A good friend of mine – THANKS JEN! – sent me this article! I loved the writing prompts and decided to turn it into a blog post!

Wrap up your year with these 10 questions. Reflect on your personal growth, acknowledge your mistakes, and savor your success!

1. What makes this year unforgettable?

This one is pretty obvious, the diagnosis of my father’s lung cancer, his 129 day battle, and his death on June 2nd has impacted me more than anything in my entire life.

Read more on that here: http://www.thepinkshoelaces.com/category/a-fatherless-daughter/

2. What did you enjoy doing this year?

I really enjoy listening to podcasts. I used to rot my brain watching shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Keeping Up with the Kardashians over and over again but now I invest that time in podcasts growing and learning. I listen to podcasts in the car, doing dishes, doing laundry, anywhere and every where I am listening to podcasts or books!

Here’s a post I did on podcasting for newbies: http://www.thepinkshoelaces.com/intro-to-podcasts/

3. What/who is the one thing/person you’re grateful for?

While I’m grateful for so many people in my life, 2019 is the year I met my son Gannon. He is such a joy in our lives.

4. What’s your biggest win this year?

I’ve made so much progress on my mental health and learning to love myself. My anxiety is well managed. My body dysmorphia is at an all time low.

Read more on that here: http://www.thepinkshoelaces.com/living-with-body-dysmorphic-disorder/

5. What did you read/watch/listen to that made the most impact this year? 

Dave Ramsey. Everything and anything Dave Ramsey. We’ve paid off close to $20,000 of debt since April 1st. We’ve completely changed the way we view and handle money.

Read more on that here: http://www.thepinkshoelaces.com/financial-tips-friday/

and here: http://www.thepinkshoelaces.com/financial-friday-week-two/

6. What did you worry about most and how did it turn out?

Speaking of my son Gannon, he’s had some major health issues throughout the year. I spent quite a bit of time worrying about him.

He’s doing well now. He has to have a minor procedure coming up in February. He still struggles with tummy troubles but it isn’t interfering with his everyday life and well being.

You can read more on that here: http://www.thepinkshoelaces.com/gannon-joseph-friedman/

and here: http://www.thepinkshoelaces.com/gannons-big-day/

7. What was your biggest regret and why?

I wish I wouldn’t have binged so much when I was pregnant with Gannon. I so used the excuse “I’m pregnant! I can eat anything I want!” I’m paying for it now carrying around these extra 8 lbs of stubborn weight.

Also, I wish I would have started blogging sooner. I really enjoy it and I’m bringing in an income just three months after launching thepinkshoelaces.com

8. What’s one thing that changed about yourself?

I care so much less of what other people think of me and my life. Their opinion of me is none of my business. I think once you go through something like I went through this past year you realize what and who really matter.

9. What surprised you the most this year?

My ability to stick with things. I’ve always been very “whimmy.” I start and stop and start and stop hobbies all the time. So far I’ve stuck with budgeting and taking control of my money and paying off debt for a solid nine months. I’ve stuck with this blog for three months now. I’m about to jump into training for a half marathon. I can trust myself to set a goal, create a plan, and stick with it even when things get hard.

10. If you could go back to last January 1, what suggestions would you give your past self?

Hang in there. You’re going to lose so much but gain so much more. I wouldn’t trade the person I am today for the person I was one year ago for anything. It’s going to suck. Embrace the suck.

Pick a question and post your response in the comments below!

Whew. What a whirlwind. I’m writing this post Thursday night. The boys were sent to bed early on account of no napping. We just had a few visitors (who had some really exciting news but more on that later) and it is just Craig and I on the couch.

Christmas week is over. I head back to work tomorrow (today) to work the weekend. I’m exhausted. The house is finally coming back together after the monstrous influx of new toys and games. Craig and I have spent the week together but it feels like we haven’t seen each other at all from all the running we’ve been doing.

I worked Christmas Eve Eve overnight so I hit the ground running after work. I braved the crowds at Walmart which was a lofty task even for 7 am. I got a ton of groceries and finished up some last minute gifts.

Then it was off to the meat locker. I LOVE meat. I feel like I get the best variety, quality, and prices if I go straight to the locker. I go to Polasheks locker in Protivin Iowa about every other month and buy about $100 of meat. They have amazing brats, brat patties, venison, sausage etc. I get prime rib if we are feeding extra fancy. So I decided to gift that to Craig’s parents and grandparents this year. I got all of this meat for $127 straight from the building it was “processed” in. Doesn’t get closer to the farm than that! Each family got a Walmart reusable bag full of meat. It was a hit!

I got home and ran around the house like a crazy woman while mom had the boys. I had so much to get done and even though I hadn’t slept yet, I needed to get stuff done! By the time Craig got home, we loaded up the boys and were off.

Oh, and we stopped to play with mom’s new puppy Rosie 🙂

Then we headed to Craig’s parents house about an hour away on Christmas Eve. I again had to stop at Theisens and do some more shopping/returns on the way. I got about 15 minutes of sleep in the car.

We usually do soup – more specifically oyster soup – at Craig’s parents. It was delicious.

Then it was time to open presents:

We headed back home around 7 because we STILL had more to do to get ready for Christmas the next day.

That’s all I have for now friends! I’ll give you the recap of Christmas Day TOMORROW! Check back at 5:30 am. It’s just too much for one post and I think Craig and I are headed to bed.

Craig’s Grandparents were married on December 27th, 1969. They are celebrating 50 years of marriage this year!

I told Delores I would be in charge of the guest book. I have a friend who makes really cool signs/home decor and she totally nailed it! This was exactly what I was look for! She even provided the perfect pens for everyone to sign in!

Gannon had a ton of fun! He ate so good, especially the cake, and here he is sitting with his Great-Great Grandpa Clem! In the second picture he’s chilling with his Great Great Grandpa Clem and his Great Grandma Delores!

AND obviously that worse him out…

Here is Merle and Delores with their three children Terry, Dan and Debbie. Debbie is on the far right and she is Craig’s mom.

Here they are with all of their children and their spouses, grandchildren, and great grand children!

The weather was GREAT and the food was excellent! they had the reception in the same place they had their wedding reception too! I used to work at the venue bussing tables and bar tending for weddings all throughout junior high and high school.

We were all pooped by the time we got home and I had to work so we all took a nap and that was fabulous!

Anyway, that’s all I have for today! Be sure to check out tomorrow morning’s blog post too!