Year in Review—2010

What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
Worked in television broadcasting, attended an Olympic event, bought a new car, went on a business trip, visited the Sunshine Coast, went to a Vancouver Canadians game, drove from Vancouver to Edmonton in the winter.

Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My new years resolutions from last year were to spend more time with Jesus, to make my lunch more often, to get better at walking in high heels, to go to bed earlier and to write more. I was victorious in all of them except the last one. I don’t plan to make any resolutions for this year, simply because I’ll forget all about them by the end of January and then have to go back and look them up again in December. And what is the point of that?

Did anyone close to you give birth?
No one close to me personally. I believe I only had to go to one baby shower this year! There were a million babies born into my church family though.

Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully.

What countries did you visit?
Just Americuh, but frequently.

What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
An iPhone. And a relationship.

What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

● February 28th—The gold medal hockey game and the closing ceremonies.

● June 18th—The day I graduated from university.

● August 27th—My last day of work at PFC.

● September 30th/October 1st—Moving day and my interview for my job.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finally graduating from university and finding a grown up job.

What was your biggest failure?
How much/often I let my emotions take over my life.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not that I can really remember, although I did wipe out really good back in November and the bruise on my knee is still there.

What was the best thing you bought?
My car. And the purple scarf that Nat talked me into buying that I have worn almost every day since.

Whose behaviour merited celebration?
So many people! Nat and Ariana both came through for me in big ways this year and helped me through some hard, hard times. J. Knepps for helping me out with my car and answering all my man-advice questions with minimal eye rolling/laughing at me. Michelle, for being sympathetic, encouraging, calming and hilarious when I needed it most.

Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Nearly the entire 2009/2010 Oilers Roster.

Where did most of your money go?
Rent, paying off debt and clothes.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Olympics, my new job, my new house, my new car, Taylor Hall.

What song will always remind you of 2010?
● Timshel, Mumford and Sons
● Desert Song, Brooke Fraser/Hillsong
● Firework, Katy Perry
● Waiting for This, Hanson
● I Believe and that stupid Van-cooo-oooou-ver song from the Olympics.
● Afraid of Everyone,The National
● Pyro, Kings of Leon

Compared to this time last year, are you:

Happier or Sadder?
On the whole, much happier. A little more settled.

Thinner or Fatter?
I think a little fatter, but not so much you’d notice.

Richer or Poorer?
Poorer in funds, but richer in joy and happiness?

What do you wish you’d done more of?
Praying, writing music, travelling.

What do you wish you’d done less of?
Watching tv, crying, writing cover letters, pining.

How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it with my family in Edmonton. It was really quiet with just us. We laughed a lot and I made my brothers watch Beauty and the Beast.

Did you fall in love in 2010?
Sigh, No. One Day!!!

How many one-night stands?
Uh, zero.

What was your favourite TV program?
Friday Night Lights and Dexter. Oh, also 30 Rock

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is such a strong word. I don’t hate anybody. But there are some people that I’m ok to spend less time with in the future, though…

What was the best book you read?
This is kind of embarrassing, but I finally read Captivating at a time when I really needed to hear its message. Also, I burned through The Hunger Games.

What was your greatest musical discovery?
That I can write songs.

What did you want and get?
A job! A new place to live! A new car!

What did you want and not get?
An iPhone. A relationship. A pony.

What was your favourite film of this year?
You know, I didn’t see a lot of movies this year. But I really enjoyed Toy Story 3. And Inception. And Harry Potter.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
This year it was not really so much as a birthday, but a birthday week. I turned 26 on the 26th so I tried to milk the celebrating as much as possible. On my actual birthday I had to work, but my work friends bought a raspberry-chocolate-earl-grey-infusion mousse cake for me (it was even more delicious than it sounds) and pink champagne. Tami Knepps took me out to Red Robin for milkshakes and fries at lunch. Ariana and Jeremey took me to iHop for dinner. Then I went out for desserts and cheap drinks with Eliza and Ariana. Later that week Michelle, Tami, Ariana and I also went to a baseball game and there were fireworks. There was also two birthday dinners in Edmonton.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
An iPhone.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Fiscally irresponsible.

What kept you sane?
Jesus and music and a few good friends.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Dustin Penner, Jordan Eberle and Matt Saracen.

What political issue stirred you the most?
Generally I don’t care too much about politics but I’m gonna say the census because it affects me most directly. But also, as always, copyright gets my back up.

Who did you miss?
My family, Douze, and Patrick. But only because they live far away.

Who was the best new person you met?
Natalie. I actually can’t remember if I met her this year or last year, but we became friends this year so I think that counts. And Becky: neighbor, confidante.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010
God is faithful. And he never leaves or forsakes us. I have always known this, but I think for the first time this year I experienced it in the midst of turmoil and uncertainty. And once you experience God’s faithfulness for yourself it just changes your whole life.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship