Happy New Year...Happy New Decade!

So, 2009 is winding down....and as I write, there are only 3 more hours left. Everyone is talking about the New Year, but are people forgetting that there is a new decade on the horizon as well?!?!

I know a lot of people like to look back on the year that is ending, but I think I will recap my decade.

2000: As everyone was worrying about Y2K, I was living life as a college student. As long as email worked and I could write my next term paper, I was good. I didn't do a stockpile of food and water. I just wanted to finish school. I have a very distinct memory of New Year 2000. Buddy, his brother-in-law Brian, and I ran up and down the street in front of his parents' house with sparklers screaming Happy New Year at the top of our lungs! Brian even got a battle scar, as the sparklers burnt his scalp.

2001: I had two major moments this year. I got engaged in March that year. I also, like everyone else in the world, lived to witness the 9-11 attacks on our country.

2002: This was a hard year, as far as school goes. I had my toughest round of classes that spring, and in the fall I had my semester of student teaching. But I worked really hard and that December I became a Clemson Graduate....magna cum laude, thank you very much!

2003: Buddy graduated Clemson. We got married in June that year. I got my first real job teaching that fall.

2004: This year was a pivotal moment in my life. This was the year we made our big move. I left a town I had lived my whole life (where all my family and friends were) and moved to a town where I knew only 2 other people...Buddy's college roommate and his wife. This was a tough year, since he had to start his job here in April, and I didn't move up until the summer, so I could finish my first year of teaching. I had quite an adjustment and it was very hard on me for many months. ***I do like living here now*** Buddy joined the fire department this year.

2005: We bought our first home this year. It was so much fun taking an empty house and making it a home. And our house has a Bible verse. If you know me in real life, ask me and I'll tell you the verse.

2006: I joined the fire department and took classes to become a NC EMT.

2007: This year started out tough but ended up great. We decided to try and start a family, and in January of this year, we became pregnant. Unfortunately the Lord saw fit to bring this child to be with Him in Heaven in March, at only 9 weeks gestation. However, the Lord was gracious to us, and later on, we became pregnant again. This time, it ended in a happier way!

2008: This was the year I became a Mommy (1-9-08)!! This year started out very sleep deprived, but life was so grand. Seeing my son smile, roll over, crawl, pull up, and begin to walk were just some of the many highlights!

2009: This year was just more of the same joy of last year, with running and jumping and climbing taking the place of crawling. We had some tough times and scares with Buddy's job, but again the Lord was gracious to us. And if you want to know all the details of 2009, just check out the archives!

So there you have it. My decade in a nutshell. When you look back on 2009, don't just consider the past 365 days. You really have 10 years to look back on. I think back to all the good times, when the Lord and I walked side by side. I think back to all the rough times, when He carried me through them. I am so looking forward to being side by side with my Saviour in the next decade of life, knowing He will continue to scoop me up and carry me through the hard times when they show up.

I'll do a post later on about our Christmas...some really cute pictures to share. But for now, I will say goodbye to 2009....Hello 2010!