2016 Reflection

1. What do I want to accomplish with 2017?

My CPA license.  Hands down.  

I also want to learn to not let people effect me the way I do... hear me out.  I find that I'm an incredibly giving person.  I'm the first person to volunteer to do things to help people out.  But, I've also found that {people} don't necessarily return the favor.  I end up burdening myself and causing myself undue stress for people that are likely to never return the favor.  

 2. Who surrounds me? Are they positive, do they lift me up? How do they make an impact on my life? How do I impact them? 

I have a very tight bubble.  I'd say maybe three people are really "in" my bubble anymore. And yeah, I think they are an incredible group of individuals who are my biggest support system.  They are the best cheerleaders ever.  

3. Where do I stand?

I'm learning this more & more each day.  Here's what I know... I have a man who loves me unconditionally.  He is my biggest supporter, my best friend, and I never knew love existed until the day he walked into my life.  I have a Mom who is also my best friend, and I wouldn't be 1/2 the person I am today, without her.  I have a career I adore and a team that makes me happy to come to work.  I have worked incredibly hard in both my educational life & my professional life to get this far in my career.  I have a sweet {spoiled} puppy dog who makes me laugh on the daily.  I'm physically and emotionally healthier than I've been since high school.  Every day, I look in the mirror & while I'll likely always see imperfections, I'm learning to love the girl looking back at me.  

And honestly, I'm the best me I can be.  And for that, I'm eternally grateful.

4. What do I need to focus on?

Learning to savor the season.  I'm incredibly blessed & I need to really remember that. The desires of my heart will happen in God's timing.

5. What changes need to happen?

I need to remove the people from my life who are nothing more than acquaintances disguised as friends.  Honestly, I deserve better. 

I need to focus on my health by "creating a plan" and sticking with it.

6. What regrets do I have?

I honestly can't say that I have many regrets as we close out 2016.  I think my biggest regret would be agreeing to Alex's contract assignment.  

I also regret not standing up for myself more.  

7. What have I learned?

I've learned to love me again.  I've learned that my body is a miraculous thing, and should be treated as such with wholesome, clean food.  I've learned that I can't count on people to be {there for me} in the way I need them to be.  I've learned that I really can't hold people to the same standard I hold myself, because I'll likely end up disappointed. 

8. What do I need to learn?

All of the answers on the CPA exam.  :-)  

2016

Y'all.  Can you {BELIEVE} that it's been almost two years since I've updated this little 'ol blog of mine?  I used to really believe that writing my thoughts down on this blog was therapeutic, and then I found that it got to be a bit cumbersome to keep up.  But y'all - it's so fun to look back over the last few years and just see really how much life has changed.

As you all know, 2015 brought about BIG changes in our little world...

January - I moved to NC, to a long term hotel & then to a corporate apartment.
February - Alex & Chloe followed.  We moved from the corporate apartment to a 1 bedroom.
March - Mostly just explored GSO & settled into a new job.  Took a trip to the ocean.
April - Moved AGAIN from a 1 bedroom to a 2 bedroom.
May - Celebrated 32!
June -
July -
August -
September - Got engaged on the swinging bridge at Grandfather Mountain.  Had an extended vacation with my parents at Nags Head (Outer Banks), Grandfather Mountain & Asheville.
October - Celebrated Alex's birthday + our anniversary.
November - Had Thanksgiving, just the two of us.
December -

2016 was a pretty non-eventful year, until the end.  But that's okay.  I've found that I love non-eventful, and I love my little family.

January - A trip to Pittsburgh, PA to welcome in 2016.
February -
March -
April -
May - Surgery!
June - A trip to Canton, OH + Columbus, OH to visit family & friends before Alex left.
July - A trip to Asheville, NC to celebrate the 4th of July and just get away for a bit.
August - Moved from our apartment to a townhouse.  We're {MUCH} happier here!  But, Alex deployed in August too so it was a very bittersweet month.
September - Really focused on adjusted to life without Alex, even if in the short term.
October - Surprised Mom for her birthday.  Celebrated Alex's birthday + our anniversary from a distance.  A 2nd surgery!
November - Celebrated Thanksgiving with my Grandma Taylor.  That's the first time I've spent Thanksgiving with  her since I was 9.
December - Welcomed Alex home for his R&R trip.  Visited Asheville & The Polar Express & The Biltmore.  Then we're heading to Texas for a few days before Alex has to return to finish out his contract.

I'm so looking forward to 2017, to visit Europe with the love of my life, to welcoming him home for good at the end of the summer, and to just settling down & figuring out where God sees our family in 2017 and beyond.

I have big personal plans for 2017, and I can't wait to see them come to fruition.