Happy New Years!

Happy New Year Everybody.

I didn’t send out Christmas cards this year, but I wanted to do a little year in review for 2008. Let me sum up the year in one word- BUSY! Did you catch that? Busy!

I started the year taking 2 classes at ACC while waiting to get accepted into the Physical therapist assistant program. While doing that I had 4 jobs- I “babysat” 15 hours a week for another ACC student who needed help remember to go to class and do homework. I babysat adorable infant twins in the Pflugerville Ward once a week for a couple hours for about a month to give the mom a break. I also rated English Proficiency Exams online for ACTFL from home. I also continued to teach Body Flow at Gold’s Gym twice a week. I guess I just didn’t know how to be normal and in the summer had 3 jobs. I kept Body Flow and ACTFL, dropped my babysitting jobs, and picked up working PRN (as needed) as an Administrative Assistant for my old job at Odyssey Hospice. It is a lot of fun to be able to pick and choose hours and be very flexible.

I was also busy being the Relief Society President (the women’s organization at church) till May. I was blessed with that calling for just over 2 years. It was a delight and I know I am the person I am today because of it. People asked me if I suddenly had all this time on my hands once I was done with that. Time? What time? I believe that when it comes to taking care of God’s business, He expands your time! He sure blessed me with all the capacity to do everything that needed to be done in ever aspect of my life. I did feel very ackward on Sunday having no meetings all day before 2:30 church. But I have since filled that time up again with my new calling. I am a ward missionary now. I have had the cool opportunity of teaching some recent converts new member lessons. Sometimes I think- why am I teaching them, I get so much more learning from these awesome sisters with new powerful testimonies! This new calling has stretched me, but if I learned anything being Relief Society President it is that when God gives you a job to do, it is possible to do it, so jump on in!

A not so fun part of 2008 has been back problems. In March I saw a chiropractor for low back pain. I finally stopped going in August when I was no better. In October I started seeing a physical therapist with some improvement. Then this month I started seeing a more specialized PT to try out some McKenzie techniques. Looks like I am having some problems with a disc that just doesn’t want to heal. It is a slow process, but at least today I think I am progressing. Enough about that, this back has taken more money and time away from me, it doesn’t need any more attention!

Fun stuff this year? Oh yeah, why not make my schedule more busy? I went to Utah 3 times this year. First I went in February for my cousin’s sealing to her husband in the Mt. Timp Temple. I returned again in July for a nice three week vacation. I spent time in Orem, St. George, drove up to Idaho to visit a friend, and then had my college roommate Christina Russell meet me and we temple hopped. We went to the Salt Lake, Jordan River, Mt. Timp, Provo, and Manti temples in 3 days. What a magnificent experience that was!

More fun? Early this year the New Kids on the Block announced they were releasing a new album and would be touring again. If you were a teenager in the late 80’s or early 90’s you understand the fad. I though okay, this could be fun if they come to Austin. Well, in August my friend Gina Russell and her sister Christine asked if I wanted to go to the concert in San Antonio in October. I thought, sure why not? Well let me tell you, I left San Antonio feeling like a teenager again, I caught the NKOTB bug and am a fan once again. Put your feelings aside about boy bands and I think most would agree they were awesome entertainers. I had a big break between tests in November, so I planned another Utah trip around concert #2 in Salt Lake City. I had just as much fun, maybe even more. I screamed my head off the whole time. This time I was alone, but not really because I became “friends” with the girls on my row. Even better, I got seats near the revolving stage that they appear on in the middle of the concert. PLUS, we got moved even closer when they sang on it. I was literally 3 feet from them. Good times!

I got accepted to the PTA program and rocked my first semester, and didn’t cry until the middle of the semester.

I sang in the Institute talent show with my dad.

I joined the world of blogging and facebook.

I got more in to the Heisman nominations and college football scene than ever before. Gooooo Colt McCoy and Hook’em horns!

I feel for guys, and got my heart broken by guys, and picked myself back up again…

I ran 4 miles straight for the first time ever!

I have the bathroom all to myself now that my brothers are at school.

I’d say it was a year of firsts, and a my theme seemed to be- Bring it! Bring it in school, bring it in my callings, and bring it in my personal life. I told a friend the other day that it is hard being single. But you know what? Life is hard in general and I refuse to let my marital status define me. I expect 2009 to be just as BUSY, that is how I run these days. I hope my theme can be- “Go and do. Come what may and love it!” I hope however that I am never too busy to spend time with the ones I love. I can always make time for that.

I hope 2009 brings you all joy, delightful moments, growth, and love. And may you take life by the horns and say- BRING IT!