This past Wednesday I took the bus for the last time this semester and it got me in a sappy mood :) hehe. While riding the bus in my loooooovely Christmas sweater.....
.....I wrote down some of my favorite things from this past year.
I hope while you read this you can hear Julie Andrews singing away from The Sound of Music...better yet, here's a link to the instrumental version!!! Copy and paste this into a new tab and enjoy while reading!!:
And here we go!
1. Traveling is always a fav! Here are a few of the places I got to see!!
Truckee, CA-for New Years!
The Carribean-St. Thomas, St. Johns, Puerto Rico, Grand Turk
The Getty in LA
Dillon Beach-spring break
Seattle, WA
Calgary, AB-Calgary Stampede!!!!
Santa Cruz, CA-girly weekend!
Newport Beach, CA
WOW, that was a lot of travels!! I didn't even realize that was all just in this last year.
2. This year we decided to get another chicken. I got to pick her out and I chose little Louise!
This was when she was a couple weeks old :)
Louise all grown up! She's 9 months old and laying green eggs :)
3. Two of my dear friends got engaged this year! Congrats Lauren & Joel and also to Jenny & Adam! I can't wait for your guys' weddings this next year!!! Also, my friend Criste, since 1st grade, got married this year! Congrats newlyweds, Criste & Ben!
Criste & Ben's Wedding-me, Criste, and Natalie
4. I got a new tattoo! On my 24th birthday I got something I've been mulling over for a while. The concept that no matter what is going on in life, whether it's a really difficult time or when it comes to making big choices I've never felt hopeless. I know that the Lord has me in His hands and has a plan for me for hope and a future. So, as a daily reminder to myself of this blessing that I so don't deserve, I got it put right on my arm! Oh and it's in Spanish, just in case you were wondering :)
Esperanza-hope
5. My best friend and I have wanted to take a belly dancing class since high school! Finally, this summer we found one and took it all summer! It was one of the funnest things I've ever done, and I hope to get back into it again soon! Learning different dances from different cultures is such a fascinating thing!
6. Last, but CERTAINLY not least......I became AUNTIE Em!!!! No, not biologically, but my dearest friends Peter and Katie had a baby this year! Ryan Kenneth Bernd Neumann was born on August 4th and is the most precious little man I have ever seen! It has been the most amazing joy to be able to be home and around to see him grow and change. This is definitely my top favorite of 2011!
Here he is! 3 days old :D
And again, he's a little over 3 months here! Yay babysitting!!
And this concludes some of my most favorite things of this year! I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store! For sure a lot of bus riding, graduating in May, hopefully grad school, Africa??, fun weddings, oh and a drawing class!
Love and merriest Christmas to you!
Bus Girl
