2012 Questions

The end-of-the-year survey tradition continues for a seventh year. {yikes}

2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

1) What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?

Made a felt Abe Lincoln. Ate at Applebees. Sang with Crystal Lewis. Began working on the Mariners Experience Team. Wore red lipstick. Made Thanksgiving Dinner (well, all but the turkey.) Visited Bethel Church. And the Los Angeles Natural History Museum. Went indoor skydiving. Took a kick-A road trip with friends. Turned 30. Saw Mount Rushmore. Broke-down on a freeway off-ramp. Ran a 5K. Threw an outdoor dinner party. Sold some felt crafts. Was clocked by a policeman at 101mph. 

2) Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 
I've made the same resolution for the last seven years: be smarter. I'm fairly certain that I have finished each year a little wiser...and a little smarter.

I've made some plans for 2013 resolutions, but under a different name. Visit here to find out more.

3) Did anyone close to you give birth?
Alanna, Ryanne, Korrie

4) Did anyone close to you die?
We lost a friend on January 1. A dear friend of mine from Kenya, Richard, passed away as well. 

5) What countries did you visit?
None. Wow, what a sad answer.

6) What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Less fear. More confidence in exactly who God has created me to be.
And a smaller dress size.

7) What date(s) from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 28: met Bob Goff (and, of course, burst in to tears)
September 25: made the Good Night List
October 20: Mt Rushmore (& recognized in Subway as "the girl dancing on the side of the road by the Wyoming sign!")

8) What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Making it to Mount Rushmore.

9) Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope. Neither of those.

10) What was the best thing you bought?
I'm pretty in love with my new bicycle

11) Whose behavior merited celebration?
I am pretty proud of my old students: one studying in SF for a semester and the other spending her first semester in TX. 

12) Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I'm still not crazy about sex traffickers.

13) Where did most of your money go?
Rent. Food. Gas. You know, awesome grown-up things.

14) What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing Mt Rushmore.

15) What song/album will always remind you of 2012?
"Part of Me" by Katy Perry. Taylor Swift "Trouble". "Call Your Girlfriend" by Erato. 

16) Compared to this time last year, are you:
Wiser? Yes. Healthier? No. Richer? Probably not.

17) What do you wish you'd done more of?
Said yes to opportunities. Exercise.

18) What do you wish you'd done less of?
Allow my fears to get the best of me. Try to assume and then meet the expectations of others.

19) How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas services. Making gifts. Christmas Eve at my moms. Christmas Eve candlelight service. Trip to San Francisco with my dad, brother and Cathi.

20) Did you fall in love in 2012?
Nope. Not this year.

21) What was your favorite TV program?
Dexter. Parenthood. New Girl. 30 Rock. Parks and Recreation.

22) What was the best book you read?
The Knife of Never Letting Go. The Magician's Nephew. More.

23) What was your greatest musical discovery?
Kathleen Edwards. Robert Plant and Allison Krauss. Fiona Apple.

24) What did you want and get?
A bike

25) What did you want and not get?
A ukulele

26) What was your favorite film of this year?
Lincoln.
Honorable mentions: Hunger Games, Django Unchained and Moonrise Kingdom.
{I think I saw fewer than 10 films in the theater this year. I need to step up my game in 2013.}

27) What did you do on your birthday, and how old did you turn?
I turned 30. We took a road trip before. On the day, I was celebrated at work and had food trucks for lunch. (Then had In-n-Out and a Rooted surprise celebration) My family threw a fancy party with a homemade dinner and Mt Rushmore cake. I threw an October 24th-themed party.

28) Which celebrity/public figure did you like the most?
I think Christoph Waltz became my new favorite actor.

29) How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Lots of dresses and cardigans...sometimes jackets.
I wore jeans only once...and for only half the day.

30) What kept you sane?
Jesus.

31) Who did you miss?
My Kenyan friends. My London friends.

32) What valuable life lesson did you learn in 2012?
Say what you mean and mean what you say.

33) What did you gain this year?
Some wisdom. Some great friends. Some peace. Some weight.

34) What did you lose this year?
Some fear. A storage unit.

35) Who was the best new person you met?
I met a lot of people this year...they are each pretty great.

36) Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
May all jaded hearts be healed / May all weary hearts be filled with hope. / Amen.

2012 In Photos

 Date day with my Grandpa {Jan}

  Setting up my new home

Finally closing my storage unit!

Promoted and hosted a Naked Truth series at Mariners {Feb}

at which we served a lot of nachos

Took a trip to the LACMA and saw Metropolis {March}

Started a new job (!!!) and got a new office {April}

Tested some red lipstick 

Celebrated my Grandpa's 70th birthday

 My new office was decorated slowly but surely {May}

 Baby July came to visit

 Walked to the McGills many, many times since we live so close

 Took a team road trip {June}

Anderson's Split Pea

 San Francisco

Bethel Church 

Dinner with Brian and Jenn Johnson (and Skosh)

I made a lot of things this year...here are a few

Whale stamp 

Tablecloth

 Pesto and Apple Grilled Cheese, Blackberry Mojitos, and Blueberry Crumble

 Abe Lincoln Doll

Felt Campfire

I dressed like Jabba the Hutt for Ron's 40th {July}

4th of July done right

 Crystal Lewis came to Mariners

 Bre got married {August}

 Took a trip to LA Natural History Museum

Ran a 5K {Sept}

Hosted a League of Extraordinary Women dinner {Oct} 

Went indoor skydiving

Took a 30th Birthday Road Trip with Sara and Cathi

Documenting my ticket for driving 101 in Population10, Wyoming

Threw an October 24th themed birthday party

Fancy Family Dinner Birthday Party

First Felt Needs Craft Fair {Nov}

 Thanksgiving As It Should Be 

 Ryanne's Going-away

Tidings of Comfort and Joy {still November!}

Sent this photo to Chris asking him to recreate it.

Received this photo the next day. {Dec}

First trip to Roger's Gardens

Christmas Dinner in San Francisco

with Cathi, my Dad and Brother

Thirty, Nerdy and Driving Day 6

These were never actually posted. My apologies.
Without the stories attached, here is the final round of photos from our 2012 Road Trip.

Lunch in Vail

Sunrise at the Grand Canyon

Brunch at Cracker Barrel

Home! 3328.2 miles in 6 days later...