How puzzling all these changes are!

This past week has delivered some major transformations. The most notable change is my new car. As most of you know, my RAV4 was stolen during the holidays. Although it was recovered, I just didn’t feel the same about driving it. So, I went car shopping last week and brought home a 2010 Subaru Legacy. So far it is a great vehicle. With all wheel drive, heated seats, great gas mileage, and tinted windows, I am very happy with my choice so far.

I also started a new quarter at school, with Linear Algebra. I was certain that Calculus was going to be the most difficult of my 5 math requirements but it seems I’m quite mistaken. Positive note: Only one more math class after this one. Study time for the big promotion test has also begun as I will be testing for Master Sergeant in either February or March.

In efforts to save a few bills, I have decided to move out of my house and into an apartment. My house will be on the rental market next week. Along with that, I have turned off the cable and created a Netflix account. I’m not sure if that was a smart move or not. Yes, it saves money but I’ve never been a couch potato before. In fact, my television’s power was ever only turned on whenever I had company. Now I find myself addicted episodes of 30 Rock. I haven’t even had this network media device a week and I’m already in season 3. Yikes!

Another recent change in habit is putting together puzzles. I bought a puzzle at the Hobby Lobby a little over a year ago and it collected dust in the closet until just before Christmas. After school had finished and I didn’t have any homework or exams to study for, I pulled the box out spent the next few days putting it together. Once it was complete, I took a picture of it and immediately took it apart and put it back in the box. Not long after that I went to Hobby Lobby to look for a new challenge. This one is kicking my butt. I’ve been working on it for 2 weeks now. It’s funny to think about the cliché that life sometimes feels like a jigsaw puzzle. Sometimes pieces fall right into place and others just don’t make sense at all and you wonder if the piece was put in this box by mistake. But all are part of the “big picture” and can’t be complete without the easy and the difficult pieces. Seems appropriate at this time in my life.

Here’s to the Past Year

As I begin a new year, I can’t help but reflect over the past 12 months. Overall, 2010 was not a great year for this gal; possibly another contributing factor for not sharing my thoughts on here. Although crappy, it was still an adventurous year. I achieved some pretty amazing feats that I never imagined I could accomplish. For example, I hiked not one, but two 14ers (14,000+ ft mountain), I traveled down the Arkansas river, through the Bighorn Sheep Canyon twice on raft and once in an inflatable kayak (aka a ducky), I learned how to rock climb with one successful lead climb, and I ran my first 10k. I've also become quite good at snowboarding. I’m not going to discuss the numerous events that knocked me down in 2010. Instead, I will focus on only the positive aspects of my life in hopes that I will become more confident. Starting today, I will blog at least once a week about a cherished moment or treasured item that has brought me joy.

My new year’s resolution is to be more optimistic!

I will start by sharing my favorite memory of 2010:

What better way to spend Thanksgiving than with the people you are most thankful for? My favorite memory is the company I was blessed with during the Thanksgiving week when Christine, Richard, Troy, and Brian traveled to Colorado Springs to spend it with me. The week started with Christine and Richard’s arrival on Monday. We spent the first few days shopping, cooking, and battling Richard’s altitude sickness. Troy and Brian arrived late Wednesday evening. We spent Thursday morning cooking and baking for our delicious Thanksgiving dinner, watched football, and played some board games. We all woke up bright and early Friday morning and headed to Monarch ski resort for what turned out to be a fabulous day on the slopes. Sore and exhausted, we took our time rolling out of bed and getting the day started. We later ended up visiting the Garden of the Gods to take some photos then traveled to the Rocky Mountain town of Vail. Sadly our vacation had to end and my wonderful friends had to return home. I am so Thankful to have the four of them in my life and even more thankful that I was able to spend time with all of them together. This was absolutely my favorite memory of 2010.