This year:

1. I started graduate school and completed five classes, getting straight A’s in each.
2. Joey and I went to the beach for a short weekend getaway.
3. We spent every moment possible hanging out with James before he left for Iraq for the year.
4. I made a lifelong friend in Shannon and we got to be a part of the Garzoni family.
5. We camped in July and October, the latter in tents and with sleet.
6. I sprained my ankle.
7. We took James to Indy to report for duty and, for the first time, I had to say goodbye to a friend as he went off to war.
8. I learned to knit cables.
9. I finally got control over my depression and anxiety and found out that I’m stronger than I think I am.
10. I made an almost-100% handmade Christmas.

I also started a food blog, started writing as a featured publisher for FoodBuzz, and I started writing for Examiner.com as Charlotte’s Frugal Living Examiner (yes, I’ve been super-slack this month).  And, one of the most important things that happened this year was that I became a vegetarian after we lost Lady in February.

Time always goes so much faster than you want it to.  I’ve noticed this already…last month, Joey and I celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary.  My ten-year high school reunion (which I couldn’t attend) was this past weekend.  Ten years.  I don’t feel that much older.  I don’t feel like my family is that much older.  It all went so fast.

However, this year, I think I’m ready for 2010.  While I am proud of what I was able to do in 2009, I also left a lot undone:

1. I was not successful in my diet/exercise endeavors and, in fact, gained ten pounds this year.
2. I continue to procrastinate at school, which makes me feel like I’m squandering a huge opportunity I’m being given.
3. I let my frugality go for the sake of convenience…takeout, the grocery store near the house, etc.
4. I did not declutter my house.

So, there are things that I want to tackle in 2010…a list will come later, but I know that I’m ready to let 2009 be the past and to jump headfirst into 2010.