A 2007 Survey

I got this from Angi and thought it might be fun. It's long.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before? I took all three of my girls to a UALR basketball game. Apparently I was smoking crack...it was interesting.

2. Did you keep your new year resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I am not a resolution maker - so there weren't any to keep. In 2008 I do have the goal (not a resolution, though) of being more organized and hopefully crafting/creating things, which I love and find very relaxing.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Ha! I go to the Bible Church - of course!! We had three sets of twins in our church earlier this year, plus our dear friends who'd been told it would take a miracle for them to have a baby of their own...had one! My friend who lives in India came home this spring and had a baby boy just a few days ago. There were *several* other births in our church and a few of us still waiting to deliver...including the mom of one of the sets of twins! :) We all like to be pregnant together.

4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes, my grandmother; the mother of a sweet friend; and a woman who has been in our church for a long, long time come to mind immediately. I also had friends who were affected by someone close to them dying - and it was so hard to see them grieve like that.

5. What countries did you visit?
This is just funny! I went to Florida in May - that's the furthest away from home that I was!

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? Energy and organization

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? June 17, Father's Day, in the bathroom at church - learning we were expecting again -- slipping into a seat in Sunday School and flashing my pregnancy test at Patsy Mitchell - her reaction was priceless. And then October 4, a Thursday morning, when we learned we were having a baby boy!!!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Reaching the decision to homeschool Elizabeth for kindergarten (starting in August 2008)

9. What was your biggest failure? My organization is pretty much shot these days and I need to regain that. I REALLY need to regain that if I'm going to homeschool!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Beyond the general sickness that went with being pregnant and a couple of minor illnesses - no

11. What was the best thing you bought? Our van! Second best thing, my laptop.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Elizabeth has been such a wonderful, wonderful helper and big sister. I'm constantly amazed at what a sweet spirit she is.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My own. Surprised I said that, eh? I've been sick, tired, whiney and very complaining; selfish and just plain ugly!

14. Where did most of your money go? Bills - doesn't almost everyones?

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? When the sweet 11th grade girls came to my house on my birthday and spent 3.5 hours cleaning my house. We folded laundry, they ironed, they scoured my kitchen and mopped my floors, they enlisted Elizabeth and Katherine's help in cleaning and organizing their room. It, honestly, was the best birthday gift anyone could have given me. I'd rather have a clean house than go to a spa any day of the week!

16. What song will always remind you of 2007? "You Are the Music in Me" or anything else from High School Musical 2 -- which my girls sing all the time!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?
 a) much happier, 2006 was a horrible year for me; (b) is "pregnanter" an answer? Take away pregnancy weight gain and I'm actually thinner; (c) richer but in more ways than in my bank account

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Trusted God and relied less on myself

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? I wish I'd raised my voice less

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Opening gifts at home and then spending time at my parents' house

21. Did you fall in love in 2007? Yes, with a sweet little boy who likes to stick his feet in my ribs. :) I plan on falling in love again in 2008 when I see his face.

22. What was your favorite TV program? The Martha Stewart Show, Elizabeth and I love to watch it together

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I don't hate people and if I had issues with someone I'm the kind of person who'd address it.


24. What was the best book you read? It was one I really needed: Anger & Stress Management God's Way by Dr. Wayne Mack. I also read the seventh Harry Potter.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
 There wasn't one.

26. What did you want and get? Laptop, van, a script for Zofran, the end of morning sickness

27. What did you want and not get?
Nothing that I can think of - I mean sure, a million dollars and a car-load of spending money would be nice to wipe out all the bills and let us build a new house, but that's not realistic so I can't say I really wanted it.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
When was The Queen in theaters? I didn't see it in the theater but saw it at my parents' (even though I had the DVD and it still sits on the shelf in the wrapper!)

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 42. The 11th grade girls from church - and their adult worker and her husband - came over that morning and spent time cleaning my house, which was wonderful. That evening, my mom made roast, potatoes and carrots because that's what I was hungry for (and I was still sick from baby boy); we had dinner with them and my sister & her family; my brother and his wife came out. I opened a few gifts and then we came home, I took a Phenergan and crashed. (life is exciting when you're old and pregnant, huh?)

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Paying off all debt? I mean, really... Beyond that, nothing.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Enough to make Tim Gunn and Veronica Webb cringe (for those who watch Tim Gunn's Guide to Style - love that show). Early 2007: jeans or yoga pants and Talbot's t-shirts. After I got pregnant: Maternity - jeans, fleece pants, yoga pants, t-shirts, sweatshirts, a ponytail and ball cap

32. What kept you sane?
Zofran and sleep; my sweet husband; friends who said, "Okay, here's what we're doing for you..."

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I wouldn't say I really "fancied" her but I really respected Mylie Cyrus, when asked about pregnancy rumors swirling around her she said there was no way they could be true because she "believes in remaining pure until marriage." I almost fell off the sofa when I heard that come out of her mouth. And that is why I don't mind my kids loving Hannah Montana. I just hope she continues to believe that as she gets older.

34. What political issue stirred you the most? I didn't really get involved in politics or wrapped up in issues this year; however, can I get a big WAHOO that Arkansas now has a law in place that protects my right to breastfeed in public! (not that lack of such law EVER stopped me before)

35. Who did you miss? I deeply, deeply regret that my girls didn't get to meet my Grandma and that's no ones fault but my own. I also miss my friend, Jo, who moved to VA to be closer to her daughter, son-in-law and grandkids -- and I'm thrilled for her!!! But, I still miss her!

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Murray (okay, he wasn't "new" but a reintroduction) and Linda; Chad and Tracy; Stephen and Lori -- precious, new families in our Care Group and we love them dearly

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007. Love is patient, love is kind, love is not easily angered -- just ask my chopping block, as I scrubbed it and reminded myself of those words - sometimes several times a day. There were some days that chopping block couldn't have been any cleaner! 


38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. "I'm pregnant, again" (Loretta Lynn)