to everyone who reads my blog, have yourself a merry little Christmas day.

  • Share/Bookmark