2011. Accomplished.

It's about that time of year to look at the past 12 months to see what has been accomplished in my life.  Actually, now that I think of it, it'd be great to outline what has happened in the past 24 months...beCausE, things have definitely changed!

In 2010, I accomplished many things on my life bucket list (just to set the scene):

• Became 100% Financially Independent (meaning I pay for everything I need by myself, a longstanding goal of mine)
• Got Married, to an old friend (Surprise*!)
• Moved into a "loft" in a big city.
• Road Trip across the entire United States
• Weekend get-away to NYC (& saw the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in person)
• Epic-ly quit a horrible job (Told em' whats up, and then just simply walked out.  Followed by my similarly fed-up coworker days later.  Something I am genuinely proud of myself for, to this day.)

On New Year's Eve 2010, it was out with the old and in with the new.  My feminine intuition never fails to disappoint, and for as many years (about 5 to be exact) as I just knew that things were not going to get better anytime soon, that night, I just KNEW that my patience would finally meet its promised hopes - on one condition...that I must let go of everyone and everything in the past never ever look back!  It worked.

Central Park, NYC

In 2011, onward pressing onward, this is how things went down...Not exactly bucket list worthy, but nevertheless, of note:

• Upgraded to a fabulous job as an executive assistant to nationally recognized health care executives.  Can you tell I love my job?  I do.  I'm in career-heaven.
• Started babysitting a little boy (he's 7) from India on a regular basis.  It's fun to learn about their culture, and fun to have spending money :)
• Wrote out our first family budget, thanks to Dave Ramsey.
• Went on our first couple diet (we both lost 5 pounds!)
• Learned how to use Coupons, thanks to my Labor Day weekend in San Diego & TLC's Extreme Couponing marathon.
• Moved into a newer apartment, with a non-psycho police officer landlord (aka a very respectful and nice grandma of 2 named Mary Ellen), in house laundry (free), and a built in dishwasher!  Heaven.
• Brigham played and performed at his debut Fireside!
• Brigham and Mike produced their 2nd CD (Spirit of Christmas), and are currently promoting it...if you want a copy let me know...it's on itunes too.
• Escaped to New Hampshire for a birthday getaway...ahhh, I relax just remembering that incredible weekend!
• Enjoyed a wonderful weekend in NYC again this year with Megan, Job and Rachel, and Aunt Kay!
• Quietly quit some toxic people and decided to never talk to them or think about them or talk about them again.  And I the more time that goes by, ironically, the more happy I am.  Strange, huh, but this is a big breakthrough for me.  JFK said, "Forgive your enemies, but never forget their last names."  Sometimes the only way to forgive is to forget, and the only way to forget is to say goodbye - for good.  

Like I said, my upgrade to a new job has been a real game changer.  Less hours, more income, and more time with my hubs with less stress.  More time to be domestic = happy Emily.  I am glad that I worked at Enterprise, though, as grinding as it was at times, because I was constantly sharing the gospel and answering questions about being Mormon, and I made really great friends (who I never get to see because they are always working), and lets be honest, I was loved and cherished for who I am, and the example I set by just being me.  I'll admit it, I shed a few tears when I decided to change jobs, and I wasn't the only one.  But as much as I love being with people who LOVE me, I had to get my priorities in order, and in the end, family will always come first.

Looking down the pipeline to 2012, here are some of our hopes:

• Road trip to Georgia (to see Brigham's friend Kat Graham tape Vampire Diaries), North Carolina (to revisit Brig's mission), and Washington DC (to see Jessica and McKay)...uhm to be continued
• Go on a Church History Tour with Welch family visitors
• Celebrate Brigham's Graduation!!!  (whaaa?  already!  I know right?)
• Go camping.  Anywhere!  I miss it so much :(
• Go on a Cruise!
• Fly to Hawaii to visit my mission :)
• Do some kind of scripture/bom challenge
• maybe welcome a little one into the family? We'll see ;)
• Start paying back those torturous student loans...early.
• Enjoy family, friends, the accomplishment of our goals, and then just Chillax!