Just typing that title makes me laugh, and that is why I titled it this. You see, a couple of years back, my supervisor - the Director of HR - asked if I could send out some meeting requests for "year end reviews". Well, I did. Then, I realized that I sent out meeting requests for "Rear End Reviews". Yes, that actually happened. Spell check didn't catch it because "rear" is a word and it's not misspelled. We were cracking up. I told her that was taking the review to a whole other level and I wouldn't be surprised if people declined her request. hahahaha.... Okay, I digress before I'm even started.
So, I looked back at my goals for 2011 and thought to myself that 2011 has ended up being a year where I personally accomplished more than I thought possible. I pushed myself harder than I thought I could, and honestly, harder than I ever wanted to, and the rewards for that were great.
I started the year off one or two days into home ownership. Tomorrow, actually, will be one full year since I closed on the house. I remember walking out of that title place, and it was after 6 in the evening, and about to rain, holding this huge packet with copies of my paperwork, and more sets of keys than I ever thought I'd need, and being almost in a state of disbelief. I was a homeowner. Holy moly. JD and I were leaving the apartment, where I had spent the last almost seven years, and starting a new chapter in our lives. Needless to say, we had a bunch of stuff to get down the stairs, and into moving trailers, first. ha! I had the most wonderful friends show up and we were moved across town by 10:30 that night - never to look back. From time to time, I pass by those old apartments and it really does almost seem like we never even lived there - like we've been in our home forever. I absolutely LOVE my house. I don't even mind having to take the trash out. All those things I thought I'd look forward to before we moved in, don't compare to the feeling of actually living here. Okay, enough waxing poetic about my house. =)
Work, this year, was crazy busy the entire year. It really never felt like we had down time. It was a huge transition for me, because we changed up some things in our department, and one of my favorite people moved away. I'll be honest - and this isn't too nice of me. I was pretty sure that absolutely nobody we hired would fill the void that I felt when Kevin left. He made me laugh, is my birthday twin (he's seven years older, but we share a birthday), annoys me like an older brother, and although I knew he had been given a great opportunity at one of our sister companies, I selfishly didn't want him to leave. So, in Spring, when we hired this woman - who shares my name of all things - seriously, is there enough room in our office for two Kims? - I wasn't quite sure of how she would fit in. And she loves to hug...no, y'all...I mean spontaneous, squeeze the breath out of you and doesn't even know you, yet, hug. It startled me. I told her. She told me she would break me of that and I would be a hugger. I told her good luck. You know what? She was impossible not to like. I mean impossible. It doesn't take but just a little bit of time with her to know that she is one of the most genuine people you will ever meet. She laughs with an abandon that I sometimes wish I had, hugs people tight (but not everyone - she is professional), can be a bit talky (really, I'm not judging here, I'm talky), and at the end of the day only wants the best for the people she knows. We get along famously. When she is not there, I miss her. She sits right across from me, so we look at each other every minute of every day. Of all the people I've met this year, she is the one I am most thankful for having been given the opportunity to share in her life. I don't just say that. She was a reminder to me, from God, that things don't always work the way we want them, but sometimes a new opportunity comes along and in that you can grow in ways you never imagined.
My former co-worker and still friend, Kevin, is the reason I found myself pushing myself physically harder than I ever imagined. In April, when he was diagnosed with cancer, I found myself feeling this incredible sense of helplessness. I mean, they had just moved away, and although I'm not a hugger (even after all of Kim's attempts, I'm still not a huge hugger to everyone), I wanted nothing more than to hug him and his wife and their daughter. Instead, I told him and his wife that I would run the half marathon with her in their honor. Y'all know the story by now, but when November 5th rolled around, I could hardly believe that I was in that moment. I couldn't believe that in six months I went from not being a runner at all, to running a half marathon. It was absolutely one of the things in my life that I will be proudest to have accomplished. It taught me that I really could achieve goals that I set for myself. I mean goals that I never imagined. Truly...me? A runner? That is just hilarious. HI-LAR-IOUS. It still seems surreal. I proudly placed that 13.1 magnet on the back on my car...and my refrigerator...and in my cubicle (yes, I bought three), and realized that I really can push myself to things I didn't think possible. If you have never trained for something like that, let me tell you, some of my best talking to the Lord came in those moments. When you are by yourself, nature around you, sometimes in pain, calling out on the Lord just seems natural. =) I'm pretty sure I listened to How Great Thou Art for an entire 90 minute run one day. You know what? He is amazingly great. Then sings my soul... My friend is cancer free. Thank you, Lord.
Did I mention that I became the mother to a teenager? No, seriously. A teenager. Crazy, huh? JD turned 13 in September. He is several inches taller than I am (although I tried in vain to deny that for many months), and makes me realize everyday how quickly life is going by. When we went to Disney, I had a proud mama moment. It was late, everyone is wanting a seat on the bus back to the room, and we were first in line. We sat down, the bus fills up, and in walks this lady carrying a small child. Without even thinking about it, JD stands up and gives her his seat. Yeah, I'm not going to lie, sitting there in the dark, I teared up. The lady commented on how nice of a young man he is and then turned to me and said he must have had some good raising. I told her that I didn't think I could take credit for all of that. Truly. He is a wonderful person in his own right. I know I'm kind of biased. I'm willing to admit that, but hey, the truth is the truth.
So, I said that Kim was the person I was most thankful to meet this year, but there is one person I met, that makes me smile just to think about her. In October, Grace Elizabeth Rogers, made her world debut. That was the last time she didn't have a bow on her head. Have y'all seen the pictures? Um, yeah, she's pretty darn cute. I've had other friends who have had babies, but this was different. See, not only is her mama one of my best friends (benuffles - that is for you, Mallory), but we work together. Not just for the same company, but in the same area of the building, behind a door you have to badge into, so not many people head up our way. haha! I was able to share, on a daily basis, the miracle of her development. From the time we found out she was on the way, until her birth, which seemed at least twice as long as normal...ha, I was blessed to be able to enjoy each step of the process. I will be honest here. I have never had baby fever. Probably about the time I would have wanted another child, I was getting a divorce, and since then - well, let's just say, that I have solely focused on the one I was blessed with. I still don't have baby fever, but if there ever was a baby who would help push that along, Grace is the one. Just thinking of her makes me smile.
Speaking of babies...hint hint...and life changing events. My younger sister, Mae-Beth, got married this year. It's no secret that her husband is my favorite. I mean, how can he not be? He makes lumpia. If you are unsure what lumpia is, well, you are missing out. More than that, he and his beautiful son, Julian, make her happy. His family loves my sister, they think she is a blessing to Scott and Julian, and they tell her that. It is nothing less than she deserves. No, she is not having a baby, yet, but I'm sure that when that day comes, I will be over the moon with excitement. I couldn't have chosen a more perfect fit for her...and that he came with one of the cutest, sweetest, children you will ever meet in your life, was just a bonus.
Last for this blog, but not least....I started going back to school. This is something I have been putting off for a long time, and I'm so glad that I finally just bit the bullet and did it. I was so nervous. I actually had a nervous stomach on the first day of class, and they are online courses. Seriously. Now, into my second semester, I'm realizing that this is a great decision. This is going to give to only benefit me and JD in the long run. I made A's the first semester, and I'm on track to do the same this semester. This is going to be a two year process, but at the end of it, I will have my degree. By the way, all those dual enrollment courses I took in high school, really came back to help me. They still count and that put me ahead of the gang towards getting my degree.
I'm sure I'll write another blog - with goals for 2012 sometime in the next couple of days, but for now, JD and I have been watching NCIS on DVD, and this is getting good. Plus, he's putting in to get hibachi for dinner, so I'm going to need to get ready for that. =)
This is a beautiful life.
