Out With the Old – 2009

Before we kick 2009 to the curb completely, can we just take a moment?  Jenni’s flash of brilliance inspired me to put together a ‘year in review’ post. Unfortunately, she didn’t have said flash of brilliance until 10pm last night, giving me very little time to copy her idea write my own.

Also like Jenni, this post is for me.  You may find it a tad narcissistic ho-hum.  If so, feel free to nod your head patronizingly and move on.

JANUARY – Began an insane amount of time in the car – 18 trips a week to two different schools – 200 miles each week. I chronicled the insanity here.  My master husband didn’t like that my blogging began to suffer.

• Favorite post – ‘Sin in Heaven’

FEBRUARY – Unremarkable.

• Favorite post – ‘Spin Has NEVER Thought of Me as Cheap. Until Now.’

MARCH – My first tattoo!!! The key is representative of starting to be who I want to be, establishing some new boundaries in my life and maybe a few new secrets.  (I took some judgmental heat for it, but it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.)

• Favorite post – I have two. Sue me. ‘I’ve Seen the Future. It’s Not Pretty.’ and  ‘Hamned Damster, Meet the Damned Dogs’

APRIL – Mexico with my freaky internet friends.  Enough said.

• Favorite post – (In which I prove the sheer scope of my own limitations and the power of social networking.) ‘Bobbity-Boo, Baby’

MAY – Homeschool: It. Is. Finished. And it was hard won.

• Favorite post – Again, two four. (I was high as a kite in May!)  ‘Is It That Time of the Year AGAIN?’ ‘It Would Be One Thing If It Was Med-School.’ ‘I Have No Idea Where He Got His Mouth.’ ‘I Guess I’m Not All That.’

JUNE – I am livin’ HIGH.  No more teaching, no summer planning – just a wide open expanse of free time!  I also got my second tattoo.

• Favorite post – ‘I Thought I Had Him’

JULY – Sudden life change has me floundering a bit.  Mix that with a busy month of travel and blogging begins to become something of an effort.

• Favorite posts – Something of a ‘month in review’ post – ‘Um.. Hi?…. Hello?…. Is This Thing On??’

AUGUST – The kids start private school.  They’re gone all day and I don’t know exactly what to do with myself.  Too much time on my hand leads me to no other option but explore why I am so bothered.  Something of a depression ensues. I only posted 3 times in August.

• Favorite post – ‘I Need A Flame Retardant Turtleneck.’

SEPTEMBER – Two posts this month?!  I have lost. my. mojo.  But I am beginning the ‘work’ of a lifetime.

• Favorite post – ‘It Wasn’t A Compliment At All.’

OCTOBER – Rough.  Lots of heart change – huge investment, not the least of which was time.  Blogging wasn’t a priority.

• Favorite post – Ironic. There was only one post to choose from.  Nothing really ‘favorite’ about it.  ‘Change.’

NOVEMBER – Started to get myself back. But not exactly thrilled about the pending Holidays.

• Favorite posts – ‘What I Didn’t Say At The Thanksgiving Table – ’09.’

DECEMBER – Freedom.  I’ll never be the same.  It’s not so much that I’m different, as much as I have decided to live out loud.  A little more cynical, yes, but also a lot more free.  Sweet relief in Jesus.  The holidays were hard. But I gave myself the best gift of all by maintaining my boundaries and staying true to myself.

• Favorite post – ‘The List’ ‘Problem? What Problem? I Don’t Have a Problem.’ And finally, proof that I am back? ‘frum the dammed dogs’

GAH, what a year.  It was neither all good, nor all bad – but, praise Almighty God, is is all over.

To 2009, I say “goodbye”, “good riddance”,

‘Hit. the. road!

And don’t. trample. the pansies!’

(Can you name the movie?)