2008 In Review

This may become a New Year tradition… I started this a year ago. Boy how things have changed! (and some things haven’t changed at all!)

Here’s a look back at 2008. It was a doozie.

Where did you begin 2008? I hosted an impromptu New Years party at my house. I think we decided to throw the party around 6pm that night. This year, I’m throwing one with a bit more planning. Disco ball, strobe lights, Dance Dance Revolution, and all.

Were you in school this year? I took four graduate classes this year… School was really tough, but I was also blessed to earn FREE tuition, plus a stipend (aka—Cruise Money), plus a trip to Miami! With five classes left (I’ve taken seven), I should finish this masters in December 2009 or May 2010. Praise the Lord. Oh, and I spoke to a bunch of junior high classes about the importance of going to college, choosing a career in advertising, yaddah, yaddah, yaddah. And I serve on a board for the school district, which technically is sort of school-related.

Where did you go on vacation? My sister and I jaunted over to NYC for a mini-trip smack full of Yankee games, pedicures, shopping, and Broadway. It was absolutely fantastic. I am super excited about my Mediterranean Cruise in summer 2009!

Favorite Books from 2008? I devoured Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Definitely the best book of my year, every girl should read that book. I also read three or four Anita Shreve novels (I want to write like her someday). And a book on hearing God speak, which turned into a whole Sunday School series. There were others, I just don’t remember the titles. I wish I could have read more, but I also read about 10 million journal articles for school, which tend to suck the life out of me. And, I read 52 issues of TIME Magazine cover-to-cover. Okay, and 52 issues of US Weekly, but that doesn’t make me sound nearly as sophisticated.

Did you know anybody who got married? Jim and Tiffany, Scott and Cassandra, Jason and Ginger… I’m sure I’m forgetting a few. And my sister Lindsay got engaged!

 Did you move anywhere? Oh thank goodness, no.

 What sporting events did you attend? About a million Rangers games, a couple of Stars games (including a playoff game), the Mavs home opener, a Yankee game in New York, two marathon events, and a minor league hockey game. Plus, I played a little tennis, golf, flag football, sand volleyball, and played on my church softball team. I spent most of my free time this year outside playing sports.

Describe your birthday: I had a retro roller skating party with about 25 friends from church. I felt like a kid again, which is exactly how a girl should feel on her 28^th birthday. I loved that night.

What's something you learned about yourself? I was reminded once again that my family is the greatest ever. They are such a blessing, I am so thankful to have a family that is supportive, fun, entertaining, unconditionally loving, and willing to do anything to take care of each other. Plus, they’re all very strong Christians. My family rocks.

I learned how important it is to care for others when they’re hurting. Watching my sister recover from major surgery this fall showed me how important it is to not only rally around someone when they have surgery (or a death, or another traumatic experience), but to stick around and continue to check on them in the weeks following. People tend to step up in the immediate, but later tend to forget about the person who is hurting. I think people just don’t know what to do.

I learned that God keeps his promises… and I learned that scripture is very clear about that if you’ll just pay attention. All year long I wrote these promises down in my prayer journal and meditated on them… it got me through a lot of tough times. I am constantly reminded of just how fantastic my God really is.

Any new additions to your family? I’ll be getting a new brother-in-law next June. It will be so weird to have a BOY in our family full of girls! Luckily he’s really cool, so he’ll fit right in. I’m really excited for my sister.

Made new friends? My prayer this year was for God to bring me some more girlfriends… and he delivered! Don’t you love it when God answers your prayers? 

Favorite Night out? Some of my favorite nights were when I got to sit on my porch, relax, and look at the stars. This year was so absurdly busy with school and work that those nights were a rare treat. I also loved all the afternoons/evenings when my friends would play outside… softball, tennis, flag football, sand volleyball… I have developed a real craving for the outdoors.

Something else I loved this year was having close friends live in my neighborhood. Just last weekend, two called me up and invited me to take our dogs for a walk. Once a month my neighborhood friends organize a dinner party. I absolutely love being two minutes away from a friend, being able to carpool to a party or have an impromptu dinner together. My parents have kept in touch with some of their church and neighborhood friends from back when they were my age… and it makes me wonder if some of these friends will turn out to be those same kinds of life-long friends. I sure hope so.

What do you want to change in 2009? I had three break-ups in the first six months of 2008 (is that some sort of record?), so I’m going to vote for none in 2009. Or less than three. I think that’s achievable. Or maybe I should at least spread them out in different zip codes or something.

What would you change about 2008? I don’t think I would have changed much. Parts of this year were really fantastic… professionally it was one of my best years ever. Even the parts that weren’t very fun helped me to grow and mature, and I learned a lot about myself and what I want to do with my life.

What random cool things happened in 2008? (New Question This Year!)

-I was quoted in USA Today, my local newspaper (plus papers in Florida, Oklahoma, New Mexico), interviewed by multiple radio stations (one in-studio with the DJs!), and did some on-camera interviews for our local news. Plus, I worked behind-the-scenes on dozens of stories for all sorts of media outlets. It was a fun year at work.

-I taught classes on media buying, advertising, and corporate communications at TCU and UTA… I rediscovered how much I love teaching.

-I ran a half marathon! Who would have thought that the lazy girl with asthma who hated running would ever accomplish that?!

-I revived my passion for teaching Sunday School. I have always enjoyed it, but this year I became hungrier than ever before to teach, and to show my girls the difference between a limiting faith filled with “no’s” and rules and an empowering faith filled with grace and freedom. I realized this concept several years ago, and I have never been the same.

Other than home, where did you spend most of your time? I spent a lot of time running at the park, preparing for my half marathon. I really do love running at the park… it’s a nice balance to a stressful day. I was never an outdoor runner until this year, but now a treadmill seems so boring… I need a trail through the woods or by a lake.

Do you have a New Year's resolution? Yes, but I won’t tell until next week.

Do anything embarrassing? This is me we’re talking about… life wouldn’t be fun if it weren’t filled with wonderfully embarrassing moments! In the last week I set my hair on fire at the Christmas Eve candlelight service, and I knocked over a candle (because I knocked over the table it was sitting on) in Sunday School and almost burned the place down. And that was only the last week of December.

What was your favorite purchase? I really like my new MacBook, filled with all my Adobe programs and my newly discovered iMovie. So many fun toys to play with. And I'm super excited about the curtains and rug I just bought for my living room and dining room. I shopped for TWO YEARS before making the purchase. They'll be delivered next week!, and my windows will no longer be naked!

Did you get sick this year? I was extremely healthy all year. What a blessing.

Start a new hobby? I learned how to quilt! Oh, and all that running.

Are you happy to see 2008 go? Oh my goodness, yes. Goodbye, and good riddance, my friend! I plan to kick some major bootie in 2009. Hold on to your seats, folks.

What are you wishing for in 2009? Lot’s of good memories, a fabulous trip to Europe, a fun wedding for my sister, and possibly a graduation from grad school! And I look forward to all sorts of unplanned adventures… welcome 2009!

Now, my blogging friends, it’s your turn. Tell me about your year in review… I can’t wait to read it!

Favorite Song

Just a quick note as I scarf down a quick bowl of cereal for dinner (mom would be so disappointed in me)...

I am absolutely obsessed with the Taylor Swift song "Love Song." I could listen to it twenty times a day and never get tired of it. I especially love the pop version they play on the radio, but I also have the regular country version at the top of my newest iPod playlist, and I listen to it over and over, just like a teenage girl. There's something about the melody that just makes me giddy. 

Okay, enough of the rambling. I'm sure all the boys reading this are now rolling their eyes. I promise to write a post on the positive qualities of Metallica sometime soon, so you'll feel included. Or maybe analyze all the insufficiencies of the Cowboys.

But now I'm off to Wal-Mart to buy last-minute supplies for my New Year's party tomorrow. I hate Wal-Mart, so this shows you just how committed I am to having a rockin' New Year's party, complete with a dance floor and a disco ball. Apparently the only place you can buy colored indoor flood lights is at Wal-Mart, and I need them to reflect off my disco ball, so off I go. I hate that place. HATE. There will probably be one check-out line open for about 1,000 shoppers. Maybe I'll bring a book. (shiver)

Or maybe I'll just sing Taylor Swift over and over as I stand in line next to scary men who stare at me and babies who scream and teenagers who wear shirts covered in profanity... yes, that will make it all better.

Who's getting married???

I got a text message this morning that simply said: "I'm getting married!!!"

Unfortunately, I didn't recognize the number. So I quickly responded, "Who is this?"  It may be a bit rude for me not to know who it was, but this was big news and I needed to know which of my friends I should be happy for.

I never heard back.

So I texted a few more friends. "Do you know who's getting married?"  I hit a broad range of folks, figuring somebody would be in the same circle as the unknown friend and solve the mystery.

But nobody knew.

So I went through my mental list of friends who are dating. Crazy enough, I only know one or two people who might be in a position to get engaged, and those had already been covered. So after hours of being curious, I finally just dialed the number.

It was a wrong number. Some chick named Michelle, whom I don't know, is getting married. Congratulations Michelle. I wish you and your stranger fiance a very happy life together.

But what a disappointment for me! So to all my friends who didn't get engaged today... I feel sort of let down. I was so happy for you, if only for a short while. Maybe tomorrow will be your day.

Why my family is the coolest

In case you haven't laughed today...

Light of the world... literally

I went to my parents' tiny Baptist church for their Christmas Eve candlelight service. It was very special... all the families gathered together, babies dressed in red velvet dresses, little ones anxious to come home and devour their presents under the tree, slightly older ones just ready to come home and devour Christmas dinner... and everybody looking forward to the climax of the service--lighting the candles and singing Silent Night.

Only at this tiny Baptist church, Silent Night wasn't so silent.

Because I set my hair on fire.

I was being a bit mischievous. That's what happens when you get my family together, we look for any excuse to laugh and have a good time. So of course, when I put my lit candle under my chin and made a scary face, kind of like one would do when telling a ghost story around a campfire, sister Sarah provided me with the reaction I was hoping for... a giggle. But then sister Lindsay, in a motherly way, brushed the hair back on my right side and said, "Don't catch your hair on fire...""

And right at that moment I heard a gasp, then "BETHE!!!" and then she reached over and put the fire out that was starting on my left side. It's amazing how fast hair can burn... one minute you're just standing there, being silly and singing Christmas carols, and the next minute, "SPARK," then "POOF" and a terrible stench of burned hair fills the room. Luckily she saw it as it happened, so I only lost a small amount at the bottom, and I have such long hair (and so much of it) that nobody will ever notice, except for the singed ends which I should probably trim off today.

I'm glad we were sitting on the second-to-back row and not in our normal front-row spot for all the tiny Baptist church to see. Only the rows behind us and in front of us really got to experience me adding a "spark" to Christmas... ruining silent light but taking Jesus' command literally in Matthew 5:14 when he told us to be "the light of the world." 

Merry Christmas, and may God bless you in 2009.

Finally, school pays off

I found out late last week that the research paper I have worked so hard on this semester was accepted to a conference in Miami. In mid-March, my professor and I will go present our research to a bunch of public relations academics and professionals. And we're competing for "top paper" with some other folks... at times I can be a bit competitive, and this one has a CASH PRIZE, which means I would really, REALLY like to win. When you start talking monetary rewards, research seems to become a bit more interesting.

I could tell you what it's about, but the title alone is about 50 words long and would put you straight to sleep. Basically, it's about how intranets can provide employees with "voice" in a large organization. I have enjoyed learning about intranets and creating one of my own, but my 25 pages of literature review, descriptions and stats might just put you to sleep. Hopefully it won't put the conference attendees to sleep. I guess either way, I get a trip to Miami out of the deal.

Put on some clothes

Dear topless girl at my gym,

Please be considerate of those of us who might be a bit more modest than you, and PUT ON SOME CLOTHES. There's a reason God invented bathroom stalls... if you need to change clothes, it's a good idea not to do it out in the open part of the girls' locker room. When I walk by for a quick bathroom break between the treadmill and the weights, I don't want to have to see you in all your glory. So please, PLEASE, just put on some clothes and give the rest of us (me) a break.

Back when I was training for the half marathon, I didn't have to deal with folks not wearing clothes. This is what I get for going to the gym. Maybe I should just stay home and eat my ice cream in peace.

Thank you,
Concerned Gym Member

Weekend Wrap-Up

I've had such a good weekend. Friday night I got a pedicure with my sister and another friend, and then the three of us, plus one more, met up for a quiet dinner. It was so nice... just laid back, lot's of laughing, comfortable shoes... I love nights like that. The pedicure place used a chocolate exfoliator thing on my legs... you haven't lived until you've had a stranger rub chocolate on your legs as you sit in a massage chair sipping a cappuccino. Hmmm... that sounds a bit racier than it really was. After the pedicure, I felt like a new woman. A new woman with dark purple toenails... again. The edginess is back. And maybe here to stay.

Then Saturday I spent the whole day cooking and cleaning to prepare for a shower I hosted tonight for sister Lindsay (the one getting married). I absolutely love the preparation that goes into throwing a party. I like the cleaning up afterward part a lot less. Saturday night I turned my iPod on "shuffle" (yes, the iPod magically works again), and cooked for hours. I cooked for the party, and also made Christmas goodies for some of my favorite coworkers. Since they put up with me for another year (almost five, actually), I figure they deserve some baked goods.

I did such a good job of preparing yesterday that today I was able to sneak in a quick nap after church. A nap on a party day is so very rare, and it was just the thing I needed to keep me going through the party. The party went fantastically well, many of my sister's bridesmaids, old roommates, and friends from childhood came by, along with some of her new family members. It's weird to see that my sister is going to have NEW family members... new sisters-in-law. Part of me finds the whole situation a bit strange, but I'm thankful that these new family members seem to be strong Christian women who treat her well, so I guess it's okay to share her a little.

So it was a good weekend. I got to spend quality time with friends and family, got rubbed down with chocolate, danced in my kitchen and ate large quantities of cake. Yes, it was a very good weekend.

Are you happy?

According to the Wall Street Journal, happiness is contagious. Especially if the happy person happens to be your neighbor. Check this out.

Okay, I had promised a re-cap on the White Rock Half Marathon. Here goes...

The race was one of those really cool moments in my life... I worked so hard, for so many months to be able to do this. I'm not a runner. I never will be. I have asthma, I'm not a super athlete, I tend to be a bit lazy, and I'm very, very busy. So the fact that I did this without giving up was kind of unexpected.

I ran it with three friends from church. I couldn't have done it without the camaraderie that went along with running with friends. Otherwise I would have quit after a few weeks. They made it fun.

Here's a play-by-play of the race, for the two people who might care...

1. The night before, we went for high-carb pizza, and then an emergency trip to pick out a running outfit for Sara. Luckily, we found success quickly and made it home in time for a good night's sleep.

2. I woke up at 4:45 a.m. on Sunday and rode with my friends to Dallas. Sara and I had debated about wearing make-up for the race... it seems so vain, but we knew we were going to se a bunch of people out there, and we didn't want to look like death. So I ran my race with a tiny bit of mascara, eye liner, and concealer. I'm sure it all sweat off after mile 2. But what can I say, I'm a girl.

3. About five minutes before the race began, I realized my iPod, filled with my super-awesome running playlist, had frozen. It wouldn't work. In a panic, I called Sister Lindsay who lives in Dallas and asked her to meet me at mile 6 with her iPod. I think I may have to sue Apple. And I think I'm going to need to get Lindsay a nicer Christmas gift for saving my life with a new iPod to distract me from the pain I was feeling. She rocks.

4. Speaking of pain... I felt a lot of it at mile 5. It was pretty hot and there wasn't much water on the course, and I got a stomach cramp.... one of those that feel like a knife twisting in your side. It was so bad at one point that I either wanted to throw up or curl to the fetal position. But at that point there was nothing to do but keep plugging along. The cramp lasted about 1.5 miles and really slowed my time down. But that's okay... sometimes those things happen. And it went away before mile 7.

5. I felt absolutely fantastic for miles 1-4, and then again for miles 7-10. Around the tenth mile I started to feel like I might throw up. It's not really very fun to run while half expecting you might hurl at any given moment. So I had to do some more walk/run for awhile.

6. I think around mile 12 is when I wanted to die the most. Isn't running fun?

7. And then, after 13.1 miles, I crossed the finish line. That part was fantastic. It meant I could stop... no more running, no more wanting to throw up, no more stomach cramps... they loaded me up with a finisher's medal, a t-shirt, a cup of water (yes!), and I was instantly a much happier girl.

My time was a lot slower than I had wanted it. I basically ran about a minute a mile slower than had been my goal... but that's okay. I finished. And even though for a good part of that race I was in extreme pain and wanted Jesus to come down out of heaven and rapture me so I could leave the miserable run behind, I still have really good memories of the day. I got to run with 17,000 other runners, while 150,000 spectators cheered me on for 13.1 miles. And I got to do it with friends. While wearing mascara.

On Sunday, after the race, I thought I might never want to run again. Today, just three days later, I'm seriously considering doing this whole thing again. Only faster. 

By the way... I'm not sure why the photo spacing is so whacky... so you'll just have to ignore that. I couldn't post captions... but wanted to explain the first photo with the old guy. That's Larry, who has the Guinness World Record for most marathons in one year... this was his 105th marathon in 2008. Not only that, but he has run a marathon in all 50 states. I haven't even been to all 50 states, much less run a marathon in them! So of course, we had to get a picture...

Running in silence

I survived the half marathon. I'm so pleased that all four of us who started training so many months ago ran the race together. Well, actually, we started together, but my friends finished a little ahead of me. And that's okay, because it meant I got to cheer them on from behind!

I'll post more on the race later, but for now, I'm so glad that I'm done with all this training. No more late night runs, no more 6 a.m. Saturday runs (I know... crazy, huh?) and no more calling 8 miles a "short" run. I get to go back to the normal world where I'm satisfied if I run 30 minutes on a treadmill once or twice a week. Probably once a week. If that.

Now it's time for these sore legs of mine to crawl into bed and take a nice, long nap. Ahhh... there's nothing like a good rest after a big accomplishment.

One more thing I can cross off my list of life goals. Half Marathon... check.

Half Marathon Playlist

Here it is... my half marathon soundtrack. 

Whoot, There It Is - 95 South

Panama - Van Halen

Jump Around - House of Pain

Tootsee Roll (Dance Version) - 69 Boyz

Paper Planes - M.I.A.

Love Lockdown - Kanye West

Deport Them - Sean Paul

Love Story - Taylor Swift (I'm obsessed with this song, so it's on here more than once)

Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-a-Lot

I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fraid

Hot N Cold - Katy Perry

Pump Up the Jam - Technotronic

See You Again - Miley Cyrus

When I Grow Up - The Pussycat Dolls

Picture to Burn - Taylor Swift

Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J

Enter Sandman - Metallica

Whatta Man - En Vogue

Singe Ladies (Put a Ring On it) - Beyonce

Funky Cold Medina - Tone Loc

All That She Wants - Ace of Base

Womanizer - Britney Spears

Move This - Technotronic

Love Story - Taylor Swift

Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice

Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne

California Love - 2Pac

Barbie Doll - Jack Ingram

Here Comes the Hotstepper - Ini Kamoze

Mood Rings - Relient k

Give a Little Love - The Judds

Sadie Hawkins Dance - Relient k

Butterfly - Crazy Town

Temperature - Sean Paul

7 Things - Miley Cyrus

Just a Lil Bit - 50 Cent

Love Don't Live Here - Lady Antebellum

Oops! I Did It Again - Britney Spears

Red High Heels - Kellie Pickler

Son's Gonna Rise - Citizen Cope & Santana

Paper Planes - M.I.A.

Love Lockdown - Kanye West

Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-a-Lot

I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred

Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice

Perfect fit

I always have to have the perfect outfit for my race. It's a little tradition I started back with my first marathon relay up in Oklahoma City about four years ago. I may not be good at running, but I want to look good when I run. 

So on Sunday I will be sporting a brand-new pink running outfit... pink from head to toe. I bought it today. It's sporty and super girly (who would have guessed) and should help me shave off at least a few minutes on Sunday. As those faster runners go zooming past me, they'll all be thinking, "That girl has on such a cute outfit that I almost didn't notice how slowly she runs."

And because the store was running such a good sale, I also got the perfect yoga outfit... a bright green yoga outfit. Because next week, when I retire my running shoes and replace it with my yoga mat, I'll need something to wear.

Carb load

According to Wikipedia, I am supposed to be practicing "carb load" this week. It's a tough job, but I'm up for the challenge. That's why I ate french fries for dinner, made rice krispie treats (dyed green and made to look like Christmas wreaths, yum) for dessert, bought croissants for breakfast tomorrow... this may be the best part of my training program.

I wonder if it's bad if I decide to extend "Carb Load Week" to "Carb Load Month." Or maybe 2009 could be "Carb Load Year." 

Are there carbs in chocolate mousse cake? Because I had some of that today too.

Just the facts, ma'am

A half marathon is 13.1 miles, or 21,097.5 meters.

Half marathon male world record: 58:33. Female world record: 1:06:25.

(By contrast, I hope to run it in about 2:10-2:20, maybe slower).

As of June 30, 2007, Horst Preisler of Germany had successfully completed 1157 full marathons, plus 343 ultramarathons (Mr. Horst is obviously nuts).

Ever wonder how they measure the length of the course? Here's how.

Only four days to go... Happy Half Marathon Week.

Running is Biblical

One of the things I love about running is that it's Biblical. The Bible uses it as a theme throughout scripture... a theme for Christian discipline, for perseverance, for never giving up, and for finding strength in Christ when we have none left for ourselves. The Bible makes it clear that our faith should not be a sprint, but a marathon. These are some of the verses that I will be quoting as I run on Sunday:

Psalm 119:32

I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.

Proverbs 4:11-12

I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.

Philippians 2:16

As you hold out the word of life--in order that I may not boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

And finally... for the verses that explain why I run. And the reason why I live my life the way I do. You might call it my "life verses." I even have part of it engraved on my iPod, so I can remember it when I'm ready to give up.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Do you not know that in a race that all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize...  I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

National Half Marathon Week

In just seven days I run my first half marathon. So I hereby proclaim December 8-14 to be National Half Marathon Week. "Says who?" you may ask... well, says me!

There are many important aspects of preparing for a half marathon. The two most important keys to a good race are having the perfect wardrobe, and the perfect soundtrack.  

Here's where you come in. I need suggestions from all of my music loving friends (like you, David!). No song is too crazy... my current running playlist includes Metallica, Ozzie, Britney, Miley, Keith Urban, Nirvana, Vanilla Ice, Tupac, and Faith Hill. I'll take all your suggestions and publish my Perfect Half Marathon Running List later this week. 

Time for bed. For the next seven days I need to get lot's of sleep, eat tons of carbs, and run!

Good news

Guess who got renewed for another semester as a graduate assistant? Me! Me! Me! That's right, I get free tuition again in the spring, plus a little extra spending money. Praise the Lord, it's a huge blessing!

It's a bit surprising, considering the 17...

Just give me the stupid grade already

I tend to have unrealistic expectations when it comes to my graduate program. Like, if I turn in an assignment, I expect to have it graded and returned. If you give me a test, I expect you to return it and tell me how I did. I expect you to actually read the papers that I make so many sacrifices to write.

But sometimes that's too much to ask. Not all my professors... I have had a few who are absolutely fantastic. And I have had a few who are not.

So tonight my professor returned my research paper... which I honestly kind of phoned in anyway. Let's face it, I had a tough semester and I had a 98 going into this final paper, so I approached it with a "good enough" attitude. I even reconciled the fact that I just might get a B. (gasp) in the class. My first in this program.

So you can imagine my horror when I got back the paper and it had a big fat 17 on the top. SEVENTEEN. Eeeek! Are you kidding me? I may have done a less than stellar job, but a SEVENTEEN???? I thought you could get at least 17 points just for putting your name on it. 

And then my professor explained that this score was like golf... the lower your score, the better you did. So I think, "Do I subtract 17 from 100? Does that mean I made an 83?" 

Apparently  not. Because  a perfect score was an 8. Seriously. Somehow an 8 is a 100, and a 100 is a 0. Huh? So I have no idea what a 17 means. I figure it's somewhere between an 83-91. Whatever. Honestly, I was too tired to mess with it this morning. So I took my 17 and went home. I take that back... my 17 and I went out for sushi with friends from class, and then we went home.

I'm not sure this paper will be going on my refrigerator.

Beginning of the End

Today is the first day of the last month of 2008. Thank goodness. This has been a rough year for me... filled with ups and downs, but the downs were really tough this year.

But here's my theory... it seems that  most of the time, a bad year is followed by a really great year. One filled with adventures and friendships and the more obvious kinds of blessings that make you want to jump up and down like a little kid who hears the ice cream truck approaching. My 2008 was filled with many, many blessings, but a lot of my year's blessings were the kind that you had to look harder to see.

And that's really okay, because either way I choose to have joy. Joy if my blessings come wrapped in a huge bow of ease and excitement, and joy if my blessings come sandwiched between hardship and heartache. Either way, I choose joy.