The longest year-end Meme ever...

Year in Review Meme...

I did this last year and enjoyed going back and reading the answers so much that I decided to do it again.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

My initial reaction to this question was that I hadn't done anything new this year and I may have to rename this meme "End of the year reflections of the worlds most boring mom." But then I hit the blog archives and realized that I did have some firsts, that while not life shattering, were meaningful or memorable in their own way.

• I took one of my children to be evaluated by a neurologist. Against my better judgment.
• I watched my last child learn to walk. At twenty-one months. It was such a relief yet still managed to leave me wistful.
  
• I took my first ever trip to the emergency room. Yep, it's true. I had been there for my kids, but never for myself. Hurray for 2008.
  
• I joined three new social networking sites. MySpace (which I have since abandoned) Facebook and Twitter. I am thinking of ditching one of these as well simply due to lack of time.
  
• I raised birds in my garage! (Alright, technically I just watched their mother raise them, but it was still in my garage and quite amazing.)
• I bought my first item on Craigslist. (I'm hooked now.)
• I watched one of my children drive a car.
• I sang at a funeral.
• I went strawberry picking.
  
• I started a job working in my kids' preschool. While I have years experience teaching preschoolers at my church, working in an actual we ekday preschool was much more different than I anticipated.
  

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

I love to make resolutions! However, due to many years of failure in this department, last year I decided to keep it simple. Forgoing my typical "Lose Weight" and "Be more diligent with my quiet times" I just vowed to be a little more presentable when I left the house. Wear makeup. Try to put myself together a bit. And overall I would say I was successful, with the exception of carpool which I still pretty much do in my pajama pants and slippers. And there was that one incident a couple weeks ago where I actually wore my PJs into Walgreens, but hey, I was sick.

This year, I am going for more simple New Years Resolutions.

• Blog more.
• Facebook/Twitter less. (Maybe not at all, not sure)
  
• Keep my entryway/living room a little more picked up.
• Remove the awful wallpaper that has been on my kitchen walls since we moved in 5 years ago.
• Better follow through on praying for friends.
• Be at least one size smaller by this time next year. Just one size. Surely, I can do that.
  
• Master this darn laptop mouse.
  

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Several people I know at church, and acquaintances but no close friends or family members.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

The Man's grandmother, Hazel, left us this year. It was hard to say goodbye but she was ready to be with her heavenly Father. We rejoice that she is finally now free of pain.

We also lost our old cat, Tigger, after losing his brother the year before.

5. Where did you travel?

We don't travel much and this year was no exception. The furthest we made it from home was our anniversary weekend in Asheville. In fact, other than that the only time we left the state was this week when we rang in the new year with my brother and his family in Greenville, SC.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

A clean house. Not sure I actually managed to have the entire thing clean one time in 2008.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

It's hard to know which memories will last. So much doesn't that you think will.

This week I walked into my sister-in-law's house and was met by my 2-year-old nephew. He looked me in the face and said "Hi!" It s the first time he's ever spoken to me. He and his twin brother are autistic and we have been praying like crazy for them to speak for well over a year. They still have a long way to go but their progress this year has been amazing. I don't think I will ever forget that moment. It felt kind of like I met him for the first time.

Putting Tigger to sleep. He was part of my family before even my husband or children.

We also got a new cat, Kelso, this year which we will no doubt remember, as he will be annoying us for many years to come.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I took over the director position of my 3-year-old choir. I do not have a leader personality and it was extremely nerve wracking for the first couple weeks to be in charge, but now I absolutely love it. Also, in the last couple years I have worked very hard at becoming a better cook.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Honestly, not getting control over my eating/weight.

10. What was the best thing you bought?

Well, right now I am tempted to say this laptop.

11. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Probably this one, because Allie was obsessed with it, which means we heard it 679 times this year.

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

More playing with my kids/taking them to do things. More exercising. More cleaning and therefor more entertaining. More praying.

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

Facebooking. Chauffeuring. Eating. Yelling.

14. What was your favorite TV program?

Most of my series disappointed me this year so Probably, So You Think You Can Dance. I also really loved watching previous seasons of 30 Rock and Battlestar Galactica on DVD. And Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog online.

15. What was your favorite movie?

Ummm, can I use Dr Horrible for this category too? No? OK, probably Juno.

16. What was the best book you read?

I read a lot of mediocre books this year and very few memorable ones. I would say my favorites were probably The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I also really enjoyed The Host by Stephanie Meyer for a light and fluffy diversion. Although I may be the only person who preferred this book to her crazy popular Twilight series.

17. What one thing would have made your year measurably more satisfying?

A maid.

A maid, especially a live-in one, would have made my year measurably more satisfying.

18. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Personal Fashion Concept? Bwahahaha I guess it would be "I wonder if I can still fit into this?"

19. What kept you sane?

Prayer. Coffee. Friday nights with my girlfriends. Coffee. My husband. Wednesday morning Bible Study. And Coffee.

20. Who did you miss?

My brother and his family moved to Greenville and while we still see them fairly often, I really miss having regular playdates with my nieces.

21. Who was the best new person you met?

When I started teaching choir I was assigned several helpers who are all wonderful. But I have been particularly blessed by the friendship that formed with one of them. Each week I feel like she encourages and blesses me and it has been an honor to get to know her.

22. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2007

I am incredibly blessed. This is something I have given lip service to for years. I have a great marriage and four healthy kids. I live in the United States, for goodness sakes; of course I am blessed. But over the course of this year I made a conscious decision to try to grumble less and notice the beauty in my life more. I'd be lying if I said I was overwhelmingly successful. I still grumble a good bit. But I can honestly say that more than ever before I stop and notice the beauty contained in everyday moments. And I must say blogging has helped this more than any other tool.

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

Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
~Casting Crowns

And that concludes the worlds longest meme. God Bless you if you made it to the end. It took me nearly all day to complete so I won't tag anyone but if you are one of the three people left in the blogosphere that hasn't done a 2008 Reflections post feel free to tag yourself for all or part of it. I'd love to read it and I think next year, you will be glad you did.