The end-of-the-year survey tradition continues for a tenth year (!!!)
1) What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before?
Left my job at Mariners. Went to Ireland. Led worship at a church in Ireland. Sang on Kenyan radio. Sang a Britney Spears song at a Kenyan restaurant opening. Learned to drive a stick-shift. Dyed my hair pink. Took a road trip with my Grandpa. Took a CPR class. Spent a week in Colorado with the Witts and Tim and then Katie!) Made up a cocktail. Got a giant tattoo. Bought a one-way ticket to Kenya. Broke a lease (both car and apartment.) Took a trip to New Orleans with my mom. Drove a car on the other side of the road. Convinced a few sets of kids to ditch school (for a manicure/karaoke day...for brunch in town.) Rapped in a hallway full of high school girls during a rainstorm. Raced through a cornfield. Stitched initials in to a few dozen school uniforms. Learned to take out tightly-woven braids. Helped a few dozen families begin new businesses. (also here.) Took de-worming medicine. Rented a house in a local slum for four teenage boys to begin a new life. Put together a human trafficking awareness events for women. Carved a pineapple for Halloween. Spent an entire year without full-time employment.
2) Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more next year?
Ooohhh...I'm not sure I made a resolution this year. My words for the year were financial freedom and peace. I think I saw them become reality this year, despite my best efforts to make them a reality, which caused quite a bit of frustration and anxiety. I have made a few for 2016...those will be shared in upcoming posts.
3) Did anyone close to you give birth?
Es had sweet little Arlo.
4) Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank God.
5) What countries did you visit?
UK (London and Ireland) and Kenya
6) What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
A more stable sense of community. And maybe health insurance?
A more stable sense of community. And maybe health insurance?
7) What date(s) from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 17, my last weekend at Mariners. June 30, when I moved to Kenya. September 30, when I launched the new small business project. December 6th, when I returned from Kenya.
8) What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Beginning 27 small businesses for single moms and struggling families in the slums around Kitale. And picking up conversational Swahili.
9) Did you suffer illness or injury?
I came home from Kenya in March with bruised muscles on my right side (from sternum to spine) which was pretty painful for a few weeks...and had a decently-sized stubborn ringworm on my neck that I battled for about eight months before it finally disappeared. But, other than that, nothing major!
I came home from Kenya in March with bruised muscles on my right side (from sternum to spine) which was pretty painful for a few weeks...and had a decently-sized stubborn ringworm on my neck that I battled for about eight months before it finally disappeared. But, other than that, nothing major!
10) What was the best thing you bought?
My one-way ticket(s) to (and from) Kenya. My ticket to London. To Ireland. To Colorado. Our trip to New Orleans...so many good trips this year.
11) Whose behavior merited celebration?
Cathi Workman
11) Whose behavior merited celebration?
Cathi Workman
12) Where did most of your money go?
Rent. Food. Airline tickets: Kenya, Ireland, Colorado, Kenya.
13) What did you get really, really, really excited about?
14) What song/album will always remind you of 2015?
Justin Bieber's "Baby" and "Sorry." AND Adele's "Hello"
15) Compared to this time last year, are you:
Wiser? Yes. Healthier? Nope. Richer? Nope.
16) What do you wish you'd done more of?
Danced
17) What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worry
18) How did you spend Christmas?
18) How did you spend Christmas?
I was called last-minute to fill in for a sick friend at Mariners Huntington Beach services. Then ran to Christmas at Papa's--which was so fun! Christmas morning, I took the Almquists to the airport, cleaned up the spare room at my mom's, had breakfast at Papa's. Then lunch at my mom's. A Tarantino movie and dinner with my dad. A pretty good day!
19) Did you fall in love in 2015?
20) What was your favorite new TV program?
The West Wing. The Mindy Project.
21) What was the best book you read?
I loved Bittersweet by Shauna Niequest.
22) What was your greatest musical discovery?
22) What was your greatest musical discovery?
Otis Redding.
23) What did you want and get?
To move to Kenya.
To move to Kenya.
24) What did you want and not get?
To stay in Kenya.
25) What was your favorite film of this year?
Jurassic World...easily.
Jurassic World...easily.
26) What did you do on your birthday, and how old did you turn?
I turned 33. I bought two cakes and we had a party with all of the Precious Kids Center kids. I talked to both of my parents on the phone, attended a graduation, had lunch in town, and Chinese food for dinner...everything I wanted it to be, for sure!
27) Which celebrity/public figure did you like the most?
James Corden really brought some joy this year.
28) How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?
Dresses and knotted shirts. Multi-colored, self-trimmed hair and muddy bare feet.
29) What kept you sane?
Cathi Workman...and my parents. So many phone calls and emails during an emotional season.
30) Who did you miss?
Ooooh, so many people. Cathi, Cheryl, my parents, my brother, my grandpa, aunts and cousins, my small group girls. I could go on and on, really...it was a six-month stint of missing.
31) What valuable life lesson did you learn in 2015?
31) What valuable life lesson did you learn in 2015?
I learned so much about myself. Who I am. How I express that. How I express God's love--for me and for others. How to be a more whole version of who God has created me to be.
32) What did you gain this year?
A lot of understanding, a lot of new friends...and, unfortunately, some weight.
33) What did you lose this year?
Some fears, some friends, a job.
34) Who was the best new person you met?
35) Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Because life without revision would silence our souls.
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