Retrospectfully Yours

Ten years ago the world didn’t end. Whew! That was close. Good thing, too, because Blake was almost graduated with his Masters in Engineering at BYU and now we would have a chance to pay back student loans. Ten years later, we're ending the first decade of the new century...and still paying back student loans. It's been a decade for the record books. Since Y2K didn't kill me, I have:

Become a new mom 3 additional times.

Become an aunt 14 more times.

Become a sister-in-law 7 times.

Become a piano teacher 16 times.

Become a new home-owner 2 times.

Had 5 new addresses.

Witnessed 2 of my children become baptized members of the LDS faith.

Buried 2 grandparents.

Met 20 of my children's new school teachers.

Fell in and out of love with blogging at least 4 times.

Subscribed to the feeds of over 60 blogs, 80% of which stopped being fed when their caretakers jumped ship and clamored aboard USS Facebook.

Clamored aboard USS Facebook, reconnecting with over 200 people that I kind of remember knowing once maybe I think.

Reconnected with around 30 old lost friends on Facebook that I really care about.

Watched 19 seasons of Survivor.

Devoured 7 Harry Potter books.

Watched Blake’s profession of structural engineer go from lucrative to pitiful in just 3 years.

Said 3,650 thankful prayers that my whole family ended another day safely and peacefully.

And now,
Drumroll if you would like….

My most poignant moment of the decade which, by the way, had nothing to do with Tom Cruise and Oprah’s couch, or Brad Pitt leaving Jennifer despite what the Arizona Republic printed on their list...

For me actually it took place the day after September 11, 2001.

I was inside doing dishes in my Provo rental when I heard a plane flying over my home. It sounded too loud and too close. I ran outside to look and make sure it wasn’t headed straight down. When I stepped outside my door I saw that my neighbor had also run outside fearing imminent destruction. We made eye contact and smiled in commiseration as we read other’s thoughts. That’s when the significance of the our nation's terrorist attacks set in for me. That’s when I knew everything had changed. When I knew our futures were a little broken. Two days before an airplane flying past was white noise. Now it was a cause for concern. That day I was so grateful for a Heavenly Father that I knew would ultimately keep us safe from the evils of the world. A decade later I believe that more than ever.

With that belief firmly in place, I welcome you, Two-thousand-teens and all you're gonna throw at me. Bring it.