Goodbye, 2011!

At the start of each new year, it's possible to have any number of reactions to the new start. Some sigh in relief after having finished a rough year; others feel sadness to close a chapter and start a new one. For me, I feel a great deal of gratitude for 2011 and all the wonderful changes it brought to us.

First of all, it was a year of FIRSTS:
- Adam graduated college (a FIRST) and got his FIRST real job.
- We bought our FIRST car (our other cars were loaned to us by my parents).
- We bought our FIRST house in Cumming, GA...
- And spent our FIRST Christmas away from our parents (minus Adam's mission).
- We also directed our FIRST musical together (White Christmas).

For me, specifically, it was a year of knocking down my bucket list (see tab above). In 2011, I completed the following items:
#1 -  Live on the East Coast
#2 - Own a Home
#38 - Swim in the Atlantic Ocean
#46 - See Mt. Rushmore
#68 - Drive across the United States, East to West or vice-versa.
#101 - Choreograph a musical

In 2012, I hope to knock down a few more:
#3 - Travel to NYC with Adam.
#16 - Teach tap classes again (I'm in contact with a studio... wish me luck!)
#17 - Be a certified Zumba instructor.
#23 - Grow my hair down to my waist (Though it may take longer...)
#26 - Kiss Adam at the top of the Empire State Building.
#30 - Learn to drive a motorcycle (Luckily, Adam owns one.)
#47 - Grow my own garden (I can, now! I have a house!)
#67 - Give birth again (No, this is not an announcement, but we'll see...)
#83 - (Finish) Reading the entire Harry Potter Series. (I took a break.)
And more...

If you had asked me on January 1, 2011 if I thought I'd be living in Cumming, GA in my OWN house on January 1, 2012, I would have laughed. I have more blessings that I ever dreamed I would, and we're all happy and healthy to top it off. Here's to an even happier, healthier, fun-filled 2012!

Already on the agenda for this year:
JANUARY -- Adam's students produce/perform Alice in Wonderland at FCHS.
FEBRUARY -- Adam and I get to accompany his students to the Georgia Thespian Conference.
MARCH -- We fly to Idaho for Randee (my little sister) and Spencer's (Adam's little brother) wedding!
APRIL -- We produce Footloose the musical at FCHS (more choreography and costuming for me!).
MAY -- School gets out, and summer begins!
JUNE -- I'm thinking lots of time at the pool... camping... sleeping in... etc.
JULY -- Adam turns 26.
AUGUST -- Darcy turns 28, and school starts again for Adam.
SEPTEMBER -- Adam's students produce their One-Act Competition Piece.
OCTOBER -- One-Act Competition... and all the nerves and excitement we can handle.
NOVEMBER -- Jack turns 3, and Adam gets a week off for Thanksgiving.
DECEMBER -- Christmas comes again!


2012, here we come!