Ohhhhh Eight

With having Jack's birthday right there as we ring in each new year, I noticed that I've not ever written a Year In Review post or a Herrrrrre's What's To Come entry on this website -- even though I am actually a mite bit obsessed with a huge fan of reflecting on the past and planning for the future.  So if you'll allow me to drag the new year celebration on for just a bit longer (sure you can drink champagne while you read) we can take a quick look at my year past, and later the one to come.

When I think about 2008, now that we are all of six days into 09, I need a good cry.  Every time.  First I want to weep big crocodile tears of sobby sadness for the hard road that was last year, then some tears of joy and gratitude, and then back for a good long cry of relief.  We made it through 2008.  And frigging hell it was TOUGH.

I think 2007 was one of those years that makes the surrounding ones pale in comparison.  I felt most myself in 2007.  I had a ton of energy and on paper we really accomplished a lot.  We went lots of places and moved to a new house, Kevin took on a new job and I painted and redecorated and just felt healthy in so many ways.  I assumed that 2008 would be a continuation of the year previous and I could spend the rest of my life gleefully hopping around with two kids Enjoying Every Damn Thing (once we sold that pesky house, of course). 

Why hello Morning Sickness, where did you come from?

As can be imagined, I learned a lot this year.  I learned a lot about patience, and grace, and flexibility.  We chucked our plans for selling our old house and rented it out.  We chucked our plans for being a two-child family and opened our hearts to our new baby.  I chucked my plans for finishing my weight loss and for happily vacationing, and we put off every major purchase possible.  Some things really fell to shit, and some of them were rebuilt.  Some things I will never be able to discuss here, but, well, they played a large factor in The Crazy that this year was also.  I'm glad to see the year come to an end.  I'm grateful for all of the opportunities for learning that I was presented with, and I hope I came away understanding everything I needed to.  And my word, I am thankful for my happy sweet-smelling baby that came from this year. 

So here we go - 2008 In Review - In Numbers.

In 2008...

• I mowed zero lawns, dragged garbage cans to the curb only once, and shoveled snow only twice.  Ahh pregnancy, alas I find your perks. 
• We had 2 baby showers, 15 ultrasounds, 1 surgery, 1 tumor removed and 1 reproductive organ lost.  This year my body happily grew 1 beautiful six pound baby and I continued my long-standing career sabbatical to stay home, care for and educate 2 equally wonderful and energetic little boys (and then 1 adorable baby girl).
• In 2008 I consumed 467 pounds of cookie dough followed by a close second, 462.5 pounds of every variety of fresh fruit, canned fruit, fruit flavoring and fruity smelling non-fruit fruit.  I drank only 1/3 as much coffee as I would have, hosted 6 parties in our home, consumed 2 alcoholic beverages and gained 50 pounds (the calories in the alcohol, I tell you!)
• I changed approximately 4000 diapers in 2008, washed at least 1500 loads of laundry, had 2 houses flood, 1 roof leak, and 2 vacuums died.  I painted only 1 room in 2008, hid from 1 tornado, stepped on 984 legos, pinched 1 nerve in my upper back and fell down the stairs once in the middle of the night (and tore the thermostat out of the wall in the process, way to go on doing nothing half-assed.)  I blew my nose 14,982,227 times through the course of 17 colds. 
• In 2008 I ran the dishwasher at least 365 times and washed approximately 4 dishes by hand.
• Major purchases were limited to 1 larger vehicle, 1 winter coat, 1 television and innumerable pink baby sleepers.  This year we purchased 3 DVD's, no CD's, our first video game system as a married couple, and 1 video game.  I purchased 1 pair of shoes this year and no purse.  This year we went to no concerts, no movies, 1 musical, and paid 18 mortgage payments out of our savings veins pocket. 
• Holding strong, we managed to fully fund 1 IRA, rebuild our savings and close out the year without 1 dollar of credit card debt. 
• I read 2 books that influenced me in a major way, meditated at least 100 times and attended church only twice in the middle of an incredible spiritual journey.  I learned 2 very important lessons in 2008, watched my favorite documentary at least 20 times and claimed my personal stake as 1 huge History Channel Dork.
• I learned to love, appreciate and accept this 1 body that serves me whether it is baby-filled, overweight, well cared for or otherwise.  I quietly celebrated my 11th anniversary with Kevin, proud of its fruits, proud of what it took to arrive there.
• In 2008 we took no vacations but made our way into 4 neighboring states, attended no weddings, 1 wake, no funerals, 1 baptism, countless birthday parties.  I helped coordinate 2 classroom parties and rode a school bus 3 times.
• We scheduled 1 vasectomy and cancelled 1 vasectomy, no longer convinced that two 3 is our magic stopping number.  (Possibly I don't mind changing 4000 diapers a year as much as I think?)  I underwent 1 tumor regrowth check to find myself still tumor free and cancer free, hopefully forevermore, at least until February. 
• I kept up with 67 blog feeds, wrote 144 blog entries of my own and took more than 8200 pictures.  I read more than 1000 children's books, (mostly) potty trained 1 little boy, and taught my 2 boys about charity, hands-on, in 3 ways this year.  I made two sets of curtains, six pillows and my first quilt on my gramma's sewing machine.
• I mailed out 72 Christmas cards this year, and excitedly received 46. I was awful about responding to emails.
• In 2008 I sang hundreds of songs, cried more tears than I care to count, smiled thousands of genuine smiles and thanked God hundreds of times for all that we are blessed with.  Even when those blessings are wrapped up in an easy-to-exit year like 2008.

Comments

[Sheila]

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http://utahtib.blogspot.com/2008/12/biggest-loser-6.html

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Love,
Sheila

[Sheila]

Molly,
I have to say that I enjoyed this post. I not only cried during it but also smiled as well. I cannot relate to all of it but I can relate to how this past year has brought heart ache and also a few happy times. I loved how you wrote it. You always do a great job at writing your blog. Wish I was as talented as you are. LOL!!

Love,
Sheila

[debi]

As always you touched my heart. You encourage and help me in many ways. As busy as you are you still find time to blog pretty often. I loved Jacks birthday video. Are you saying that Marin may not be the youngest Ray forever? I had a houseful and I have to say it went by way too fast but now I have all those grandkids(and 1 more on the way) to fill my life. I pray that you all be blessed with all the desires of your hearts. My love to you all, deb

[Erika]

That is all great, but I am blown away by the credit card thing!! And totally jealous. I'm so glad 2008 is over for you, and that we got Marin as a reward for your struggles.

[Frema]

I'm jealous that you only washed four dishes by hand! We've had dishwashers for years but still manage to wash a ton of stuff manually - mostly pots, pans, and baby dishes.

Here's to a fantastic 2009 for all of us!

[Cindy]

Hey.....I know I don't see you that often - or as often as I'd like, but you should have mailed out 73 Chistmas Cards because I am STILL waiting to get one from YOU!!! :)
See you soon!

[Jenny]

I think you greatly underestimated the number of Legos stepped on!

Yes 2008 was very tough, long, tiring and stressful but also full of so much Joy (aka Marin!)

Here is hoping and praying that 2009 will be full of 20 times more joy and about 1/50th the stress!

[Jen L.]

FOUR dishes by hand!?? NO credit card debt?!? Beautiful baby girl and happy boys!? I'd say that's a successful year! Even through the heartaches and rough times, it's always inspiring to see how you look at the silver lining and work through each challenge. Here's to a great 2009 for you and your family!

[Bethany]

Molly, I love this post. I hope 2009 is a really great year for you and your family.

[BetteJo]

..and shared it all (well most of it) with us! Thanks! Here's hoping 2009 serves you as well as 2007! (add one more baby and shake well.)

[SJ]

I am most impressed by your 'end of the year review' out of all the ones I've read so far.

You and Kevin are so inspiring! And as I've read your blog over the last few years I feel like I've been on the roller coaster with you for the ups & the downs. Here's to a wonderful 2009 for you a your family.

And seriously NO credit card debt? My hat is off to you!

[CPA Mom]

I am in awe in how you stay at home, pay two mortgages, and still have no cc debt. My hat is off to you both! What a beautiful wrap up of 2008 - the best I've seen.