2013: 13 things I am grateful for

I was debating doing a year in review like last year.  However, this year I decided to mix things up and reflect on 13 things I am grateful for this past year.

1. Teresa and the Yteam. No words can begin to describe my eternal gratitude I have for Teresa and Yteam.

2.  Running (I mean how could I not mention this).

3. My summer in Boston. My job and the new friends I made. I am so blessed.

4. New friends I have made. Instead of including names, and photos (and probably forgetting to mention some) I have decided to just add this video because I believe it speaks for itself! To those new friends,  you know who you are. I am grateful for you.

5. Old friends. To the friendships that grew stronger or continued to stay strong, I am eternally grateful.

6. Broadway. I was so fortunate this year to fall in love with broadway again. Whether listening to the music, going to see a show or watching a silly vlogs on broadway.com, it has brought a great big smile to my face. Special shout out to two of my fav broadway ladies: Ms Lesli Margherita and Laura Osnes.

7. Monday night chats with Sandy.

8. My dailymile and other social media friends. Some of these people I have never met, others I have been fortunate to meet this past year. I am so grateful for all of them and their continued support, whether it be running or just everyday life. They have truly become some of my dearest friends, I am very fortunate. Thank you!

9. Belly aching laughs. I know this may sound random, but I am so grateful for all those times I found myself laughing so hard, I started crying.

10. Letting go of crew. This was a hard decision. Crew played a major part in my college life. I am so grateful I was able to recognize that it was doing more bad than good for me and I allowed myself to let it go.

11. Disney Princess Half Marathon. I know this fits under running, but this was my first half marathon, one I will always remember; An experience I am so grateful for.

12. My trips to NYC and Amanda and her family. So blessed to be welcomed into their home and experience all NYC has to offer!
NYC Half 2013 
Brooklyn Half

13. Grateful to have finally started Weight Watchers and tackling the other 70% of weight loss… FOOD!

No thank you Facebook, I can do my own Year In Review Part Two

July

Came back from my Cape vacation to celebrate Shay's birthday!

Started my new job working at the summer camp. 

Deanna came to visit. 

Fourth of July celebrations happened. 

After my first week of intense training for my new job, Kirsten and I made another move to another dorm. This was done on one of the hottest weekends of the summer, and we were moving to the third floor no elevator.

Before

After.. This after took a while to happen, if you can believe it. 

I picked up a second job at our schools swimming pool at night.

Camp was amazing! I loved the staff and all the campers. Although some days were so so so exhausting, I loved every minute of it.

The book one of my campers made for me!

I started to run more often. Even if it was on the treadmill. 

Dad came to visit and celebrate his birthday. Also show me his new iPad. So jealous of that man. 

August

One of my close friends started to get really depressed really quickly and I spent a lot of time worrying for her. 

Camp continued to be amazing. Sadly, it quickly came to an end. 

The traditional Wacky Wednesday

I escaped to the Cape to help out at the bakery. I also got to see the three kids I babysat the previous summers. Despite working everyday at the bakery, it was a great break away. One of my friends from school was visiting the Cape with their family. We went out for ice cream

The bakery 

Dad and Ellen helped me move into my dorm room. YES! Final move for a long time..

Next to my dorm, not to shabby. 

Reflected on the summer. 

Res life training began.

Right when I thought everything was going great, I got a call that my dad was admitted into the ICU. I went to the Cape to see my dad. It was a really scary time, but was so grateful for all the love and support that came my way. Who knew how much everyone loved my dad?

Started my 21 things challenge

September

My first years and residents moved in!

My dad was finally released from the hospital. However, I got more unfortunate news. The day before classes started my dad was putting Buddy (our dog) down. I decided to miss Convocation, and head to Boston to be there with Buddy. When I saw Buddy, I just couldn't admit to myself that this would be the last time I would be seeing my dog. I was as happy as I could be on the outside, but on the inside I was so sad. It wasn't until, the Buddy's eyes began to close and he stopped moving that I lost it.

Moving on, this is a year in review, not in depth thoughts... Ok.. 

After getting back from  Boston very late the day before classes started. I wasn't for school to start. I didn't have books, pens, notebooks or any idea what my first class was.  

Crew started again.                                                 

Jaimie and I started becoming friends, aka two Sociology majors bonding over the torture of having to fulfill their lab requirement.

My mom visited me. Found out that she was having heart problems. Once again she said this would be a new year, and things would be different (here we go again).  Weird seeing both my parents together. Also the first time I realized my parents were getting older and I (an only child) was going to be in charge of making sure they were ok.

October

Crew racing began, and once again in the beginning I was put in the 2nd Varsity boat, however, as every season seems to go, by the end I was in the 3rd varsity boat.

October 16th came and went. Always a hard day for me.

Started to date someone again for the first time. Didn't go anywhere, but still got out there.

My thumb started giving me pain. Who would have known that I would be having to have surgery for it. 

Marianna and I took a spontaneous trip to Boston. 

Our team did very well at the Seven Sisters Race. We tied for second place. 

November

I started training for the Disney Princess Half marathon, and became obsessed with running.

I voted for my first time ever

My mom and I got into a big fight within the first 4 hours of seeing each other during Thanksgiving Break. Celebrated Thanksgiving day with my dad and ran a 5K. We had Lobster instead of Turkey.  Then had to go back to Boston. Stayed with two very kind families. Not ideal Thanksgiving, by any means, but grateful for those friends I do have in Boston. 

December 

I continued to run farther and farther. To this date my longest run is 9 miles. Not to shabby!

I ran the Hot Chocolate 5K Race  with Shay. Although she ran it much quicker then I did. Still the race was a PR for me. Met up with Cate, who is also running the half marathon in February. She lives in the area. 

Before the race

During.. towards the end

Finished my first semester of Junior year. Not by best semester, but hopefully not my worse... grade wise

Found out I am going to have to have surgery on my thumb in January... Thumbs down..

Ended up spending Christmas with Fred, Teresa and their kids. Best decision ever made. They have really made me feel part of their family. I am so grateful for them. Spending Christmas morning with young kids really does make the holidays so much more magical. I am sure I have overstayed my visit. Words can't begin to describe how grateful I am for them.

Finished my thank you card challenge!

http://cjwthankyou.blogspot.com/2012/12/thank-you-366.html

No thank you Facebook, I can do my own Year In Review Part One

Well, here it is... Almost a year of writing Thank You cards... Can you believe it? I can't! For years I have followed blogs and have always wanted to do my own year in review. Now, I'm not talking Facebooks version of year in review, I am talking a full couple of blog posts. Here we go! This was 2012

January

I started my blog and wrote my first thank you card! I actually didn't start on January 1st. I started middle/late January. Despite that, I am finishing January 1st, 2013. 

Kirsten came to Boston and we celebrated New Years on the coach with our phones handy, ready to text everyone we know... Not too exciting. Earlier that day we explored Boston and planked in awkward places. 

Jterm started.. I worked at the local school with three and four year olds. I enjoyed every single moment of that. 

Lot's of birthday celebrations... Both Ellen and Kirsten's birthdays.

Also started working with A. A brought a smile to my face every Thursday morning I worked with her.

February 

BIRTHDAY MONTH... goodbye teenage years... Let's back up, birthday doesn't come until the end of the month.

Started swimming on Sundays as a de-stresser.

Celebrated my 19th single awareness day alone. I need to find a way to make this years Valentines day much more exciting.

Then before we knew it, it was my birthday! What a lucky girl am I? Such amazing friends who made the day so wonderful..

March

March is nice, because towards the end of the month you can see the light, that is the semester ending.

Continued to babysit B who I miss so much!

Evelyn came back into my life, after a hard winter break from each other. Started a movie challenge, that would soon end.

I participated in my first ever ZUMBATHON. Had so much fun dancing for two hours for a great cause.

Spring break happened. After drama about who to room with I ended up rooming with Shay and some other people. Shay and I started to get closer as friends.

We started to row again on the Connecticut River

April

April is always a hard month for me. Between work picking up, crew races starting and just anniversaries. Both April and October are really hard for me.

Racing began.

Kirsten and I pushed our beds together.. Why? I'm not too sure. At least we never went to bed angry. We are an old married couple.

Kirsten and I had a photo shoot with Veronika to help her figure out lighting for her actual professional photo shoot.

I did a Mood Makeover Challenge, that I saw on the Today Show.

I didn't race for the first time in my life during one of our crew races.

Kirsten and I threw an awesome birthday party followed by a black light dance at Chapin.

Out to dinner before surprise birthday party 

I hit 100 thank you cards.

May

Crew racing season came to an end.

I met someone who would end up being my boyfriend.

Sophomore year came to an end.

Kirsten and I moved to another dorm, and while packing realized how much stuff we had between us.

View from new room.

I started working reunions. I GOT A JOB! I got my highest GPA so far at college.

Shay and I started hanging out a lot, as she stayed in the area during the summer.
That was pretty much May.

June 

Shay, Kirsten and I went on a girls vacation to the Cape. Did I mention, we got burnt, correction I GOT BURNT, 2nd degree!

The boyfriend and I broke up. That was a quick relationship.

After getting fed up with sitting around and doing nothing back at school while feeling like a failure as
Kirsten headed off to work every day (waiting for my summer job to start) I escaped to the Cape for a week.

I went to Lifeguard training which was HORRIBLE. I started to fear that the summer camp I was going to be working at would be just as bad.

Part one... DONE. Stay tuned for more....