2010 in Review

I feel like 2010 was a big year for me.  It started out pretty rough, with anxiety, loneliness, and winter blues, but thankfully got better as time went on.  I hope and pray that 2011 will continue to look up.

Thank you, Jesus, for making all things work together for my good!  It is all because of You.  Thank you for all the opportunities I had in 2010, I pray that I would never take them for granted!

2010:

I faced life without my Dad.  It was the first new year that was brought in without him.  The first full year without him.  I wasn’t able to wish him a Happy Birthday or Happy Anniversary for the first time.  I mourned the 1-year anniversary of his death and the next day, I celebrated another birthday without him. I will never grasp the depths of losing him.  Not even close.  I missed him more than words could ever express.

Due to the above, I battled anxiety and started taking anti-depressant/anti-anxiety meds for the first time in my life.  I am happy to say that I have recently decreased my dose and am only on 10 mg now.  I am doing a lot better and would love to be completely off the meds soon.  It’s been a roller coaster of emotions.

In 2010, I made a lot of big purchases.

Bought my second car, a Civic Hybrid, and put a TON of miles on it already.

A new camera- my first dSLR.  What fun it has been!

A new computer, to keep up with my photography.

A new bike, and thus a new hobby.

I celebrated 4 years with my boyfriend and made so many great memories with him throughout the year.

My little brother graduated High School.  What?!!!

Celebrated the release of my boyfriend’s first album with John Tibbs.

I turned 22 years old and got baptized.

We said goodbye to my Dad’s cat, as she got sick. R.I.P. Lucky.

I visited the Atlantic side of Florida and had such an amazing time with my cousins and Ryan.  I would go back in a heartbeat.

Got a new kitten and watched her grow into a Brat Cat.  :)

Rode a horse for the first time in 10 years.

Learned photography and started doing photo shoots for other people. (Not only did I take this family’s photos, but I also started babysitting for them!)

Let my hair grow out from Spring to Winter.

Became addicted to coffee.

Survived and thrived in Organic Chemistry, my most feared class.  Completed 32 credit hours of college classes with a 4.0, even with my anxiety.

I think there were a lot of firsts this year. . .

First time to the Atlantic side of Florida.  First time in Alabama.  First time I saw an alligator in the wild.  First time I boogie boarded.  First time in a corn maze.  First time to decorate a gingerbread house.  First time I was behind the camera on a photo shoot.  First time I ate a Japanese restaurant.  First time I saw a movie in 3D.  First time on a train.  First time I ate at a restaurant on Thanksgiving.  First blogger meet-up.  First photo shoot.  First facial.

What will 2011 hold?  I pray for joy and contentment.  I’ll admit, I may be a little impatient this year, as it’s my last year as a undergraduate student and I HOPE my last year away from Ryan.