A look back at the great ’08.
It’s hard to believe that we’re getting ready to roll right into 2009. And while I’m all over resolutions and fresh starts, I thought it might be fun to waste a bunch of time take a look back at ’08 through the little bloggy, especially since a lot of you haven’t been around for the whole year.
And what a year it’s been.
We started off slowly with quite a pathetic first blog post where I begged y’all to be my friends. It wasn’t long before I was talking about my love of all things aquatic and dishing up that first helping of processed nacho cheese to the blog readers. I must have had an obsession with cheese, since I compared myself to a slice of it while discussing my single status. I confessed my true love of big hair to you early on and took you with me as I (nervously) ventured into the elementary school world. We certainly can’t forget how I had you all practically begging me to bring my “skills” to your local church.
And that was just January.
I continued to amaze you with my ability to act like a fool in February when I used the word “hottie” while speaking in a church and then, a mere day later, tackled the ultimate question while speaking to youth at another church: exactly how are babies made? I gave you a glimpse of the sweeter, younger Amy Beth and confessed a college crush gone bad. I vowed revenge on the Starlite leader who deflated my air mattress at one of our sleepovers and got revenge on a bunch of ‘em just by posting these pictures. I took a blog vote on how I should wear my hair on a first date and then came home to tell you all about it.
March had me talking about my collection of wellies and introducing you to Imaginary Boyfriend. I snuck into the cockpit to say ‘ello to a pilot and killed an innocent pink bunny. Someone should have taken my cell phone away from me in church and someone should have definitely taken then roommate Katie’s cup of Jello away from her.
We began April with a bang, namely 101 things you didn’t know about me. The fun continued with the weirdest conversation about chocolate pudding fights I’ve ever had while sitting in an ER waiting room. I had a some other “delightful” conversations as well, including one where Katie attempted to gain control of the Little Debbie supply. I figured out who I’ve been making my paper cube for all along, thanks to a little fourth grade girl. I met the enemy who dealt me quite the foam-y blow and then watched my self-esteem take a blow of it’s own. And, in a foreshadowing of what was to come, I introduced you to my impressive cooking skills.
May began with me riding around on a golf cart with a boy before discovering birds in the Starlite office. This resulted in me posting a video of me running in terror from the birds and then having to call Jeff in for the rescue. This was also the month I wrote about not feeling pretty and the practice perfection of abstinence for this single girl. I had a conversation with the local Fire Chief and made a sweet baby gift. I broke hearts in Aruba and finally confessed my secret obsession to you. I discovered that loving guys is (apparently) such a sin and also discovered that I’m not very good at flirting. I also featured Imaginary Boyfriend on video for the first (and last) time ever.
June began with me suddenly embracing my single status. I proved I really do have a big mouth, tried to justify Sunny Delight and gave you a peek at the junk I put up with during our all night sleepovers. I told you that I believed that it would be fun to take a kidlet to the grocery store with me and sold a broken toilet to raise money for the ministry, yo. I learned that you should be careful what you post and once again set my dinner on fire. I introduced you to my favorite waiter Trey and decided to run away with him. If that wasn’t enough, we ended the month with our first video of Cousin Cate, one of my favorite to date.
July started with yet more proof that I am nothing if not a delicate flower. This was the month I first showed you pictures I had taken and was blown away by your response. I told you about a secret fear of mine and gave you a much-needed cooking lesson. I gave you the first hint that major changes were coming my way before finally giving you the big news. I went for a Sunday afternoon drive and got a good reminder to read between the lines.
August was a busy month that started out with a trip to take care of my eyebrows and a little party to celebrate The Most Awesome Engaged Couple Ever. I made the breakfast of champions and wished I could talk to myself six years ago. I caught a flight to San Antonio to attend my first Beth Moore event where I also tried my first puffy taco. My dreams of what Beth’s hair would look like were not just met but actually exceeded. I had an unfortunate incident at Babies ‘R Us and helped give a fun baby shower.
September was a tough month in my life, the start of a season I’m glad I didn’t see coming. I wrote one of my most introspective posts of the year here and dealt with some serious pain behind the scenes of the blog. I perked up when I heard that my true love was coming home to me and tried smores for the first time. I wrote about forgetting to breathe and learned that I’ve been missing out on true love’s kiss.
October started off with me kissing my new file system and learning about Target’s incredible blankets. I was given quite the surprise courtesy of Empowered Magazine and vowed to do better the next time I fell in love. I went on a fun weekend getaway that took two posts to describe. I showed you what an afternoon in Starlite is like and wrote way too many posts about my love of Dollywood. I ended the month by starting the quest towards fitting into the little black dress.
November began with a trip to see Disney on Ice and a bomb threat during one of our Starlite programs. Before long there was very exciting news to report and hot pockets to be eaten. I ate a slice of humble pie and took my college girls to have some major fun. The end of the month brought an end to a chapter of my life, too.
December found me searching for stability and laughing at Cousin Cate’s country accent. Making a mature decision resulted in my nights suddenly becoming silent and the realization that some things just never change. I proved that I’ve got a long way to go when it comes to maturity and tried to convince my college girls that they’re gonna miss this. I had cereal for lunch in the college dining hall and celebrated all of Allie’s hassle for a tassle. I took up a short-lived career in carpentry and almost had my identity stolen.
Looking back over this year — both through the posts you’ve read and the stories I haven’t dared blog — I see a girl who is trying so hard.
A girl who loved, a girl who lost. A girl who blessed, a girl who cursed. A girl who tried to help but sometimes ended up only hurting. A girl who was surprised to fall for love and bitter about falling out of it. A girl who shows maturity beyond her years and a girl who needs several more years worth of maturity. A girl who won some battles and lost a few others.
Maybe it’s ironic, but I think my last post of the year, particularly the last few words of it, does the best job of summing up how I feel about my year. Because more than anything, I see a mess.
That somehow got made into a year long message.
This post has GOT to get some sort of award for most links EVER!
Great recap. So glad I read them all the 1st time…it would take hours & boxes of kleenex to get through these.
Ok so I had like half a year to catch up on and I am so glad I did. I laughed and laughed and laughed and cried and laughed and Marty thought I was crazy ofcourse! LOL! This was so well written.
All the Best for 2009 Amy Beth! You deserve it more than anyone I know!!!
XOXOXOXO
You are so creative, girlfriend! We really should be friends. Because, like I’ve said before, we have so much in common!
And, AMEN to the last number on your last post, sister. Amen!
Happy New Year!
Reading between the lines is a post that I still remember…it struck me…hard. I don’t pay attention enough sometimes. I love that post.
“I see a girl who is trying so hard.” made me think of a Casting Crowns song that gets me every time. The line says “Trying so hard, to stop trying so hard…just let you be who you are…who you are in me…”
Love you girlie and I’m SO glad you’ve taken us on part of your journey with you
I hope you have a FABULOUS 09!!!!
i don’t remember how or when i stumbled upon your blog… but i am so glad i did. i just love you!!
Just have to point out that your year was not a MESS. Honey, that’s what we call a LIFE.
Love you for living it. You’re so freaking FABULOUS!!!
Wow! What a recap! And here I thought I’d really missed a ton, but I started reading in March. Loved spending 2008 with you and looking forward to 2009! And as trs said above, what feels like a mess is indeed a life being well lived. And while from your perspective it may not seem like such, lives that aren’t messy are merely lived from the sidelines. We can’t get to the good stuff without slogging through to get there. And trust me on this, even when you think you’ve got the mess cleaned up and taken care of and you’re on your way to the life you always wanted, more mess just keeps falling in your lap, it just takes on a different form. But life is meant to be messy and beautiful at the same time. How else would we know we need Jesus?! Many blessings and successes and messes to you in ’09! And to quote trs again – she’s right – you ARE fabulous! Praying for you…feel better soon!
Last time I checked, you are FABULOUS…not a mess.
Here’s to a wonderful 2009! : )
What an awesome recap! I can’t wait to read all the posts I missed!
Many blessings to you in 2009!
Girl…you get props just for typing all that and linking EVERYTHING. As you said, chin up. And you do have a message. And a lot of young eyes watching you. You’ll definitely turn every “mess” into a message.
Amy Beth, I don’t know you, I don’t know how I found your blog, but I have enjoyed every minute of reading it this year. You are so honest, so real, so imperfect–and that’s great! I love how you pour yourself into the lives of the people around you–that’s how we should all live. And you make me think of my favorite line of poetry ever . . . “Tis better to have loved and lost than to never to have loved at all.” (Tennyson)
Keep on loving, girl. Just keep on loving.
Hi Amy Beth! I don’t comment very often, but I just came by to say what an AWESOME post. I wish we lived closer because I’m pretty much sure we’d get along fabulously!!
You are not a mess, neither am I, although I know sometimes we certainly feel like one. Just remember, God uses our “messes” to turn us closer to him and that much closer to revealing his plan for each of us. (((hugs))) girlfriend, and I’m prayin’ for ya as we begin this new year!!
[...] I was reading over some of my posts from the last year to put together the end of the year review, I found myself cringing at some of the things I had written, particularly where I talked about not [...]
i started reading the bloggy last May- i’m so glad i got to go back and read everything i missed. happy happy happy new year to you amy beth. thanks for the blog, it makes my day.