2011 - Goodbye to You.

2011. "The Year of Change." More happened to/for us this year than probably the last 5 years combined. My life completely changed this past year, so I think it's only fitting to make a little list to look back on it. Some of it good, some of it bad. But it's life, so here we go!


:: Started the new year by continuing on 3+ years of working 2 jobs.

:: Billy turned 30 in January - a huge milestone in my book. I planned and threw a big party for him that had me cooking for days beforehand.

:: We moved out of our condo (against our will) that we loved so much after living there for over 3 years and calling it home sweet home. I was so sad to leave!

:: We moved into Billy's parents house - and put most everything of our in storage. A HUGE change for us. Going from a whole condo to one bedroom was HARD. But we did it.

:: I got layed off from my Graphic Design/Office Manager position. I worked there for almost 10 years and was told one day that "it was my last day." What a blow. This turned out to be one of the biggest blessings of my life in disguise.

:: I attempted to try to get used to "sleeping in."

:: We celebrated 5 years of being married.

:: I prepped, tested and interviewed for a position with a local Police Department as a dispatcher for a span of about 5-6 months. I was in the top 10 out of hundreds. At the end I did not get it. This was devastation for me, which was followed by mild depression throughout the summer.

:: I collected unemployment for the Spring, Summer and part of the Fall. This was awesome. What a wonderful break.

:: Summer was kind of me trying to figure out were I was headed in life. I have some ideas, but I still don't exactly know.

:: I cried a lot this year.

:: I turned 28 in July. Jeesh. 28.

:: I did a handful craft fairs this year, most of which were complete bombs. Not to be repeated!

:: I decided I am done making kids toys.

:: Jonah the cat almost died, and ended up reviving but went blind. Poor Joanie!!

:: Celebrated 4 years working at Starbucks. I still love going to work every day.

:: I lost 25 lbs since June by eating way more fruits and vegetables than bread and processed packaged foods. I didn't work out for a second!

:: I had to buy all new pants - see explanation from above note.

:: Some of the clothes I saved from my high school years fit me again perfectly. SCORE!

:: Billy's parents sold their house and we moved yet AGAIN into another house. 2 moves in one year! The new house is awesome and huge, and I think we are all much happier, although it is further still from work and shopping and church.

:: I got a new job at Trader Joe's (at the same location one of my brothers works at) in November. I love it there so far. I am still working at Starbucks at the same time, which is mostly tolerable, but on a stretch of days where I work both places in the same day for any more than 2 days in a row I mostly want to rip my eyeballs out.

:: I am just really thankful they hired me, so I will keep working as hard as I can.

:: We got approval to lease 8 acres of land to expand our family farm. AMAZING!

:: Billy, I and my sister went to Austin, Texas for Christmas to visit his sister and her husband. What a wonderful week!

:: We said goodbye to my brother right after Christmas - he headed off to New Zealand and Australia for almost 5 months. I miss him already!

So there is some of what went down in 2011. Crazy. It flew by but it's impact has made an impression that cannot be erased. Cheers to a new year. To 2012! I raise a glass to you!