The Year in Review

2009 proved to be a year of wonderful things. Sure, there were tough times, sad times and sucky situations, but over all, it's been the best year of my life so far. I'm going to attempt to make a list of all the good things that happened in each month of 2009. I'm not ignoring the negative, but choosing to focus on the positive. I'm also not intentionally making this list overwhelmingly about HBFB, but I can't lie, he has played a huge part in making this year so great. I'm going to do my best to remember everything, but if I leave something out that you feel is worthy of making the list, by all means, please tell me so I can remember to be grateful for one more thing! Cara - do you remember when the "reunion of legends" took place???

January
- Rang in the New Year with my beautiful friends
- Went on my 1st date with HBFB (technically a double with BFF and Def Leppard)

February
- Was nominated and honored by a senior girl at our school's "You Made a Difference" night
- Spent Valentine's day with HBFB
- Had a big 1st in my life (if you really know me, you know what it is)
- Went to Mardi Gras with TT, K-Dawg and a few more friends
- Celebrated my dad's 60th birthday!

March
- Went to the wedding of MStock and Food Twin with HBFB
- Went to K-Mac and L-Mac's couples' shower...as part of a couple :)
- Became Facebook official with HBFB
- Went to the Zoo and spent many days on Art Hill in Forest Park with HBFB

April
- Attended a freaking fabulous Alumni Weekend with my beautiful sorority sisters, and so many other wonderful friends and past acquaintances
- Spent many days with HBFB on Art Hill in Forest Park

May
- Spent many days with HBFB on Art Hill in Forest Park
- Started my summer vacation that would consist of much QT with HBFB

June
- Went on Family Vacation with HBFB (this is huge for SO many reasons :)
- Attended the beautiful wedding of K-Mac and L-Mac with HBFB
- Went to Toledo for the last time!!!! to visit my sissy and her family
- Started this blog

July
- Spent 4th of July with MStock and Food Twin with HBFB
- Said those 3 little words for the first time

August
- Attended the wedding of Toe and Tyler with HBFB
- Started a great school year

September
- Attended a baby shower for a sorority sister
- Remembered just how strong I am with a little help from my friends

October
- Celebrated a NEW HOME with BFF and Def Leppard!!!
- Went to the pumpkin patch with HBFB and carved pumpkins
- Went to my first professional football game with HBFB and his parents
- Had 1st Annual Wine-o-Ween with MStock, Food Twin and HBFB
- Went to a Bruce Springsteen concert with my parents and HBFB

November
- Was honored by a former student as her "Most Influential Teacher" at Missouri Academy
- Went to K-Mac and L-Mac's 1st Annual Turkeytizer party with HBFB
- Visited JVG3 for the first time in their new, gorgeous home with HBFB
- Spent Thanksgiving with HBFB and my ENTIRE family at JVG3's
- Took family pictures for the first time in years!
- Celebrated my mom's 60th birthday!

December
- Celebrated HBFB's 30th birthday numerous times (a couple family celebrations and a party at D&B's)
- Celebrated Christmas with HBFB and his ENTIRE family
- Celebrated my 28th birthday with my parents, BFF, JVG3 and HBFB
- Became a registered organ donor
- Had my first ever New Year's kiss with the love of my life (technically January 2010, but just barely :)

Thanks to all of you for helping to make 2009 so great!

Count Your Blessings

Yesterday, my Speech students had to write an impromptu speech about their dream Christmas. The only requirements were that it was at least 3 paragraphs long and that it include anything they could imagine for the best Christmas ever.

I heard everything from spending it with Megan Fox, to going to a tropical island, to getting a lifetime supply of candy. The kids are definitely funny, with big imaginations. One of my students, Billy, who is known for being tardy, getting into trouble, talking back, cussing, etc. rarely does his work. But yesterday, when I called on him, he walked up to the podium to read his speech. He said, "My dream Christmas would be to spend it with a family who loved me. I don't need no presents or nothing, I don't really care about the food either, just a family who doesn't yell." He looked at me and shrugged his shoulders and said, "That's all I could think of to write."

With all the technology and games and clothes and silly stuff we don't need, all he wanted was a family to love him. It really made me stop and realize just how lucky I am.

Family Pictures

My family hasn't taken an actual family picture since I was in the 4th grade (thank you, Olan Mills and the IC Church directory). Unfortunately, that picture is a bit outdated as our family has grown and my permed bangs have gone out of style. So this Thanksgiving, we decided a picture was long over due, and since we had our entire family together, what better time?





I love family pictures, and I LOVE my family!!!

Can't Buy Me Love

This may come as a shock to some of you, but teachers don't make very much money. I know what you're thinking, "But Nem, YOU'RE a teacher and look at your glamorous life! You drive a Nissan Sentra and you live with your parents." I know guys, but appearances can be deceiving. This totally is not meant to be a blog where I complain about how much I don't have, but instead to focus on what I DO have and what I can do with it.

I've decided to make a budget and actually stick to it. I made a list of my monthly expenses, including fluctuating costs like gas, presents, etc. as best I could. After doing the math, I should have a nice amount left over each month, and I'm hoping this budget will help make that a reality. For the past 3 months, I've been taking a decent chunk out of my paycheck (the day I get it) and putting it into savings. So far, so good. When I put that money into savings, it seems like a HUGE amount at the time, but man does it add up slowly!

I feel like my future got here way faster than I anticipated and I have little to nothing to show for it financially. I know I'm still young, but I wish I would have started being financially smarter years ago. With that being said, there's no better time to start than now!

As I was saying, I am trying not to focus on what I don't have, but how to make the most of what I do have, which seems to be LOVE. I am head-over-heels in love with HBFB, I love my friends and family more than life, and I love what I do. So, here's my list (in random order, because they're ALL important) of things/people I have that I'm grateful for, and make me rich in other ways:

• I have the most amazing boyfriend in the world. I am madly in love with him and know that I will be happy with him for the rest of my life. He would do anything for me and is constantly doing everything he can to make me happy.
  
• My friends are incredible. Whether it's been a week, a month or even a year, since I've seen them, we pick up where we left off. They make me laugh and are unbelievably supportive. I couldn't have imagined or asked for better friends.
  
• My family, especially my parents, have made me who I am today. They are supportive in so many ways and love me unconditionally. I know you all think your families are amazing, but mine has everyone beat!
  
• I LOVE teaching. I get paid to spend the day with some of the most amazing young people. They are so smart and funny, and most of them have no clue! I get to teach them what I'm most passionate about, and I get to be creative and do my best to inspire them. We have "Education Celebrations" and eat cupcakes. I have multiple days off for holidays AND summer vacation. Did I mention snow days? :)

My life is good and I'm taking steps to make it even better. I've got quite a "To Do" list of very achievable goals, but perhaps I'll save that for my next post.