Focus. Focus. And one more for good measure, focus. This is going to be my parting mantra for 2009 and heading into 2010. This year God-willing, I want to stay focused not on what the world thinks is important, but what I know in my heart God has called importance to. To be less about me and more about Him and serving as a reflection of Christ to others. (I feel like there should be a Hallelujah in there somewhere). With that said, here's my recap of 2009...
This is a rendition from a post I found through Shutter Sisters.
The #best09 Prompts
Trip- What was your best trip in 2009? Duh. Kaua'i was a very rugged and simultaneously serene family vacation. We ate like Hawaii royalty every morning with french toast, guava juice, french toast, omelets, and yes french toast again. This trip is sooh to blame for my obsession with dried mangoes. To sum Kaua'i up, roosters, rainforest, roosters, mosquitoes, roosters, must-see plantation train tour, roosters, Bubba's Burgers and killer milkshakes, chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, roosters, Marriott water slide, roosters, Fern's Grotto, tiki torches lit nightly, roosters, and my beloved mangoes.
Restaurant moment- Share the best restaurant experience you had this year. Who was there? What made it amazing? What taste stands out in your mind? I'd have to say that it's a toss up between the breakfast french toast in Kaua'i with the dinner buffet that we had on the last night. My family and I experienced an gastronomical delight of massive proportions, that I'm still trying to work off. The sheer selection of pastries had me practically going into a food coma. Everything stands out in my memory, but probably the mini eclairs that were melt in your mouth sinful!
Article-What's an article that you read that blew you away? That you shared with all your friends. That you Delicious'd and reference throughout the year. Blank on this one. But please share if there's some amazing article I failed to come across this "09 year.
Book- What book - fiction or non - touched you? Where were you when you read it? Have you bought and given away multiple copies? Without a doubt, Margart Feinberg's Sacred Echoes and Organic God deeply spoke to me. I started it because of a church group that was doing a study.
Blog find of the year- That gem of a blog you can't believe you didn't know about until this year. Shutter Sisters and Bianca Juarez's, In the Name of Love.
Moment of peace-An hour or a day or a week of solitude. What was the quality of your breath? The state of your mind? How did you get there? My peace this year came not just in solitude, but in community-my growth group helped to bring me this complete sense of peace through laughter and support. Thanks chicas! Much love!
Challenge Something that really made you grow this year. That made you go to your edge and then some. What made it the best challenge of the year for you? By far, finishing my master's project on First-Generation College Students and Integrative Approaches to Reducing Street (sounds super academic, huh?) There were major highs and lows of writing such an intense paper, but through God's grace, His mercy covered my mood swings and I did make it to graduation day to accept my Master of Arts in Counseling (not the MFT sort, more like academic counseling serving students..but I digress).
Album of the year-What's rocking your world? Two Words. Addison Road. Enough Said.
The best place- coffee shop? A pub? A retreat center? A cubicle? A nook? Any pew at church, it provides a sense of safety and retreat that freezes time.
New food- You're now in love with Lebanese food and you didn't even know what it was in January of this year. Empanadas and Pupusas. Something about them just makes my mouth water. Then again most food makes my mouth water.
Tea of the year- I can taste my favorite tea right now. What's yours? I got hooked on TJ's green blueberry tea this year. It's my cup of coffee.
Word or phrase- A word that encapsulates your year. "2009 was _____." Heart-opening.
Shop- Online or offline, where did you spend most of your mad money this year? What can I say? Forever 21 is a girl's best friend, no matter the budget.
Car ride- What did you see? How did it smell? Did you eat anything as you drove there? Who were you with? Nada on this one too.
New person- She came into your life and turned it upside down. He went out of his way to provide incredible customer service. Who is your unsung hero of 2009? No sappiness, but family who support me and my dreams in whatever, shade or shape they come in. Gracias mi familia!
Learning experience- What was a lesson you learned this year that changed you? I've learned that daily living for me requires constant surrender of my worries and dreams. Since it is only in this surrender that God can really work in my life...when I finally let my grip of it go.
Gift- What's a gift you gave yourself this year that has kept on giving? More of a gift given to me. A graduation gift that captures every priceless moment.
Laugh- What was your biggest belly laugh of the year? "Buddha Baby" challenging me to a straight-up stare down contest and winning!
Resolution you wish you'd stuck with. (You know, there's always next year...) Eating less sugar.
Thank God for this year of eye-opening, pull at my heartstrings moments and for abundant blessings to many to name.
What have been some of your '09 bests and dreams for '10? Feel free to share and give me some ideas for 2010! ;)
Peace Out '09, it's been a ride for sure.
Posts
