2005: A Look Back Through My Eyes

I was tagged by Jamie for my reflections of 2005.

What did you do in 2005 that you've never done before?
I live in Indiana. I've never lived in this state before - this is a definate first!

Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?
What is a "New Year's Resolution"? No, I'm just kidding! I guess you could say that I kept my New Year's Resolution because I don't make any...I don't want to disappoint myself or anyone else.


Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my sister-in-law gave us a new nephew, named Dakota James. Aply named, since they live in South Dakota! Although I'm sure that Jesse James was also on her list! :) Also my friend, Amie, had a sweet little boy, Jonah.

Did anyone close to you die?
Bob's grandma passed away early this year, I think...she was a wonderful woman and would have been Luke's namesake, Mollie, had he been a girl.

What countries did you visit?
I may have been to Canada...but I'm not sure...things have gone so fast this year that I believe that that may have been 2004...wait....yep, that was fall 2004. Nope, no other countries except ours!

What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
I would have to say to be master of my tongue. I often say things that I later regret when I am angery, esp. with Bob and the kids. And the Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks...I guess that means, please change my heart, God! :)

What date from 2005 will remain etched in your memory and why?
I would have to say July 5. That was the day that we made our move to IN. We packed, had a garage sale, cleaned our old house, and moved all in a week. With very little help in MI (thanks Mom, Sandy, and Dick and Mary!), and then when we got to IN, we had to unload the biggest UHaul that they have plus our van that was fully loaded on a trailer and the back end of my mom's van, all by ourselves - Just Bob and I! In 1 day because the truck had to go back the next! It was exhausting to say the least!

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I hate to keep coming back to it...but I would have to say the move. Emotionally more than physically because I grew up where I left. That was and still is home. I left my friends, my home, and most of my family there. It was an extremely hard decision to make but we made it because we believed that it would be the better choice for our family in the long run...but we are yet to see the "long run"...but that's another story all together! :) Oh! That and teaching my children to read!

What was your biggest failure?
I think maybe being a good friend. I left a lot of them behind in MI that I seem to have pretty much lost contact with completely over the last 6 months. And I have none to show for the time that I have spent here except for a couple of new ones that are fellow HS moms.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
I think maybe a sinus infection last Feb. or so but that's about it!

What was the best thing you bought?
I guess I couldn't say...I didn't make any major purchases this year...except for an old beat up car that we bought from my brother, and I can't say that was the best thing! :)

Where did most of your money go?
Probably junk...things we really didn't need, but really wanted. Oh, and books! :)

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Starting the school year with a classroom of 2!

What scripture is a theme of 2005?
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19

Compared to this time last year are you:
a. Happier or sadder? Probably happier. This is usually a hard time of the year for me because in the UP, when it snows daily it seems for weeks on end, you never see the sun, and never go outdoors unless it's to go into another door, it's pretty easy to get depressed. (Not that it's literally like that there, it just SEEMS like it sometimes.)
b. Thinner or fatter? Thinner, I lost some weight last spring and though I gained some of it back, I am not back to where I was at this time last year.
c. Richer or poorer? Probably Richer. My husband got a new job that pays better here than when we were in Michigan.

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spending time as a family. With the move, and now with Bob's new job being so stressfull, along with him working 2 jobs, we haven't had a lot of family time.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
That's easy! Watching TV! And to think we were back down to basic cable and my husband decided that as a family gift for everyone this year we would get a satalite. We have been talking about it for a while but now, here it is, and we spend more time in front of than thing than ever! I hate it! (though it is nice to just sit and vegitage and relax!)

How did you spend Christmas?
At home with my family (Bob and the kids with my mom and John). We had a nice meal and then Bob went to work about 3 in the afternoon. The rest of the day I didn't do much. I had a nasty headache so I slept for about 3 hours!

Did you fall in love in 2005?
Of course, I fall in love with my kids more everyday (well, most days! :) and my husband (sigh!), but there was also a sweet little boy that shall remain nameless that captured my heart. We bonded quite closely but since we quit going to our old church I haven't seen him in months and probably won't see much more of him again.

What was your favorite TV show?
It's a close call but I would have to say CSI: Miami. Although CSI: NewYork and CSI: Crime Sceane Investigation, and NCIS are all a close second.

What was the best book you read?
I can't say what the best one was, I read constantly and often so I probably don't even remember all of the books that I read this year. I will be safe and say that the best book I read this year was the Bible.

What was your greatest musical discovery of 2005?
Without a doubt I would have to say shine.fm ! I listen to it all the time, it's our "local" Christian radio station. It's from Chicago and it plays a lot of really good music. Even the kids like it, they ask if I can turn the radio on to Shine.fm so they can listen to some music. They are even starting to recoginze some of the bands! It's pretty cool! :)

What did you want and get?
I really have no want for anything. Thank God, and my hard working husband! :) I'm not a frivolous person and don't have a lot of wants but if I do, I usually just get it, if it's within reason! :)

What did you want and not get?
That's another easy one! I wanted a house of my own! I want a bedroom and a kitchen and a living room and a bedroom for each of my kids! But I live in a basement...I'm not complaining. I have definately learned to be content but there are those days....

What was your favorite film this year?
I'm not a big movie buff. I watch them and usually fall asleep during them at home and the last move I saw with my husband in the theaters was probably Along Came Polly...that's old! We got a gift certificate to the local movie theater but haven't spent it yet so until then...I don't think I had a favorite film either.

What did you do on your birthday?
Birthday? What's a birthday? I quit having them about 4 years ago! But if you mean that day that my family insists on celebrating every year, the one where I was born, I believe I stayed home with my kids and did everyday things! Just the way I wanted it :)

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
To have found a home of my own and to not have had to leave our church that we moved here to be a part of.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
I really don't have any concept of style. I have a scarf that my grandma made me last year for my uncelebrated birthday that is one of those furry knits and I was going to wear it the other day but wasn't sure about it and with nobody else here to ask, I asked Jozie, "Belle, can I wear this or is it so last year?" and she said, with a frown on her face, "It's so last year, mom. Can I have it?" LOL What a girl! :) Anyway, I live in jeans and sweatshirts or tshirts - depending on the weather. And if I'm going somewhere I will put on a nice shirt. Other than that...I really don't care what "fashion" dictates!

What kept you sane?
I can't say that there was much sanity to any of my year. So, to quote Jamie, "Who said I was sane?"

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I'm sure if you asked my husband, I think he would say "Ty, the Gay Guy"! (Ty Pennington!)

What political issue stirred you the most?
I'm really not the political type, I rarely even watch the local news, let alone the national news! Anything interesting I get usually comes from Amie.

Who did you miss?
My dad.

Who was the best new person you met?
Not sure I have met any new people...pretty sad, considering I made a pretty big move a few months ago! I would say maybe our new Pastors; Pastor Sam and Judy, and Pastor Ron and Judy.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
Make sure you know what you are getting into before you jump in with both feet.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Casting Crowns - "Praise You In This Storm"

I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as You mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will life my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth


There are many songs that I could have chosen but this is the one that pretty much sums it up.