Reflection

Wow, what happened to 2010?! I am trying figure out where this year went! This year had a lot of ups and downs. So many lessons learned. So many amazing experiences.

Best moments of 2010:
*A week of hiking and sunbathing in Maui * Replacing my carpet. Falling in love * Lots of time with family * Thanksgiving with Scott & Amber * Birth of Baby Girl Catherine * Dying my Hair red * Trying new things: rock climbing, moab, wakeboarding, cooking * Sister sleepovers. Playing soccer mom for a week * Getting covered in colored chalk * Getting my new camera * Decorating my house with my personality * A week in California with cousins * Traveling the Oregon Coast * Getting to my Goal Weight * Relaxing in the Tetons * My mom getting a teaching job * Conference calling with my whole family * Roommate Reunion * Hiking in Moab * Fall Colors * Turning a Quarter of a Century * A Girly Christmas * Teaching Sunbeams * Sarah coming home * Enjoying Tulips at SLC Temple *

Worst moments of 2010:
Death of my puppy Buddy * Saying Goodbye to Scott & Amber * Getting my heart broken--this was the worst* Long recovery with Lasik * Lots of challenges and changes at work*

Greatest accomplishment of 2010:
*Stepping up to the new responsibilities at work--and only half losing my mind * Getting down to goal weight * Taking a step forward with my shattered heart * Stepping up to new experiences and opportunities *

Scariest Moments of 2010:
* Applying to grad school * Discovering my eyeballs do not like lasers * Opening my heart * Taking on another big responsibility at work *

Favorite Hobbies:
* Officially creating my craft room * Sewing quilts * Painting * Healthy Cooking * Baking * Way to Many new Books to Read *

New Favorites of 2010:
* Chocolate Covered Cinnamon Bear* Wakeboarding * Sleeping * Raise your glass by Pink * Zumba * Shopping * Amazon * Tangled * Grey's Anatomy * Tyger Tyger * My Blend-tec Mixer * How to Train Your Dragon * Birthmarked * Leverage * Body Finder * Fallen * Torment * Paranormalcy * Fancy Scrubs *

Biggest thing I learned about myself in 2010:
* I am stronger than I think I am * Patience is not my strong point, but after must testing it is better * Life is not in my control--but I think that's a good thing * My Faith is deep and root in the gospel * I am not afraid to try new adventures even if they scare me *

This year has been great. I have done a lot. Learned a lot. You should see the plans I have for 2011!!

Christmas

I was actually looking forward to sleeping in on Christmas morning. Yeah, it didn't happen. At 0545 Santa came to visit and we called Kevin. Kevin is still Kevin. I miss and love that boy. What would we do without technology though? The girls, parents, and I surrounded the computer, with Mark in Arizona on speaker phone, and Scott in Wisconsin on speaker phone. We chatted like that for over an hour. Getting the updates and exciting events of Christmas Day from all over the world. To me that was the highlight of the day. My whole family connected by technology--no wonder I have an obsession with it :D

After talking the girls and I headed to the living room with the Big Christmas Tree. Kalli passed out the presents and we went to town. We were spoiled this year. I got the ultimate battery pack, knifes--yes I am SOOOO excited about these--an endless amount of cookie cutters, and cookie popper, and of course an orange!

Being the vampire I am, 0545 was just to early--so I crashed hard after a waffle breakfast. I woke up to my mom playing with her cricut. Yes, much fun will happen with that in the future. Christmas was spent chilling. Games were played. Mariokart was tackled. Naps were taken. Food was eaten. Overall, I love Christmas. I can't believe its over already!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a different kind of celebration this year. Mostly because half of my family was gone. Scott, Amber, Weston, and Catherine are in Wisconsin. Kevin and his missionary self in Brazil. Mark in Arizona, with Heather his cute girlfriend. Needless to say the house was quieter than it has been in past Christmas celebrations.

The girls and I still had a party though. We chatted with the other Elmer girls Karlie, Kyra, and Jessie via skype. Drank our must tradidtional Eggnog. And tried something new this year. Dani gave me a book for my birthday on how to make creative cake pops. We tried this new adventure for our Christmas Eve fun. Oh the fun we had.

After laughing hysterically at our white volcano trees, we sat down to watch the best Christmas Movie ever! The Muppet Christmas Carol. I have watched this every Christmas Eve I can remember. Still makes me laugh. Rizzo is by far one of the best characters. The Muppets are a huge part of Christmas for me. Its no Christmas until I hear their wacky songs and watch that amazing movie.

The girls and I didn't catch Santa. We all passed out on the couch watching Gilmore Girls. We had an exciting phone call in the morning. :D Oh how I love Christmas.

Dear Santa

Thank you for the presents last year. You gave me a lot of experiences to help me see just how blessed I am. I've been helped and been able to help. Thank you for guiding me through this year. I've stepped up to the experiences and challenges. Seen miracles happen, learned to cope with goodbyes, healed from a broken heart, tried new experiences, and even found time to enjoy the sun.

Santa, I still need your help. I've grown since I last wrote you. I still believe in you. But I still can't do everything on my own. I know you work closely with the One who can see the whole picture. Would you help me with a few gifts this year? I promise to give a few back.

* The world is huge and I still need to see it. I've got SOOOOOO many trips planned. Will you help me find people to travel with AND to figure out how to pull them all off?!

* I would REALLY like to get into Grad School. I just turned 25 and decided it was time I grew up and made my dream a reality. So if you could send the letter of acceptance I would REALLY appreciate it.

* My craft room has been severely neglected this year. I have all sorts of fabric, wooden cutouts, paper, a cricut, and flowers that need to be used. My creative brain needs to used before I completely lose it.

* Oh and if you send elves my way to help keep my house clean I won't complain.

* I would really love to run a half marathon without dying and become a Zumba Champion. Something about being healthy I think might help me.

* Okay I am not a cook, I LOVE to bake. I can bake but cannot cook. I'll try but if you will magically sprinkle something on my food to make it taste good--it would be appreciated.

* Last one--if you could just help make me a better daughter, sister, co-worker, home-owner, friend, student, leader, and woman, I could use it.

Santa lets face it, I don't have much to give. Well not much to compare to anyway. But I can give you these:

* Again my promise to never give up. To not back down from the challenges thrown into my life. Because despite what I think I know, I know squat.

* I promise to spend more time being quiet. Taking the time to think and rest. To shut out the world and be still. My brain will have a hard time with this--trust me.

* I promise to take better care of myself. By sleeping, exercising, and eating something beside chocolate covered cinnamon bears and cheerios.

* I promise not to loose hope. Especially in one particular dream. I will just put in on the back burner somehow. For the time being. But I'm not going to wait. I will create and focus on a few different ones.

I've had a great year Santa. Thanks for keeping my dreams alive! I can't wait to see what you bring me. I promise to leave all those sorts new treats and milk for you. By the way my tree is in my room this year. Needed to bring the Christmas feel into my room a bit.

Thanks Santa,

Love,

Melissa

Twenty-Five

I can't believe I am 25 today. For the most part I don't feel like it. Most of the time I still think I'm 21 and barely there. I'm still trying to figure out what happened to the last few years. 25 use to be a concept I didn't understand, those who were 25 are suppose to wise, mature, and experienced. HAHAHAHAHA, sorry I can't help at laugh. I'm no where near those things. to be honest I don't think I've grown up past 16 in many ways. I remember time moving SLOWLY as a kid. Now I would love to go back to that feeling. I've thought back a lot lately about where I wanted to be when I was 25. Its almost comical really, life is so much different. I was suppose to have my master's completed, be married, beginning my organization, owning a house, having a kid. Yeah my original plan has changed just a little bit. I've traveled around the world, worked up to a Charge Nurse in the ER, been thrown into situations I didn't know I could handle, learned to stand up for myself, bought my own townhouse, done things I never thought I would, recovered from a broken heart, met some amazing people who have opened my eyes, had my faith tested and strengthen, and learned just how strong I am. Its amazing what can happen in 25 years of life. Yeah I'm still getting use to saying that.

How does one celebrate turning a quarter of a century? I don't know. To be honest it really hasn't processed how old that is. 25. Wow. I wanted this birthday to be big, epic, life changing. Hahaha but like most of my grand ideas, I dialed them back a bit.

The celebrations began with lunch with some great friends from work. By some miracle of miracles we all had an afternoon where we could get together. P.F. Changs seemed like the perfect place to do that--plus its my favorite restaurant. We talked, laughed, and honestly had the most fun I've had in a while. How could I not being surrounded by woman I look up to. They all went around the table and told me about their first impressions--I loved the contrast. Half of them said I was intimidating, half said I was a quiet mouse. Just reminds me how much I've changed. The basic core is still there but I've become so much more confident and secure of myself. After stuffing myself with to the point of explosion--they brought out my dessert shot. Red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. YUMMY. Plus this Wall of Chocolate cake--seriously it was delicious and chocolaty. I love these girls.

The celebrations continued with a viewing of Tangled. After hearing all the raved reviews, Kristi, Kalli, Dani, Nicki, Vivian, and I met up and watched it in 3D. I got into it as much as the little girls did. Such a cute, honest, funny, and entertaining movie. The animation was incredible. Rapunzel had my heart from the beginning. Plus what girl doesn't want her hair. Nothing like a girls night out.

Nothing screams birthday like heading home though. After a mariokart tournament--I got my butt creamed--my siblings and I watched movies. Well, I watched movies, they all passed out. My parents got me pots and pans--which I love. Hahaha you can tell you're getting older when you get excited over pots and pans and spatulas.

I've been shopping for a while and complete spoiled myself this year. Among the objects and presents, I've given myself time to tackle all my craft projects that have been neglected. I love doing that stuff! Overall, great birthday. Now on to tackle the next quarter of a century!! Any Ideas how??!