Tag Archives: 2010

Happy New Year!!! 2010 In Review!

Happy New Year!!! 2010 In Review!

Wow! It’s 2011! Can you believe it??? How crazy is that! 2010 has gone by incredibly fast – and I’m sure 2011 will too.

But 2010 was a fantastic year and I’m just amazed at all that I’ve done this year. I’ll try not to make this too crazy of a long post but so much has happened this past year and I want to try and include all the fun that’s happened!

Before I get started however, to all my family and friends who read this – I want to sincerely thank you for everything you’ve done for me this year. For all the love, support and kindness that has been bestowed upon me this year. Without my amazing family and friends… and also just all the awesome blessings I’ve received, this year would not have been the same.  I wish I could write about all my amazing adventures this year and about all the friendships, but I’ll just have to save that for other posts.

So, let’s get started!!!

January

The start of the busy year – with a ton of birthday celebrations. My oldest nephew turned 10, my oldest niece turned 5 – with a huge birthday party that included a magician, my best friend Jamie had an old fashioned sleepover, and then I think there were some other celebrations in there – but it was a fun and busy month to start of the new year. I guess I have that to look forward to this month too!

Yummm... Chocolate Covered Wine Glasses to go with delicious wine for Jamie's Birthday

February

Looking at the busy calendar – it looks like I had a lot of dinners during the month of February. But one thing that stood out was the day at the Washington DC Roller Derby. I had never seen the roller derby before – and it was really so much fun seeing girls being tough. I also had an awesome Valentine’s Dinner with my roommates – where we had some delicious steak, cupcakes and champagne. Who needs a guy when you have your best gals at your side?

February Blizzard

Roller Derby

March

March was a bit slow – however, the most fun thing that month was the trapeze class I took. I learned how to jump off the scary platform, swing back and forth, hang from my knees on the bar and then somersault off the bar into the net below. Wow – so much fun and pretty scary. But I know I’d love to do it again.

Trapeze Act

April

Gosh – April was an extremely busy month – but what is definitely the highlight of the month and maybe even of the year – was my solo backpacking trip through Guatemala. I love Guatemala now and can’t wait to go back again. But it was just an amazing trip. I learned so much about myself and realized that I am so much stronger than I realize and that I really really love traveling by myself. And I can’t complain over the fact that I saw amazing sites, which included Mayan Pyramids, Volcanoes, the World Heritage site of Antigua and many more things. I also connected with amazing people that I will carry in my heart forever. April also included fun picnics with family and friends and the start of Spring. It was also my birthday in April – and that was a fun time too.

Mayan Ruins

May

May was an extremely busy month. Not only did I get to celebrate both of my sisters’ birthdays – one turned 27 the other the big 30, as well as my roommate Amanda’s birthday – but I saw myself going to New York City for a quick weekend and then a fun trip to Costa Rica with Jess and Linda. In New York City – there was biking in Central Park and eating at a delicious Greek Restaurant in Chelsea. And in Costa Rica there was zip lining, surfing, private coves, laying out in the beach, monkeys and delicious, fresh seafood every day. May also was the completion of my second triathlon the Kinectic Triathlon, which I did in 2009 – and I cut my time by 10 minutes.

Getting Ready to Zip line!

Costa Rica Beaches

June

June, compared to May and April was “slow” but other than the fun start of summer – I also did the MS Beltway Bike Ride in Middleburg, VA – where my sister, brother-in-law and I biked 60 miles of hilly country road. It was a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to it again next year. I also was able to attend the baby shower of one of my childhood friend’s Meriam – who had her daughter Summar in August. It’s so interesting how time goes so fast – and it seems like only yesterday that Meriam and I were in the woods of our neighborhood coming up with rules for our own Unicorn Club (Sweet Valley Twins reference) – and now Meriam has her own beautiful daughter of her own.

Reunited with my best childhood friends!

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What I look forward to in 2010…

What I look forward to in 2010…

2009 was such an amazing year – but I’m looking forward to seeing what 2010 will bring.

I don’t have too many concrete plans  quite yet… though I know it’s already going to be a busy one!

I’ve signed up for a Spanish class – once a week for 12 weeks. I’m also going to be teaching English as a Second Language for once a week for 16 weeks.  The start of my triathlon training will also see the start of swim training for 12 weeks once a week. All this starts the 2nd week of January! What am I thinking???

A lot of people ask me if I have any resolutions this year – I don’t really like to think of them as resolutions but more as goals.

First goal – to continue growing in my relationship with Christ, continuing my daily devotionals, going to church regularly and just continue living my life in honor of Him.

Second goal – continue running races – starting with the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler in April and the GW 10 Miler Classic at the end of April, another triathlon in May, the Army 10 Miler in October and hopefully a marathon by the end of the year. I think all of it is pretty doable! My sister is also trying to convince me to join her in doing a 50 mile bike race for Multiple Sclerosis. My friend Jessica and I are also hoping to do an Adventure Race sometime this spring, which will include canoeing, running and mountain biking.

Third goal - continue my traveling streak, I’m hoping to either go back to Guatemala or visit Peru. I’m praying on it and hoping God will help to show me where He’d like me to go. There are also some plans of visiting friends in Seattle and visiting a few other fun U.S. cities… it would also be nice if I can somehow get to Europe sometime this year!

Fourth goal – Although I’m setting all these goals for myself… I’m hoping to get some rest too…. which I know is a bit of a contradiction for me.

Fifth goal – Continuing to learn more about photography and take more pictures (Which I LOVE to do).

Sixth goal – Continue in my volunteer endeavors – working with the Red Cross and the Cherrydale Health and Rehab Center. I’d also like to find other ways to give back to the community.

Seventh goal – Continue to learn Spanish. Taking Spanish class is the first step. I hope interacting with students in the ESL class will also help as I’m sure many of them will be Spanish speakers. I also have countless friends who are offering to lend me their Spanish Rosetta Stone…

All these goals of mine are already in progress – and all goals I’ll be working on will just be a part of my daily life. Neither of these goals are exclusive of one another and neither of the goals will I really ever be able to cross off – as all of them I will constantly  be working towards.

My main and ultimate goal is that by mid-2011 is to be living/traveling overseas… I pray that everything I’m doing in 2010 will move me even closer to that goal and that God show me the way.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6