2009 Highlights and 2010 Goals

2009 Highlights

• Vacation in FL to visit my father, brothers and nephew. Bob meets Dad for the first time!



• While in FL, we visit Disney together for the first time!



• Made some new, top notch friends



• Spent quality time with our existing, top notch friends
  
  
• Reconnected with some old, top notch friends (thanks Facebook!)
  
  
• We celebrated Bob’s birthday with a semi-dramatic rescue
  
  
• We grew tomatoes
  
  
• We got engaged!
  
  
• We got married!
  
  
• We had a wonderful honeymoon in Aruba . The first time out of the country for both of us. We got passports and everything!
  
  
• Gruxy picked us
  
  
• I started this blog and "met" some cool new people because of it!
  
  
• We enjoyed a wonderful weekend in Oguinquit, ME.
  
  
• My mother-in-law started a new, happier phase in her life
  
  
• My brother is starting a new, healthier phase in his life
  
  
• Bob joined a great new company, his business saw some real growth and he was awarded for his efforts at the end of the year by the owners.
  
  
• Because of our hard work, we paid off a lot of debt and were able to purchase some items that we needed to replace. We were also able to make some donations. Anyone who knows how we’ve struggled the last few years, knows what a big deal all this is for us. My husband is proof that hard work, compassion and persistence pay off.
  
  
• We went to - and fell in love with - San Diego
  
  
• I learned some things from each of my friends – about their lives, and about life in general. And I feel honored that they have shared so much with me.
  
  
• Bob and I officially have a new hobby to enjoy together… photography is so interesting, and so much fun!
  
  
• We enjoyed a lot of New England-y, Rhode Island-y things: The Newport Winter Festival, Iggy’s, apple picking, Pawtuxet Village Arts and Crafts Fair, Jack-O’Lantern Spectacular, Al Forno
  
  
• My company moved into a new, beautiful new office suite
  
  
• I got some really great news at work about some new business coming in, which means tons more growth and exciting new challenges.
  
  
• I got to deliver bonuses to my staff… so much fun!
  
  
• We celebrated my birthday with a weekend in Boston

At the beginning of 2009, Bob sat down with one of the owners of his company to make a list of goals for the year. Recently, he found his list and was so happy to see that he actually achieved everything on it. I know how good that made him feel - to actually see it in writing.

So, I'm taking a page out of his book and making my own list for 2010. These are not resolutions; rather an outline of what I want this year to look like for me personally. How exciting will it be to come back and look at it again at the end of the year and see I've accomplished what's on it?

Things I Hope to Accomplish in 2010

• Learn some new stuff – pottery, drawing, jewelry making, sushi making
  
  
• Get better at photography and Photoshop. Perhaps get my own digital SLR.
  
  
• Get a new (to us) car
  
  
• More blog writing
  
  
• More focus on health – shed pounds, become more flexible, incorporate yoga
  
  
• Attend the Realtor convention again – this time in New Orleans !
  
  
• More hiking
  
  
• More travel

So 2009 was a pretty great year for me personally. I'm so appreciative of every wonderful moment.

Unfortunately, for some people close to me, it wasn't so great. I'm fond of saying that you can basically just choose to be happy or productive or successful. And I do believe that to be the case most of the time... especially when it comes to personal relationships. But sometimes, crappy stuff just happens. Some crappy stuff has happened to some people I love this year. I guess the Universe has to throw you a doozy now and then.

My hope for all of us is that 2010 is full of love, fun, success and peace.