Year in Review and First Week Happenings

Ok, so I'm finally going to copy my friend Meghan's 2008 questionaire. It's been a bit difficult for me to get back into the swing of things after the extended break. I can't go to bed on time and have to get up early, so I'm exhausted ALL the time. Must get better about that! However, our first week and weekend back to the grind were quite enjoyable. Summed up by a great date night, coffee/movies with the girls, dinner with the Med School Group, a Sunday morning long run (painful), and a Sunday night WFU WIN over UNC!!! I forgot my camera or else I'd have pics! So here goes the year in review:


1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Hmmm. Well, Wiggy and I became avid hikers and I also went skiing for the first time since I was 13. I spent Christmas away from my family for the first time ever, that was tough!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I did! We decided that we wanted to get more involved with our church and become more spritual. Of course, this is a life long resolution...
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No, but I have a great friend who is expecting
4. Did anyone close to you die? Fortunately no, but I had many friends and family members who lost loved ones.
5. What countries did you visit? NONE! For the first time in a long time we remained stateside. We have planned a trip to Jamaica shortly after Wiggy's graduation
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Patience, the story of my life
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? October 18th, I had lasik surgery and now have perfect vision!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I won a trophy for placing in my age group at the Frederick, MD 1/2 marathon
9. Did you suffer illness or injury? A bad bout with plantar fasciitis.... not sure it will ever go away completely
11. What was the best thing you bought? A new pair of expensive, but perfectly fitting 7 jeans, I know they're not that cool anymore, but they fit me great!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My Mama, Meme and my hubby. Mome and Meme habe both lost and kept off significant amounts of weight and my husband has been so very helpful this year in his time off!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? All of the battling politicians and smear tactics
14. Where did most of your money go? Hmm.. the mortgage, Walmart, and many random repairs that were necessary this year
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Lasik surgery, friends engagements, trip to Austin with the girls.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Kid Rock "All Summer Long" ... heard it too much
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder?b) thinner or fatter?c) richer or poorer? Equally happy, equal size, a teensy bit richer (hopefully it lasts)
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Kept in touch with friends, gone dancing, prayed, spent time outside
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Worry about things I can't control
20. How did you spend Christmas? With Wiggy's extended family in Chicago after we visited my family in MD and WV
21. Did you fall in love in 2008? I love my hubby more every day
22. What was your favorite TV program? Biggest Loser
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? No.
24. What was the best book you read? Oh man, too many to count. The Twilight Series and Midwives stand out for me
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? I listen to "Oprah and Friends" too much
26. What did you want and get? Lasik surgery, new tires for my car, a Dyson Vacum
27. What did you want and not get? Nothing I need now!
28. What was your favorite film of this year? "Marley and Me" and "Slumdog Millionaire". I had been anticipating Marley forever. I also really enjoyed "The Secret Life of Bees"
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 26. Wiggy and i celebrated my birthday and our anniversary in Myrtle Beach.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? If the economy hadn't tanked
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Oh man, I'm such a hodge podge it's crazy. Ever heard of the book "Target Underwear and a Vera Wang Dress"? That's me!
32. What kept you sane? My faith, our Seeds service, my husband, my family, and my friends
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Hmm... I still love Kelly Ripa
34. What political issue stirred you the most? The corruption that is starting to seem like a normal thing on the news.
35. Who did you miss? My family and my college girls
36. Who was the best new person you met? Oh lots... the new Better Halves, Julia's Fiance Mike, Wiggy's grandma, aunt and tons of cousins...
. 37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.. Count your blessings.. they are many. And save as much $ as you can even though it's not fun :)
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Love when you can, cry when you have to, be who you must, that's a part of the plan. Await your arrival with simple survival, and one day we'll all understand. - Dan Fogelberg

The New Year!

I can't belive 2009 is upon us. This is a special year as it is the year that my dear husband will become a doctor. We've been referring to this year for a while and it's just very hard to believe that it's here! Fortunately for us, and unlike many others, 2008 was a pretty good year. We have been very blessed to have some comfort in a time when so many are suffering.

Wiggy and I brought in the New Year with dinner at our house with a small gathering of friends. I even got out the wedding china for fun, something I've only done a few times. Our friends Blake and Erin and newlyweds Neil and Ashley came over for a lovely dinner and a game of Catch Phrase before the quiet ring to the New Year. It was a nice break from the traveling fiasco we'd been experiencing.

On Friday, we headed down to Atlanta for Wiggy's former soccer teammate, Brent's wedding. We also were able to catch up with my friends Darcey and Christine and others while we were there. It was a wonderful spontaneous reunion of many college friends!

My friend Meghan posted a really fun 2008 recap which will be my next post. Until then, Happy New Year!

We made it!

Wiggy and his Nana

Wiggy and Baby Bro Taylor

Wiggy and his Mom

All the Kids and Significant Others

Wow. We finally arrived home from Christmas #3 with Wiggy's family in Chicago. Although it was a wonderful trip on many levels, the traveling part was a nightmare. We arrived almost on time to my surprise after I watched news story after story about people sleeping in cots in the Chicago airport the night of the 23rd. We landed on Chrismas Eve just a little after scheduled and got our luggage no problem. We were scheduled to attend a Christmas party at Wiggy's Uncle's family's house; however, we had an unexpected detour when my Father in Law got quite turned around in the car and we ended up far from the party as it was winding down. We decided to find someplace to eat instead and ended up at a lovely Italian place after begging them to serve us. They even had grilled calimari, a favorite of mine and Wiggy. After the meal we settled in to the hotel before attending a lovely Christmas Mass with the family.

Christmas morning we slept in and then headed over to Wiggy's Aunt's house for a day full of meeting cousins, eating, and game playing. It was very nice to finally meet Wiggy's Nana, Aunt, and all of his cousins. We played Secret Santa along with lots of rounds of Catch Phrase and Apples to Apples.

On the 26th we finally were able to see Marley and Me. This has been my most anticipated movie in quite a long time and I must say I was holding myself back from sobbing the entire time. I have had dogs my entire life and read the book 3 times and the end just kills me. We then sampled Chicago pizza before venturing into the city for some bargain shopping and a car tour as the weather was kind of icky. That night we went back to the movie theater (it was in the same parking lot as our hotel) for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". We all really enjoyed it, although it is quite long.

Saturday it was time to head out. Our flight wasn't until late afternoon so we got a chance to catch yet another movie after everyone else left. This time it was "Slumdog Millionaire", a surprisingly great film that had us both glued to the screen. Our airport experience was horrible as our flight was delayed about 3 hours and our connection cancelled. We found a room in Philadelphia for the night and then finally made it back to NC at about 7 pm on Sunday just in time to pick up our greatly missed Jasper.

Sticky Fingers

When Wiggy and I arrived home last night he discovered that someone had tried to break into our basement window while we were away and today we found out that our neighbor's house was broken into! I felt so violated when we found out... I guess it's one of those.. oh, that will never happen to me things. We have an air conditioner in the window that Wiggy has placed super locks on which fortunately were too much trouble for the would be intruder. I am so thankful that my hubby is so incredibly cautious. He has spent the entire day laboring downstairs while installing metal bars across the window to scare and create more work for anyone else that tries to get in. What a great hubby I have :)... take that thief!

Half Way There

Wiggy and I left last Thursday morning to visit my family in Maryland. We had a lovely time beginning on Thursday evening with dinner and a movie with my parents and grandparents complete with great conversation. Friday we headed to Morgantown to help my Mom finish her Christmas shopping along with an annual last minute frantic trip by my Daddy to purchase my Mom's gifts. Saturday evening we headed to Petersburg, WV to visit my Mom's Mom "Mimi" and my Aunt Sarah and Uncle Eric among other extended family. My Aunt Sarah hosted a "Weiner Dog Party" where our poor baby Jasper was tormented by 6 miniature datsunds. He was really happy to leave after being cornered one too many times! Sunday morning we went to my home church (something I always love) and then had a wonderful long nap, a lovely dinner and exchanged gifts. Yesterday morning we packed up and headed back to Winston before we head out for Chicago tomorrow!

Whirlwind

It doesn't quite seem possible that the Christmas season has arrived. Wiggy and I will head out of town on Thursday morning headed toward Pittsburgh for a residency interview before visiting my fam in MD and then heading back to NC only to fly out the next morning to Chicago. We then return for 4 days then go down to the ATL for a wedding. wheew.

I must say that my favorite part of the holiday season is providing Christmas for those who would not otherwise have presents on Christmas morning. We were able to help out several families this year through various charities and church which was a huge blessing to us. Most memorably we bought a bike for a little boy. Wiggy and I both stared inquisitively at the racks of bikes as none of them look quite like the bikes we rode as children. They are lower and the frames are thicker now. With the help of a nice salesman we were able to pick out a fab bike for the little boy and then Wiggy proceeded to try to ride the bike all the way through the store to the very far away register. It didn't quite work, but he gets an A for effort.

I am so happy that we'll still get to see my entire family this year even though we're not going to be home for Christmas day. I get to attend my Aunt Sarah's Dog Party for the first time, sounds like a blast and I can't wait :)

As Christmas day sneaks toward us I become a little more filled with the joy of this incredible season. May we all stay focused on what this day really represents and give praise for the birth of our lord and savior who lay in a manger! Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving and Med School Prom #4

My boys in my old room at my parents house. Aren't they just irresistable :)

Thanksgiving! My Mom did an excellent job of starting the Christmas decorating early this year! Good job Mom! The tables were beautiful and so festive. It's the Holiday season, who cares which one?

Wiggy and I attended our final Medical School Christmas Ball "aka Prom" last weekend. I totally look forward to this event every year because we don't have many opportunities to get dressed up and go dancing anymore! We usually have a get together before hand but everyone is running around interviewing this year so no one could come :(

The Holidays are here! We're so busy this year preparing to "globetrot" from NC to Pittsburgh for Wiggy's interview then to MD to visit my family then back to NC only to get up the next morning to fly to Chicago to visit Wiggy's family. We return for a quick breather before we go to Atlanta for the weekend for a friend's wedding!!! AHHHH... we need a vacation when it's all over with. I find it a bit unsettling that this time of year should be about the peace that we celebrate with the birth of our savior and that we continue to make this time of year busier and busier. I pray that at least the true spirit of Christmas lives through the hustle and bustle and touches each of us.