Best of 2009

For me 2009 was up and down (more up then down).  As I do every year, here is a slide show highlighting my ups from last year:

Where have I been?

Well, I said I was going to catch up on this blog after the New Year, so here I am... To be honest, I may have neglected to update my blog, because lately my every day life has been, well, kind of boring. Actually, it hasn’t really been “boring”, I’m just saying my daily life would probably appear “boring” to the outside world.

So what am I doing these days, you ask? Or do you? I’m concentrating on school these days, but have found time to visit with a few friends and family members since I turned the “Big 40” (my last post).

I've decided to take this time in my life to “get it together”. In the past 6 months, I started working out at least 4 days a week, eating vegetarian, and concentrating on a Technical Writing and Project Management Certification. I personally feel so much better and have found that I’m smiling much more often then I have in the past. I do miss the hustle and bustle of working, but think I’ll be prepared this time around. I plan to update this blog more often in 2010, but we’ll have to see where it goes…

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with these thoughts (from Grey’s Anatomy monologue, but slightly revised by me):

We assume the really serious changes in our lives happen slowly…over time.

But it’s not true. The big stuff happens in an instant.

Becoming an adult, becoming a parent, becoming successful.

One minute you’re not and

One minute you are.

Ask any successful person and they can point to the one moment they became successful. It usually isn’t graduation day. Whatever it is…nobody forgets it.

Sometimes you don’t even know anything’s changed. You think you’re still you and your life is still your life, but you wake up one day and look around and you don’t recognize anything. Not anything at all.

A switch flips. Suddenly you are not playing dress up anymore. You own success.

What you may not notice is the moment that being successful changes you.

I'll be back in 2010 :)

Hey everyone, I've been really busy since my milestone birthday, but don't worry...I'll be back in 2010!

In the meantime, wishing everyone
Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year!

For all the latest on my life, check out my Facebook profile at:

My 40th Birthday Celebration

So I am now the big 40... Do I feel 40? You ask. Well I can say the number 40 makes me feel like I'm finally a "Grown Up". Meaning as a child I recall looking forward to being a grown up and now I feel like I'm there. 40 is definitely different than 30.

I now know who my true friends are and my family is more important to me than anything in the world. At 20 and 30 I questioned how I felt about my family, but now I know how I feel about them...I love them :) I want nothing more than to ensure my family is happy and I do my best to keep in contact with all of them. I also have new family from my husband, Dave, I love them just the same.

My friends...they are family too. A few of my friends, who were my friends at 30, are not my friends anymore and now I know it's for a reason. They wanted what they wanted, not necessarily what I wanted. I'm sure this feeling was the same on both sides. "These friends" are good people, but I know they didn't believe in me and I learned they are not to be trusted, but I do wish them the best. The friends I have in my life now...they know! I obviously feel the same way about them. We go through ups and downs, I get upset with them, they get upset with me, but there is LOVE on both sides and we all know it. They are the best and I'll never let them go!

As is standard procedure for my milestone birthday (20th and 30th birthday) I ordered a fun jump, invited friends, family (and their kids) and performed the Centipede. Check out these pics from the party:
Fun Jump________________Amanda & Katie (awesome friends)

Dee, Darla and Ted (my 2nd family)_________Joyce (mom in law), Me and Tanya (BFF)

The girls (toasting to my Bday)

Rushelle and Me (aka Shelly and Cheri)___Dave's cousins and me (Amanda, Michelle and Me)

My Bro (Brian) and Katie______________Me and Emily (my awesome niece)

Jenni, Cheri and Veronica_______________Deirdre, Selina, Bro, Darla, Cat and Tarah

Here is "the video" of me doing the Centipede:

This picture means the world to me! It's a picture of Dave and Emily the evening of my actual birthday. Emily whispered in Dave's ear (earlier in the evening) then they both told me to go pick up a movie at the video store. I could sense they were planning something, so I went to the video store. When I returned back to our house they cleaned, decorated, made party hats and surprised me with a mini- birthday celebration. How can I not love them? I do :)

Michael Jackson Remembered

Michael Jackson

August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

In our darkest hour, In my deepest despair
Will you still care?
Will you be there?
In my trials and my tribulations

Through our doubts and frustrations
In my violence, In my turbulence

Through my fear and my confessions
In my anguish and my pains

Through my joy and my sorrow
In the promise of another tomorrow
I’ll never let you part
For you’re always in my heart!

Happy 4th of July!

Hope everyone enjoyed celebrating America's Independence Day! I had a great time hanging out with friends...and my brother (I guess he would be a friend too)! Dave, my husband, snapped a few good pics from the party.
See below:

Darla and Brian (my bro)_________Selina, Brian and Me

THE GIRLS!!

Happy Father's Day...Dad :)