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12/27/2006: "End of the year survey!"

music: "A Whole New World"
mood: Happy!

This past year:

Have your religious views gotten stronger or weaker? You know, I can't really say. There has been a tremendous shift, as my views have become more spiritual and less religious ... but I'm not sure that they can be considered stronger or weaker. Just ... different. Still strong, but different nonetheless.

Who were your best friends? Annie, Kevin, Brandon, Gordo, JShields, Jacob and Dylan

Name your boyfriends: Taylor, Brandon

How long was each relationship? Uhh ... Taylor, 2 months-ish? And Brandon ... everything since then.

How was January: Well, January began in Paris, under the Eiffle Tower with Lurie, so that was pretty fantastic! Then I spent the next week finishing my expedition through western Europe. Saw a lot of amazing places and experienced many unforgettable things. The end of January was kind of rough because leaving home is never easy, especially when you don't know when you'll get to go back. All is all, it was pretty amazing!
How was February: February was weird. I went back to Linfield ... and it was downright weird. There were really amazing parts and really amazing people, but it felt so strange to be there and, 1/2 way through my junior year, feel completely out of place. However, I did meet some really great people and got reaquainted with the friends I'd left behind and that definitely made the transition much easier. It was a good month, though it was difficult in its own ways. I started dating Taylor in February and we had a really good time, so that can be added to the list of positives.
How was March: I turned 20! School was school. Things with Taylor officially came to a stand still toward the end of the month; at the same time, things with Brandon started picking up full force, which was amazing.
How was April: April was just April. I don't feel like a whole lot of lifechanging things took place in April. Well, I think April was when Brandon and I officially got back together -- but otherwise, it was just school, work and friends.
How was May: School ended, I determined that I was actually going to go home for the summer and not stay at Linfield like I'd been planning. Said my good-byes for the summer and went on my way.
How was June: June was Cristina's wedding!! Brandon and I roadtripped out to Tuscon and back in FOUR DAYS (we know we're insane! lol). It was LONG and we were both exhausted by the end, but it was a good trip and it was SO worth the drive to see my twin get married!
How was July: Other than working, I don't remember much of July. lol Oh! Wait. I remember something. 4th of July weekend, we were going to go wakeboarding on Bruce's boat (he's a friend of Brandon's parents) ... but in the middle of the lake, it started to sink... lol So we didn't. Brandon and I both lost our cameras to the massive amounts of water in the boat and to replace mine, I bought my Nikon D70.
How was August : August was GREAT! Christopher Danger Helps came to visit!! Man, I can't believe it's been so long since that week. We had a good time, though it was hard to have him here when I was dealing with the stresses of going back to school and saying good-bye to Brandon again. However, nothing is more amazing than being able to hang out with one of your best friends for an entire week. We learned how to wakeboard, went to Crater Lake, went camping; it was so much fun! I went back to school at the end of that week ... which was good and bad. Good because I really missed my Linfield friends ... bittersweet because it was starting to hit me that it was the beginning of the end of my college career.
How was September: September was a hectic month, trying to figure out everything with grad school, res life, work, school, family, Brandon, etc. 1/2 way through the month we went to central California for Brandon's grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary, which was great! It was a really fun trip! Spent Labor Day weekend in Seattle (first time ever!) and pretty much fell in love with the city. Oh yeah, and I finally experienced a party being broken up by the cops (we were completely sober, but they didn't believe us.. lol). what an adventure.
How was October: I loved October. The stress of the beginning of school went away and I decided that if I was going to graduate in December, I was going to have the most amazing last semester imaginable. This included Halloween parties galore, tons of random adventures and just spending time with the friends who've made my life so wonderful. Brandon and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary on the 13th and spent an amazing weekend together in Portland.
How was November: I finally decided what I wanted to do with my life, which took a tremendous burden off my shoulders. lol I decided where I wanted to go to school and what degree I wanted to earn. The reality of graduation continued to slap me in the face and I started seriously questioning a lot of things. I broke up with Brandon over Thanksgiving break, which put a lot of perspective in my life. I realized that what is important to me is not RELIGION, but spirituality ... that my relationship with my Heavenly Father is much more important than expectations imposed by other people. I learned that while people generally have pure intentions, sometimes their advice isn't really the best advice for you because let's face it, they don't really know what they're talking about in terms of YOUR life and YOUR experiences. It was really hard to overcome the expectations of people who have influenced me tremendously, people whose input I really value, people who I hold a GREAT deal of respect for. However, I learned that it is important to do what is best for you if you want to be happy in life. Needless to say, Brandon and I got back together roughly 5 days later. Love really does conquer all and fairytales really do exist. At least they do in my life.
How was December: December has been one huge milestone in my life! I got my first real life job as a Classroom Literacy Asst. at Wilson Elementary School, graduated from college, said good-bye to my home and my best friends (also known as my extended family), and (with the help of an incredibly cute boy) tentatively laid out plans for the next couple years (in terms of when-ish we'll get married, where we will live while I work toward my MEd, etc). All before Christmas even! Life picked up pace TREMENDOUSLY after graduation, but hey ... that's what adult life is like, or at least, that's what they've always told me.

How many parties did you attend?: A lot. lol Way more than any other year, that is for sure!
Did you get drunk for the first time?: Nope
Did you lose someone you love?: Umm, you know ... I don't think so!
Did someone have a baby?: My TWIN!! And Helen!
Any new friends?: Yes. I think it would be really sad to go through an entire year without making a single new friend.
Who changed your year?: A lot of people did, honestly. I don't think I could choose just one person who had the biggest influence on me this year.
Anything you wish you could re-do?: No. Like it said on my graduation cap, "Forget regret or life is yours to miss."
What and why?: See above
Did you lie to your parents?: Probably. lol
Did you lie to your friends?: Again, probably. :-P It's never intentional, but sometimes it happens.
Did you get lied to?: Probably. It is unreasonable to expect that if I lied to some people (regardless of how big or small that lie was), no one lied to me.
Do you hate anyone new?: Nope! No one is on the hate list this year!
Does anyone knew hate you?: I hope not.
Are you glad this year is over?: Well, it's not like it was a bad year! lol But it is always good to start fresh. 2006 had some big things happen, and 2007 will be just as big (if not bigger) I think!
Who do you want to thank for your bad year?: No one, because it wasn't a bad year at all!
Who do you want to thank for your good year?: Mis amigos (cerca y lejos) y mi familia.
Do you think you'll keep the same friends?: Yes! But I also think I will make some new ones.
What is your new year resolution?: I don't really do New Year's resolutions.

The new year:

Will you keep your resolution?: Again, I don't really make them. I always forget them. lol
How many more girlfriends/boyfriends do you think you'll have? I think I will keep the one I have!!
Who do you think you'll spend the most time with?: I vote ... Brandon!
Who will you stop hanging out with?: I do not know. For obvious reasons, I will not see my Linfield friends every day, but it's not like we'll never hang out. I plan on visiting at least once a month if I can help it!
Anything you hope to do this year?: Get married, start grad school, move out of my parent's house.
Are you gonna kiss the same person this next new year?: Quite frankly, I plan on kissing the same boy for the rest of forever.