Retrospection

Well it's another January, another year, and I've been rather quiet on the blogging side of things. All I can say is we had a good Christmas, but it was a very homesick one, and we holed ourselves in our house for the two weeks that the kids and hubby had off. We felt quite sorry for ourselves some days, but managed to crawl ourselves out of that, and are now focusing on the year ahead. Looking at new endeavours and exploring new ideas. So things are looking better. Thankfully.
I'm getting the idea for today's post from a fellow blogger, who posted the questions on her blog. And it got me thinking about my own year...... lessons learnt, and mistakes made.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Sold everything, left our country and moved to a new land. Basically uprooted the whole family, and left all we knew behind....was scary indeed!

2. Did you keep your new years resolutions, and will you make more for this year?
I'm not really into new year's resolutions, so I can't remember having any last year. HOWEVER, I do have a goal I have set myself by the end of January, and that is to get my Texas Drivers license!! Yes, I know......I still don't have it, and am still using my international & SA one. Am trying to get my head around parallel parking on the wrong side of the road, in the wrong side of the car!!!!!?????

3. What places did you visit?
Not many places yet, I am sorry to say......only Galveston, and Vermont. I am trusting that this will change in 2010! I'm thinking Florida, California (particularly the Red Forest), Denver, New England, a cruise to any-old-where-will-do, and Hawaii (I can dream can't I??)

4. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
I lacked patience, that needs to change.......

5. What days in 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Oh......well, the first would be saying goodbye to my dear friends at Johannesburg International airport. The second would be landing at Dubai Airport, and feeling such sheer terror, and doubt at the decision we had made in moving to the US. The third would be moving into the house we lease in the woodlands, and seeing our furniture container arrive with our few items we bought from South Africa....that was a good day!

6. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting through it! Seriously though, anyone reading this who has moved countries can relate to how difficult it can be. Nothing is what you are used to, familiarity is out the window.Comfort zone.......what comfort zone?? It's been quite the ride.

7. What was your biggest failure?
Doubt. Doubting God, our decision etc etc.

8. What was your biggest wake-up call?
If I don't make it happen, it isn't gonna happen!

9. What was the best thing you bought?
My car.....I was totally lost and isolated without one for 6 months.

10. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My husband, and children's. They have really been great this last year, this moving countries thing is not an easy task, and in spite of our ups and downs emotionally, they are tops in my book!!

11. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Without sounding self-deprecating, probably my own! I would like to have handled things with alot more patience and maturity, and much less selfishness and self-pity.

12. Where did most of your money go?
We had to start basically from scratch when we got here, so that and buying our cars.

13. What did you get really, really really excited about?
Finding a church, and going together as a family. Getting involved with my "Koeksister" group of ladies! Visiting and seeing my good friend after many years, and meeting her lovely family!

14. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Love Story by Taylor Swift. I downloaded this version on my laptop which I listen to over and over....it's one of my firm favourites, and I'm now a Jon Schmidt fan........



15. What do you wish you'd done more of ?
Spend time alone with God, played more games with my kids and exercise!

16. What do you wish you'd done less of ?
Wasting time watching TV, and fretting the small stuff!!

17. What was your favourite TV programme?
Fast-forward, Glee, House, So You Think You Can Dance.

19. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My hubby took the day off, and we went out for breakfast, and then to a movie to see Blind-Side. It was nice spending time alone....a rare thing for us since we came to the US. I turned 38....wow... seeing that in writing makes me feel really old!!!

20. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
What personal fashion concept???

21. What kept you sane?
My laptop and internet.
My blog.
Skype.
My new car.
The 'Koeksisters'.
My faith.

22. What celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I'm not into any celebrity/public figure, most of them are just over exposed anyways. Although Simon Baker from The Mentalist is easy on the eye....just ask my Mom (big fan she is...)

23. What is a valuable life lesson you learnt in 2009?
Family and friends should NEVER be taken for granted. Not to sound cliched but life is short, and things change, change is constant. Make the most of relationships, and people you love while you can.

24. What is a valuable spiritual lesson you learnt in 2009?
God never wastes your time, and He can catch you up in areas where you feel you've fallen behind.

25. What are you most proud of from 2009?
Getting out of the box of "normal" and the "mundane". My life had become stagnant, and moving like we have, has caused me to re-evaluate what my purpose and passion in life is...I'm still looking for it, but at least now I have a hope of a purpose, and a hope of a passion.

26. What are your goals for 2010?
Like I mentioned in question one, I WILL get my Texas license in January! I also am tinkling with the idea of studying....now don't go falling off your computer chair now....I'm NOT talking MBA or anything quite as ambitious as that. I'm thinking more along the lines of creative writing, and I want to do a good photographic course....we'll see where that goes.

27. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Oh goodness....that's a hard one! You know, the song that spoke to me the most was one by Casting Crowns called "Praise You in the Storm". I remember landing in Dubai airport on our flight out here, and the overwhelming sense of panic at what we were doing, and with tears in my eyes I looked around at the all the foreign people there, and it just got to me. I kept thinking, what on earth are we doing here, and I felt lost and alone, even in the midst of that extremely busy airport, with my family around me. And almost instantly I remembered this song, and the words from the chorus just spoke to me, and comforted me....

"And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I cry
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart will fall
I will praise You in this storm"

In the months to come that song kept helping me....and still does. Here it is for those who haven't heard it before.



Hope y'all had a great Christmas, and are looking forward to the New Year. 2010....here we come!!