1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year? I became a teacher!
2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened? Finishing grad school to become a teacher! Mostly those darn work samples that I thought were almost going to kill me! Plus all the drama from grad school was emotionally taxing.
3. What was an unexpected joy this past year? Loving teaching 1,000 times more than I ever thought possible.
4. What was an unexpected obstacle? Not being able to get pregnant as quickly or as easily as I thought I was going to. I thought by right now, the New Year, I would be several months along. Not so much happening.
5. Pick three words to describe 2009. Challenging, delightful, emotional.
6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2009 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you). Stressful, challenging, tiring.
7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2009 (again, without asking). Challenging, rewarding, motivating.
8. What were the best books you read this year? Moral Classrooms, Moral Children and Creative Curriculum.
9. With whom were your most valuable relationships? I would say those with my mentor teachers. They were so supportive and there is absolutely no way I would be the reflective and effective teacher I am today without their support and encouragement. I probably wouldn't have been a teacher PERIOD because grad school would have eaten me alive and burped me out!
10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year? I would say I am slower to anger and more able to see things from different perspectives. Also, as a teacher, I am constantly reflecting on my relationships and how I act towards others. It feels hypocritical to spend hours each day teaching children to be kind and empathetic, how to problem solve and compromise, how to evaluate decisions based on what is equitable and then not implement these things in my life as well.
11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally? I am trying to become a kinder person. If I am throwing an unnecessary emotional fit with my husband, I am using tools to stop myself, walk away, and revisit the situation after calming down and considering his needs in a RATIONAL MANNER. Disclaimer: I am trying to do this, hardly accomplishing it!
12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually? Grad school reaffirmed that I can do all things with God's grace! I really didn't have the confidence in myself to think that I could make it through such a tough program, but with His peace and strength was able to. I really relied on and revisited often the idea of being
yoked to Jesus - He helped me shoulder my burdens with a yoke custom made for me! Also, I am needing to rely on His peace and patience daily with this whole TTC drama. I am praying for stillness - when and
IF God intends us to become pregnant we will, and not before. His plan is greater than mine!
13. In what way(s) did you grow physically? OUT! I am much heavier than this time last year, and that is depressing!
14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others? I have never been QUICK to judge others (I don't look at people's clothes or appearance and make face value judgments EVER) but I know that I can judge people after coming to know them for having different beliefs than I. I think I became just a smidgen better at withholding judgment this past year. If not that, I at least grew to see the value of reflecting on my already preconceived ideas and attempting to challenge them.
In addition, I developed close girlfriend relationships, something I haven't really been able to do for a long time. I am still cautious and slow moving, but I am thankful for my girlfriends who are accepting, not demanding, and push me out of my comfort zone (you know who you are!)
15. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home? Decorating! I got new cube shelving from IKEA and a new T.V. and it transformed my living room! We also re-tiled our master bath! I love home decorating. It is sort of a problem for me.
16. What was your most challenging area of home management? Meal planning and cooking on a regular basis. We ate out more this year than I can even count. Trying to break out of that habit and devote myself to frugal, clean meals.
17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year? Facebook and Hulu. Gotta limit those this year!
18. What was the best way you used your time this past year? Teaching and spending time with my husband and dogs.
19. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year? That there is a time and purpose for all things!
20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2009 for you. I have never been good at "creating" my own quotes, but I do love to borrow! Here is my quote for 2009:
"The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we may become."
Charles Du Bos
Reflection questions borrowed from Simple Mom.
