2008

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?

In September we went on a 7 day cruise to Mexico. Amazingness. 

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I can't really remember any new ones that I made last year. I always start my year by trying to read a book a week & even though I read a lot, I definitely didn't fulfill that. This year I just want to focus more on my relationship with God & being a good wife & mother. I'm not even sure you could call that a resolution, though, because it'll be a work in progress for my whole life, I'm sure.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, my cousin Valerie & friends Ashley, Jamie & Sherrie.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes, my Punkin Nina (Aunt Lillian) died in June. I still can't believe it sometimes. I wish she was here to meet Benjamin.

5. What countries did you visit?

Just Mexico. We walked across the border twice with Tyler & Sherrie & had some good tacos & $.99 beer. And we went on a 7 day cruise with the Mahoney's. 

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

The drive to complete my projects. I have so many things half finished. It irritates me. 

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

January 4, 2008. It was the date I found out that I had miscarried. It changed my life drastically.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not worrying as much. I've really come far in trusting God in our finances, where we live, and when he wants us to have children. things that used to really wear on me don't anymore. 

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not sure I had one. 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got deathly ill (maybe an exaggeration) in february with a fever of 104 for like 3 days & thought i was going to do. No real injuries, though, thankfully.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My tattoos. I'm so happy I finally finished my back, it's so beautiful! Also, I love my tattoo on my right arm. It's in memory of my Grandma & I had been wanting to get it for so long. Now I only have to wait to get it colored.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, car payments, food, vacation, & tattoos. 

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Benjamin Patrick Boland. Finding out that I was pregnant was such a surprise. I had finally decided that I needed to just stop trying to control everything & it just happened. In the past 6 months I've come to completely adore my little boy even though I have yet to meet him.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Low feat. T-Pain by Flo Rida. I listened to a lot of Pop/Hip-Hop Radio this year. 

Compared to this time last year, are you:

17. Thinner or fatter?
Definitely fatter. 

18. Richer or poorer?

Definitely poorer.

19. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish that I would have spent more time with my friends & family. Not that I didn't spend a lot of time with them, but I wish I would have done more with the opportunities given to me.

20. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I wish I would have spent less time feeling sorry for myself. It ruined so much of my year.

21. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas Eve at home with my parents, my brothers & other family. Christmas Day was spent driving to Mission Viejo to spend breakfast with Nate's family, then driving to Carson to hang out with all the Figueroa's, & then driving back to Mission Viejo to have dinner with the Perry's. 

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I fell more in love with Nate & so in love with Benjamin.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
America's Next Top Model, Project Runway, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, Private Practice, Brothers & Sisters, Eli Stone, & 90210.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nobody is worth that much of my time.

26. What was the best book you read?

I looked back over the books I read this year & Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer really stood out to me. It was so inspiring, I loved every part of it. And I'm not ashamed to say that I got hooked on the Twilight series. LOVE those books. 

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I grew to love Rihanna, Ray LaMontagne, Duffy, & Kanye West. Also, any new artist that FM 94.9 played. 

28. What did you want and get?

My tattoos.

29. What did you want and not get?

I'm sure there was plenty, but I can't really think of anything right now.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Dark Night & Step Up 2 The Streets. 

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I spent my 26th with my family. It was really low key. It was right after my Punkin Nina died, I was just starting my new job & moving from San Diego so that time is such a blur to me. 

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
My first reaction is to say that I wish I wouldn't have miscarried, our baby would be 6 months old about now. But then I think about it & I wouldn't be having Benjamin. God works everything for a reason.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Normal me, jeans & a t-shirt, horizontally striped shirts, but with some color. I tried to accessorize more...hats, scarves, jewlery. And I experimented with my hair a bit more. It was a fun year. 

34. What kept you sane?
More like "Who"...God. Nate. Hannah. My family. My close friends. I was in so much need this past year. I am so thankful for the people God has placed in my life. 

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Jonathon Rhys Meyers. <3

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Not sure which one to choose. I guess I'll just say that this year I was pretty stirred, more so than other years. I was a lot more informed than in past elections. 

37. Who did you miss?
San Diego.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Corban & Harvey.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
I'm not in control. 

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

So live your life, ay ay ay.

Instead of chasing that paper.

Just live your life (Oh!), ay ay ay.

Ain't got no time for no haters.

Just live your life (Oh!) , ay ay ay.

No telling where it'll take you.

Just live your life (Oh!), ay ay ay.

it's difficult to say goodbye...

Goodbye, goodbye

Walk away it's hard to say goodbye

  

    

It's amazing to know someone that knows exactly what I'm thinking with one raise of an eyebrow. For the past 12 years we were nearly inseparable until the past few years when i got married, moved & she became the random world traveler that she is. Though we've been separated by distance before, I've always enjoyed coming home & driving down L.A. Avenue knowing that she was just on the other side of it. She's been my best friend, my other-other half, my confidant, my strength, my comforter & my road trip buddy. Being back in Moorpark for the past 6 months has made me really appreciate (all over again) what an amazing friend that God blessed me with. We were an unlikely pair, but I really don't know what I would have done without her. 

Obviously, I'm pretty bummed she's leaving & I don't think I've even really started to believe it yet. 

I'm going to miss Hannah so much.

life lately.

nate's been gone since thursday. i dropped him off at long beach airport thursday afternoon, he's spending 5 days with his grandma in petaluma, a little north of san francisco. i miss him like crazy! it'll be the longest amount of time we'll be separated since we got married. 

friday night my mom hosted her work party & even though i didn't know everybody, it was a lot of fun. it was especially awesome because hannah was there & anytime she's around i have such a great time. it's amazing to know someone so well that we don't even have to talk to communicate. spending so much time with her lately makes me so sad that she's leaving so soon. but i'm just gonna keep denying that fact for the time being. 

at 6:15 on saturday morning i was woken up by sherrie's mom letting me know that harvey abram williams was born! so crazy & unexpected since he wasn't due until january 1. i left later that morning to go & see him & he is so perfect. i was so blessed to be able to hang out with sherrie all afternoon & just spend some time with little harvey. i can't wait to see him again on tuesday after i pick up nate from the airport. 

seeing harvey & being there to watch how tyler & sherrie interacted with him made me all the more excited for benjamin to come. everyday i get closer & closer & the excitement is overwhelming. 

today i went to grace for church, hung out with everyone at home fellowship, & then went to grace's christmas pageant. it was pretty awesome. after 

much debate, hannah & i decided to hang out at starbucks for a bit & rachel joined us a bit later. i love these girls, they make my life so happy. 

weird.

it's such a weird feeling to put on a shirt that used to fit really loose & find that it now looks like it's painted on.

laughter.

nate has the most genuine and joyful laugh. it's almost boyish in a way.
it makes me happy. it makes me smile. 
i hope benjamin has a laugh just like his dad.