2011--Year in Review

As I reflect back on this year that quickly passed by, I'm filled with so many emotions--joy, stress, exhaustion, happiness.  It seems like it was a whirlwind kind of year and while not the worst year of my life, I don't know that it will be one that I will remember for years on end.  One thing I know for sure, God answers prayers--and believe me, he heard a LOT from me this year!  People in my life went through some difficult challenges this year, and there was quite a bit of change for some of us, but through it all, God provided, and kept us all in His care.  I was able to see him working in my life on so many different occasions, one being me getting a new job at the end of the year.   I'm looking forward to 2012 and hopeful that this year that is FRESH and New will bring more opportunities, less stress, greater joy and continued peace.  Welcome 2012!

Some highlights from 2011:

Going to 3 Bon Jovi Concerts--Washington DC, San Antonio, TX, and Milwaukee, WI.  I grew to really love this band even more and their music got me through both good and bad times this year.  While I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I am such a fan, I feel like the messages that their songs provide me is worth that embarrassment.

Traveling to New York City, not once but twice this year.  The first time (In March) with my wonderful Mom and Precious Sister and the second time (In October), with my work friend, Kristina.  It was Tracy's first time to go to the Big Apple, and we saw it all in 4 days, including watching a movie being made called "New Year's Eve" starring my very own Jon Bon Jovi.  We saw the ball being dropped and felt like we crossed something off our bucket list of being in Times Square at the stroke of midnight!  Was quite fun trying to scope out Jon's trailer and trying to catch a glimpse of movie stars.  Was one of the best trips that I've ever had there!  Kristina and I enjoyed a weekend in a nice hotel (on the company of course) and enjoyed some time in Soho and Greenwich Village on a nice crisp Fall day.

Bonnie and I had an adventure in Arizona this summer.  Who would have known that it would be cooler in Phoenix in August than in Texas!  We stayed in a JW Marriott Resort and enjoyed the lazy river, some good food and drinks and lots of relaxing--something we both needed!  We drove by my old house, introduced Bonnie to Trader Joes and got out of the heat by seeing a movie at my old favorite place!  Was a great weekend!  Thanks Southwest Airlines!

There were several big events that happened across the world this year along with the economy still in an unstable state, many people still out of work, and an election with candidates that no one is very excited about to be our President. We also followed several trials (Casey Anthony, Amanda Knox, and Conrad Murray) Some big events were:

The Wedding of William and Kate:

The killing of Osama Bin Laden:

The 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001

Weather played a very big role this year.  In Texas, we saw extreme cold--an ice storm before the Super Bowl that lasted 5 days, and we saw extreme heat--69 days of over 100 degree temps!

Ice on my driveway!  1 inch!

Love--I tried online dating and once again bombed at it!  Got discouraged and just decided to try on my own again.  "Mr. Nice Guy" came into my life for a couple of months but distance was not on our side, so that relationship didn't work out.

Weight--Sad to say that I did not win the battle of the bulge this year!  In fact, I think that I actually majorly lost it, given that I gain about 10 lbs this year and have had a very difficult time getting rid of it!  I think getting older doesn't help, nor did the stress that I was under.

Job--I saw many successes in my job this year and feel very fulfilled in what I've accomplished at my company.  I decided in October to look for new challenges and am very thankful that God opened those doors for me to expand my career and try something new.  I'm hoping that it will be a little less stress, so I can focus on living and not on working to live!  I'm hoping that 2012 will bring about new adventures!

I'm sure that I'm leaving out some other memorable events, but as I said earlier in this post, this was a whirlwind year and in many ways I can't believe that it's already over.  As I look back over my Project Life scrapbook, it seems like just yesterday that it all began!  I started this blog a year ago and it has brought me so much joy and is a great outlet for me.  In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of life, stopping to reflect on what has made me smile, what I celebrated and what I love has been great for me.  So with that:

Smile:  What have I smiled about lately?
I smile that this is a new year.  A FRESH start.

Celebrate:  What do I celebrate?
I celebrate that I have one week left of my current job and on January 9th I will be a Sr. Learning Manager for Associate Development!  I can't wait!

Love:  What do I love?
I love that I've had 11 days off of work, and only had to use 5 vacation days!  I am rested, relaxed and really looking forward to a GREAT new year!

Thought for the day:
The best day of your life if the one on which you decide your life is your own.  No apologies or  excuses, no one to lean on, rely on or blame.  The gift is your--it's an amazing journey--and you alone are responsible for the quality of it.  This is the day, your life really begins! --Bob Moawad

Happy New Year!

source

I have great people in my life

Today was a bittersweet day.  My boss made the announcement to my team that I was leaving to seek other opportunities and while I'm so excited about this change that is so needed and is something that God has given me, it's also a sad time to say good bye to my team and the people that I have had the opportunity to work with for the last three years.  It wasn't the stress free day that I would have liked to have had, and I have to say I was pretty surprised at how emotional I became today, but all in all I'm happy that the news is finally able to be out there and finally I'm able to start looking toward my new future and all the doors that I'm going to be able to walk through on this new journey.  I think it was a chance to give me the opportunity to reflect on all that I've accomplished over the last three years, the people who have made an imprint on my life (and who I hope I have made an imprint on theirs) and the changes that I have made as a person that has helped me to grow, and develop.  I'm a better person for meeting the people that I've worked with over the last three years. I'm honored to work with them and honored to be their manager.  I wish them only the best for their future!  I know they will have their challenges and as much as I would like to shield them from the struggles, I can only hope that they will be able to rise above and continue succeeding like they have for the last few years.

Smile:  What have I smiled about lately?
I smile (through some tears) that I have an opportunity to do something different with my life and am so excited about what the next chapter will bring.  While one is closing...another adventure awaits and I'm very thrilled as to what that is going to bring me!

Celebrate:  What do I celebrate?
I celebrate the fact that I've gotten through a very stressful year.  Only 25 more days to end this year and I can't say that I'm sad to see it go.  While it's been a good year in many ways and as I look back over this blog, I can see all the things that I've smiled, celebrated and loved (big and small), I'm happy to see the stress go away.  I think my heart and muscles will be happy to see it go too so I can get a little healthier again!

Love:  What do I love?
I love Christmas lights on my street.  I love coming home to a street all lit up with all sorts of colors.  Makes all the cares go away just pulling onto my street!

Thought for the day:

Very True!  Simple message:  Be Kind.

"Thank you" Two simple words that can make someone's day!

So much to be thankful for!  We just finished the Thanksgiving holidays and it's that time of year that I think about all my blessings and what I'm truly thankful for.  Thought I'd take some time to reflect upon this in this post.

What am I thankful for?

My Christianity:  God has been appearing in my life more and more lately and I'm so grateful for the big things and small things that he's brought me.  I'm thankful that I have someone to go to in order to help with those amazing challenges I have and also to help me through the day to day little challenges that life brings.  I"m very grateful that God is around me every day and so very happy that I have such a great relationship with Him!

My family:  I was able to spend with week with my amazing sister, several days with my brother, sister-in-law and nieces, and time with my mom and step dad.  While we have our little differences, I'm still appreciative of those differences and grateful that I'm their daughter, sister, and aunt to these precious people.  I know that I've allowed my job and all the challenges that has brought this year to take precedent over my family and friends and as a result, I do feel like I've become a little more distant to them.  I haven't kept up with them as much as I should and as a result, I feel a little guilty that I'm not as involved and appreciative as I should be.  I think that we all take our sweet mother for granted, and sometimes don't think we show our appreciation for her enough.  Mom, I love you and greatly appreciate you for all you do.  I want to learn from you and continue carrying out all the things that make you so wonderfully you!  I'm very blessed to have you in my life!

My friends:  I'm so thankful for my sweet friends. Five years ago this week I joined my company and decided that Bonnie would be my friend.  I'm so thankful that she agreed.  It's been a fun five years and I can only hope that we continue to enjoy many adventures...both here and away (and I hope that Bon Jovi makes another album so we can travel all over the US again!)  Love ya Bon!

My new job:  Before Thanksgiving I was offered a new position within the company.  I'm hopeful that I will be able to start after the first of the year...but the jury is still out on the exact date.  I have to trust that the right thing will happen and that God will help get me through this stressful time of trying to stay engaged in work and leave on good terms by giving them everything they need to carry on.

So many things to be grateful for...so blessed.  In the stressful moments of my day, I need to do a better job at remembering these simple things.

Thought for the day:  God gave you 86,400 seconds today...did you use one to say "thank you."?

God is Great.  Prayers are answered.   Life is good.

 I am blessed.  

Don't worry ....be happy

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.--Matthew 6:34

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds...Philippians 4:9

You have arrived...

This week, I was in a rental car that had GPS Navigation.  We used it to find a mall and upon arrival, the sweet lady said "You have arrived."  I chucked quietly to myself thinking about what a great message that was to hear.  "YOU HAVE ARRIVED."  We search and search though life only to hear those three words only to find that all that searching is really for naught...it's right in front of you all along, you just need the GPS lady to tell you.  I think I needed to hear that at that moment.  I've been feeling a bit like I'm chasing my tail and wondering what my purpose in life is.  Hearing those three words, kinda made me snap out of my head and give myself a chance to think about all that I've achieved, all the success that I've earned and reflect on the person I've become.  I have arrived.  Sometimes messages come to us in various ways...on Tuesday night, my message of affirmation and reminder came from the Hertz GPS lady telling me I was at the mall.

Smile:  What have I smiled about lately?
Last night I had a lovely evening with a co-worker who took me to a Mexican Restaurant in Laurel, MD, which I have to say, was quite good.  Flavors were good...would venture to say that I had a hard time reminding myself that I was not in Texas any more!  Dinner talk consisted of discussion on how we can find our passion for life, Pinterest finds, and of course...work. She shared with me a creative concept of 3 words..look for and write down three words that speak to you...like "Smile, Celebrate, Love" or "You have arrived" and how you can use these words to help start a journal, a picture, a poem, etc.  Cool concept....love the idea and will start opening my eyes to all the messages that come my way.

Celebrate:  What do I celebrate?

I celebrate the Veterans!  I honor and respect them and the courage they had to keep this wonderful country I live in safe and secure.  I appreciate those that gave their life so that we could be safe and free.  I can't imagine doing something so selfless to serve this country and all it's causes.  I'm quite humbled that there are people who would truly give their lives for us.  So, while I do have the day off tomorrow in celebration, I am taking a few moments to reflect on the reason for the holiday and say thank you to all that have given so much for all us!

Love:  What do I love?
I love massages!  I traveled home tonight and made an appointment to get a massage shortly after I got home.  The poor therapist didn't know what she was getting into when she got me this evening.  I've had a knot in my shoulder for about a month that won't go away, so while I wasn't expecting her to work miracles in one quick hour, I was looking for some amount of relief.  She did a great job and I feel so much better now--at least until I check my blackberry and see what work I have to do.  Ugh...

Thought for the day:

Excellence in one area is the beginning of excellence in another area.  Starting today, strive for excellence in all that you do—Robin Sharma