Reminiscing Tag

I was tagged by my friend Aundrea and thought this was fun, so here we go: 20 Years Ago: I was 7 years old and lived in Farmington, Utah. One of my best friend's name was Whitney Lacy and I had another friend named Lindsay - whose last name I've forgotten. Another important person in my life? My elementary school crush, Jeff Williams. My parents had just built a new house and we didn't have a fence between our house and our neighbor's house and I remember the "mom" at the neighbor's house used to sun bathe topless. Ah, the things you remember from your childhood... 10 Years Ago: I was a junior in high school and was just running for student body president. I spent all of my time either on the golf course, in the gym playing basketball, or hanging out with my friends. We had some good times. For prom that year I remember having the best tan of my life, and maybe the last tan of my life. 5 Years Ago: Ryan and I had just bought our house and I was 7 months pregnant with Brayden. We were loving Oregon and "being on our own" but I was hating the people who told me that Oregon summers are so mild that you don't need air conditioning. Obviously they had never been 9 months pregnant in August. 3 Years Ago: Landon-man had just joined our family and I began thinking that my family was shaping up how I'd always planned it - all boys! We spent a lot of time that summer outdoors and took the boys on lots of camping and hiking trips. Later that fall we bought a minivan, doing something that I swore I would NEVER do, actually drive one of those. Not only did I buy and drive, but I loved it! 1 Year Ago: Charlotte's arrival put a hault to a family of white-boys and I have been grateful ever since. Ryan was traveling constantly and with no family around it was just me and the kids. She saved my life! With 2 busy (and occasionally naughty) toddlers, Charlotte's fun, bubbly disposition made the days pass by quicker. I felt like I experienced a lot of personal growth, learning to do a lot on my own and do it well. I also discovered the wonderful world of blogging and have loved making contact with people I maybe wouldn't have otherwise kept in touch with or re-connected with. This year so far has been, in all, the hardest year of recent times. Not necessarily in the obvious ways, but this last year has brought me to a lot of soul searching and time on my knees. Not only have I experienced growth in personal areas, but Ryan and I spent a lot of time deciding the right direction for our family, and we are confident and thrilled to be moving in the direction we are going. Yesterday I got my house back on the market and cleaned my window screens. I sorted through more closets and put things into my "ship" and "store" piles. I also watched a movie last night called "A Long Engagement" (French foreign film with English subtitles, and the edited version I might add) which was one of the best movies I've seen in a while. A very complex and smart movie and one I would recommend to anyone! Today someone is coming to look at my house, and if I'm really really lucky or blessed, or a combination of both, maybe they'll buy my house. Tomorrow Brayden and I are starting French lessons. We are starting a little late as far as a timeline is concerned, but I figure something is better than nothing. I'm hoping to at least be able to say "hello," "Do you speak English," and other phrases I have mentioned in past posts. (Ok, so I already know how to say "hello" but you catch my drift...) In the next year I hope to be a seasoned European traveler and be on my way to becoming totally fluent in French and maybe have learned some Dutch in there too! I hope life will be fun and exciting, but at the same time mellow and chill.