Oh, what a year.

Here I am. You would think that three weeks off of school would mean more time for blogging, but ...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I very much did. This was our year to have my sister and her family stay at my parents' house so I was thrilled to have extra time to soak up snuggling and spoiling my nephews. It also means that I got to sleep on the couch for the week. Every morning, my nephew would come out into the living room and sweetly wake me up by smacking my pillow really hard. When I woke up, the request - er, demand - was always the same, "I wanna watch Toy Story."

Needless to say, I have the movie memorized. And may I just add: Buzz Lightyear ... psh. Woody is my favorite. There's a snake in my boots.

The most exceptional highlight of my Christmas was this brilliant gift lovingly bestowed on me by my brother-in-law:

Oh yeah. I am now the proud owner of a Snuggie. And as you know from this post and this one too, I think the thing is ridiculous. Should I admit then that after laughing hysterically for a good 10 minutes, I wore it throughout Christmas morning and then again at another party? It is warm and snuggly. And the fact that I could drink my coffee without my hands slipping out from under my blanket? Well, I just might become a fan. Now I just have to try it out at a sporting event ...

Considering we're only hours away from welcoming in 2010, I think I'll reflect a little on the last year, and for that matter ... the last decade. Time does, in fact, fly.

In 2009, I ... turned 26 to kick off the year, dyed my hair brunette, ecstatically welcomed my second nephew into the world, dyed my hair blonde again, celebrated the birth of friend Kristi's adorable little son, started nursing school, celebrated Amy & Bryan's wedding, gave my first injections, met a new family of friends, celebrated the marriage of Kelli & David, had my heart broken by a two-year old little girl and then put back together by the sight of her smile and the hope she would be okay, and of course - tried out the Snuggie for the first time.

In the past decade, I ... graduated high school, started College Part 1, changed my major, traveled to Aruba, cried through two maid of honor speeches, changed my major again, ziplined through the Costa Rican rainforest, graduated from Michigan State, started and ended my pageant 'career,' became an auntie, moved to Chicago, climbed 80 flights of stairs, lived in a closet, fell in love with Chicago, moved to east Michigan, went back to school and moved again. In 10 years, I ... have lived in five different cities, had nine different places I called home, attended five different churches, took classes at four different colleges, had two full-time jobs, and had 12 different roommates. Whew.

None of that was part of my plan and looking back on it is overwhelming at best. But I am amazed and constantly overwhelmed by how much more perfect God's plan is than any plan I ever had for myself. For that, I feel thankful, blessed and humbled that the God of the universe would intricately use all of these things to shape who I am and who He wants me to be in this thing we call life. I'm staying on His journey ...

Happy New Year and may 2010 and the next decade bring you more love, joy and laughter than you could ever imagine for yourself!

Edited to add: Oh yes. I guess I should add that it is indeed my birthday today (January 1). My claim to fame is that I was the first baby born in my county in good ol' 1983. What did I receive? A year supply of diapers? No. A savings bond? Not that either. Any material gift? Nope. All I got was my picture in the newspaper. :)