{2012} Year in Review.

What a year it's been! Praise God for another year of life on Earth. It's has not been the most craziest as far as events in my life, but it certainly has been one of laughter, trials, maturity, and personal growth. Here's a brief recap. 
WARNING #1: it won't be boring, but it certainly won't be the bombdotcom because Blogger is being a loserface and won't let me upload the post with awesome pics so you'll have to do without them for now. I might add them later. 
WARNING #2: Have a sense of humor when reading this. Please.
Ok, here's the recap sans visuals:

January: Rang in the new year with friends in Nashville! Friend's baby was born and how stinking adorable is she. Back to teaching my third grade kiddos and finish out the school year strong. Also, developed a "post-infection cough" that lasted months. 
February: My workaholic butt was focused on school. Spent Valentines' Day with my awesome roomie by ordering greasy pizza, drinking sodas, watching "Crazy Stupid Love" starring dreamy Mr. Gosling. And graded lots of papers.
March: Spring break in Chicago with some college friends. Love love love that city so much. I would live there in a heartbeat. So certain I am a city girl as I cried all the way home.
April: Is the school year over yet? Nope. It's TCAP time in Tennessee! Springtime allergies were not as bad as I've previously experienced...then again I previously lived in the allergy capital of the country. Got some free dinners via dates. A girl's gotta eat. Nashville half marathon that I didn't run, but helped with a surprised engagement, saw Sheryl Crow cross the half finish line (get it girl), and yelled "Shaytards!" to my favorite YouTube family Shay & Colette Butler. Best marathon I never ran.
May: Holy crapoly, the school year is over! My first (second if you include intern year) school year is over! College friend's wedding. Thank goodness for two months of summer vacation!
June: And by vacation, I mean exploration. This is probably the month I liked the most out of the entire year. Sure, I didn't travel. I didn't go to the beach. I certainly didn't win the lottery. But I did move into my own place, began changing my body by treating it better, discovered a love for running & exercising, cooked really healthy & delicious full meals for myself, and did grown-up things independently. Things like what? Set up wireless internet for my home, setting up cable on my own, paying my own rent/internet/phone/cable/electricity/credit card/doc/dentist bills. I apparently had money to blow. My brother turned 9. 9?! Yes, 9! We made a day out of it, and of course he got spoiled like old milk.
July: College friend's wedding. The fourth in Nashville with friends. 24th birthday with friends! (Finally) joined New Vision! Aaaand teacher in-services, AKA the beginning of another awesome school year!
August: The beginning of another school year! Was still really anxious to meet my twenty 3rd graders and their families! What a great group I have this year! Started a small group with the college ministry; hosting some college girls at my place weekly for Bible Study. Also, got involved with the preschool ministry.
September: Teacher friend's wedding. And everyone's pregnant at work! Woot woot. More adorable babies for me to hold and take cute pics of. More school, nose to the grindstone now.
October: Really ain't playing when I say I'm a workaholic. So glad to see Fall Break roll around. I enjoyed every minute of it by lesson planning on the couch.
November: Observations were a success! Hours of lesson planning are starting to pay off! Still going strong with running. 
December: I put up my ghetto Christmas tree in my classroom. It got knocked down approximately 10 times, but whatevs. The rest of my room looked festive! School holiday partay! Got ornaments and chocolates galore. Chattanooga day with my brother. Saw penguins, seahorses, and jellyfish. Christmas time. iPad mini is my new addiction. Deciding on goals for 2013. 

So here's to 2012! You were awesome. Here are 12 things I learned in '12:

• Yep, teaching is still my passion. I think teachers (especially elementary school teachers) have the best career that can only be described as incredibly exhausting, testing of one's patience, underestimated, the best, the worst, and the most rewarding. 
• Independence. Not only can I install modems, routers, and wireless connections on my own, I can also pay my own bills, spend a whole day in Nashville by myself, wake up at 7AM for a solo run, and cook dinner for one. That's not to say I'm being a hermit and not wanting friends. But after so many wonderful memories with friends and amazing couples, I learned that I am content with doing things independently. I don't always need mom and dad, Siri, or a guy I'm dating to help me or make me feel okay. Although, sometimes my home girl Siri and I have fun times together.
• I enjoy running. A year ago I would have laughed at myself so hard if I said that. But no, I really have enjoyed it, and hoping to run more next year! I love the physical and mental challenge of running. I love feeling and being healthier after each mile. I love the freedom that comes with running. More importantly, it's taught me how far I can push myself and to not quit just because I feel it's too hard, it's too hot, or I'm too sweaty. 
• I enjoy cooking. Yep. The girl who had Lean Cuisines and Ramen in college has ventured out into cooking. Healthy cooking at that! I love salmon, tortellini, spinach, quinoa...things that take time and energy to make. But I love cooking. What I don't like is the gazillion leftovers I have.
• I'm growing further and further apart from friends I used to be close to. Isn't that a sad reality for many post grads? It's no one's fault. It's just that I don't do life in the same circles my college friends do life. We are not in college anymore. We don't live in the same city anymore. We don't have the same career/life focuses anymore. I just wish that we would at least try to catch up. Time isn't slowing down. A phone call, a text, a card in the mail, an email, or a lunch makes such a difference. So let's take 10 minutes from our current life circles and catch up with that friend back in college to make ourselves laugh and feel really old.
• New York or Chicago, I would move to you in a heartbeat. That has never changed. 
• The year of weddings and babies. I realized this year I know more couples who had/are having babies than had/are getting married. Chances are, if you're reading this and out of college you are in one of two categories: you are married/has babies now or will really soon OR you are the few left standing that everyone is trying to set up on a date.
• I'm really competitive. Examples: running, board games, class Box Tops collections, iPad/iPhone games, Scramble with Friends, Song Pop...
• My brother is the best. He's so crazy and outgoing...so not like me when I was a kid. While I was the shy and quiet one at a restaurant, he's the one asking the server what's on the dessert menu and if he could have more honey mustard for the fifth time. 
• I am very thankful for my health. After a rough start to the year with bronchitis and asthma-like symptoms, I know it's so important to take care of my physical, mental, and emotional health.
• A home church is essential. My faith is the reason I get up in the mornings. I am so thankful to have a place where I am free to worship, where I can listen to my pastor share God's Word, and where I can serve my time.
• I quit my addiction to caffeine! This summer in my junk food cleanse, I decided to give up my Diet Coke and coffee every morning. I definitely didn't need it this summer as I didn't have to get up before the sun. Then, I realized it was a mental thing most of the time. I still have coffee every once in a while, probably once or twice a week. I rarely drink Diet Coke now. Some coffee every now and then has some health benefits! :)

I am looking forward to 2013 to say the least!
 

22 thank you's.

In honor of Thanksgiving, I give you 22 Thank You's.

1. Thank you, God. You've always known and will know what is best for Your Kingdom. I praise you for all the goodness, trials, and pain in my life. Always.
2. Thank you, Jesus for your love & sacrifice. You are amazing. I pray that more people would come to know you.
3. Thank you, family. You are there for me even when I need you less as an adult now. Know that you are always on my mind. I wouldn't be the person I am today without the roots I grew up with. 
4. Thank you, home. You keep my heart & head calm at the end of a busy day. You are so inviting & comfy. You give me and my friends fun memories.
5. Thank you, church. As a young adult, it can be hard to find a strong & consistent place of worship. It can be difficult to find a church in a new city. You reflect Christ's love so well in our city.
6. Thank you, Pastor Brady, for being a strong leader in the church & our city. I look forward to every sermon on Sundays because you're so real with your words & love of God. 
7. Thank you, UT. My college days have shaped me to be the person I am today. Thank you for the academic experience, as well as the relationships with individuals I would have probably never met without my time here.
8. Thank you, my kids. There are so many days that I wake up stressed or not wanting to get up and start a full day. You make it worth it. I love seeing all 20 of your faces in the morning five days a week for nearly ten months a year. Never stop learning and challenging yourself.
9. Thank you, fellow teachers, for your advice, inspiration, & guidance. I learn so much from you about classroom instruction, working in a school, and how to live life to the fullest.
10. Thank you, Dimples. For almost ten years, you've been my car that has taken me through some of life's greatest journeys. From my tear-filled trip to Knoxville as a freshman in the fall, leaving home, to my tear-filled trip to M'boro, leaving my college home, as a grown-up. From my first car accident to my first speeding ticket, you've been there. From road trips to Atlanta, Chicago, & D.C., you've let me see people and sights I'll never forget. 
11. Thank you, running. Some days I love you, few days I despise you. You keep me coming back for more each time. Thank you for giving me an outlet to let myself experience freedom & power in my body & soul I never knew I had. Thank you for pushing me to the limits I once laughed at.   
12. Thank you, clean water. When I was teaching my kids about environmental conflicts/problems in our world, they & I realized that we're very grateful for being able to get water to drink with just a turn of the knob on the sink. 
13. Thank you, doctors, nurses, & other medical specialists. With the health issues I've experienced this past year, I am thankful that you have the knowledge, skills, & experience to help so many individuals heal physically, mentally, & emotionally. Thank you for your long hours & patience.
14. Thank you, individuals in the armed forces. I live in such an amazing & free country because of your work & dedication. 
15. Thank you, any adults who are parents. You do so much for your children. Thank you for trusting them with their teachers who nurture them & teach them as much as they can.  
16. Thank you, former students. You are so sweet to remember your "old" teacher. You may think I encourage you, but I think you're so inspiring as well. Your letters, hugs, & visits make me love teaching even more because being a teacher is more than learning academics. It's about building those strong relationships. 
17. Thank you police officers & firefighters. You do so much in my community. Thank you for keeping me, my family, & my friends safe & protected.
18. Thank you, Bible. Your Word is essential in my life & so many others.   
19.  Thank you, New York City. You're so beautiful. Ever since my first visit with my parents in 2001 a week before 9/11, I knew you'd always have a special place in my heart. I love your excitement & calmness, your diversity & unity. I will see you again.
20.  Thank you, Jimmy Fallon. You have given me so many laughs. Thanks to DVR, I can watch last night's episode when I come home from a 12-hour day. You're so funny. I will have to see your show live one day.
21. Thank you, comfy couch & bed. You are perfect when I am tired, sick, or just needing a chance to chill. Thank you for letting me rest & gather up my thoughts. 
22. Thank you, children's book authors. You bring so much joy & interest to children. Your stories are loved & cherished by so many. You help those who cannot read well to challenge themselves because they love the stories you write.