a lot can happen in five years

Poking around some of my burned cd’s from a few years ago, I found a questionnaire from 2005. I laughed at how much my life has changed in just five years and decided to compare and contrast. This “year” would encompass a fiscal year of 2009-2010.

What did you spend fun money on?

2005:

1. piano lessons for kids

2. beads for me

3. stampin and scrappin supplies

4. books for read alouds

2010:

1. violin/viola/piano lessons for kids

2. yeh. That would be it.

3. Wait - heels. How could I forget my heel binge?

What happened in your life that you never expected to happen?

2005: Tom would finally decide to rehab houses instead of building new ones! YES!!

2010: Gosh, where to begin. So much happened that was unexpected. The most altering would be going back to school while working full-time.

What were your biggest achievements?

2005: Deciding to pitch a ton of things I thought we had to have – we don’t have them and we don’t miss them!

2010: Going back to school and working full time without losing my mind. Ok, half of it is gone. (ps, still pitching tons of things with no visible appearances of having done so. Nine of us bring too much into the house at an alarming rate; it is hard to keep up.)

What were your biggest challenges?

2005: Schooling the kids with joy and intent – still a challenge!

2010: Going back to school and working full time while still being a mom to seven kids.

Who surprised you this year? In what way?

2005: Tom – he bought a dog – Lucy.

2010: Bob – he hired me after interviewing “16 other highly qualified women.” THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. I am so honored to be a part of this team, one of the guys and your right hand “man.” I would say that you boys will not rub off on me, except I smell Paul Sebastian even as I write this.

Mr. D - finally decided to join the AF. FINALLY. FINALLY. And actually liking it.

What was your favorite TV show?

2005: Survivor followed by Lost and then 24

2010: Lost - no time for tv, really AT ALL while going to school. It is a bummer. I miss TV. I miss a lot of things and people. :(

What is on your wish list?

2005: a digital camera that takes photos that don’t look like digital

2010: a great lens for indoor sports shots. (I know you think I fell off the face of the earth, but rest assured I write all the time, you just don’t see it, and I take thousands of photos still, I just don’t have the time to upload them. Just for the swim season alone, I took 999 good shots. I don’t know why I didn’t take that 1,000^th good shot. )

What were your favorite phrases?

2005: “who did this?”

2010: "who did this?" ok, Z, I’m stealing your line: “It’s tricky….”

What was your favorite food?

2005: Ice cream as usual…

2010: food… I think I remember that… Mostly anything I don’t have to cook. No time to cook. Seriously, how do women who work full time cook??? When does it happen?

What was the most important lesson you learned?

2005: We are here to serve others, but most people don’t think so!

2010: oh the lessons…. The many, many lessons. How about one…. Trust no one, especially the ones who say, “You can trust me.” Ha.

What was the best gift you gave?

2005: Heidi’s flip flops signed by Trace Adkins

2010: uh…. :-X

What was your most extravagant purchase? What is your newest tech item?

2005: Direcway – satellite internet service for both questions. (2010 - Bah hate direcway/hughesnet and it is STILL extravagant.)

2010: laptop for school

What should you have done more of?

2005: Being joyful in all things!

2010: Cleaning, but…. When? When to do anything anymore.

What should you have done less of?

2005: Cleaning – ok, seriously, throwing less temper tantrums abut the kids’ messes.

2010: uh… I would say working and schooling, but that is mandatory right now. Less of... Less of... worrying?

What made you sad?

2005: Seeing my kids grow up so fast and Tom not being able to spend much time with them.

2010: losing people I love.

What gave you joy?

2005: Melodie and Lauch at their wedding and seeing extended family this year at reunions and weddings.

2010: my kids finding things in life that give them joy.

What is your motto for the year?

2005: Family First – probably the motto for all the years!

2010: Only one more year and it will be over (school).

What new skills did you learn this year?

2005: Mosaics from Nancy

2010: Moving through office politics and trying not to take it personally… well, my office is fantastic, so I should rephrase to “business” politics. Maybe that means not letting those who are satisfied with mediocrity not deter me from wanting excellence. No, I’m not quite saying it right… The skill of not letting THEM get under my skin. They will never deter me from MY wanting excellence. Maybe they deter others, but not me. I still rant and rave about it, though. How about a fun skill. I would like to say Viking knit, but …. OH, wait - Kumihimo. I learned that. But I never finished my necklace.

What did you do on an average day?

2005: Clean, school the kids, cook something at the last minute, read aloud, surf the internet, take care of the baby, Mr. M.

2010: get up at 6:30, get to work by 7:40 ish….. work until 5 ish…. Get to home, do homework with kids, drive them all over creation, do my own homework, crash and burn while reading…. Get a little sleep and do it all over again the next day. It’s a very full life. Most of the time, I really like it. I just miss some things and know I have to be patient. They will come back into my life after a while. Right? That’s what I keep telling myself.

Which did you do more of? Smile or cry?

2005: Smile – I never cry except at movies or songs or things that take my breath away!

2010: hahahahahahahahhahHAHAHA. Oh my gosh!! I think the Fall of 2006 unleashed my tears for all time. But I do smile more than I cry. And I laugh a lot. I love laughing.

What do you think was your most valuable contribution?

2005: Other than schooling my children, it would have to be our sacrificially giving to Katrina victims and the Afghanistan refugees. It was great to watch the kids give away some of their favorite things.

2010: working at the school and the privilege of being a part of an incredible team to shape the entire system’s future in the most exciting ways.

What did someone say to you that surprised you?

2005: That I gave the most fun home party they’d ever been to. When I heard it more than once, I started to believe it!

2010: Bob – “You have director written all over you.” Where? I thought I scrubbed that off.

What was your most memorable journey?

2005: The one where I took stock of what is important to me in this life and where I really want to go.

2010: oh baby. The craziest and most memorable year of my life, beginning in mid-August. The journey has.not.stopped.since.

What was your fashion like?

2005: Pull on pants with elastic, nursing top with jacket, bare feet or socks, necklace with bling.

2010: Business suits with definitely female tops, heels and BLING!!

The worst thing:

2005: kid drama

2010: losing key people in my life. I desperately need them and miss them in oh so many ways. :(

There, a blog entry from me. Finally. Seriously, though, I really do write. ALL THE TIME. :)