1. You have to take time to enjoy the small things. There are treasures in the little everyday things that often go unnoticed or overlooked, and it’s easy to pass them by. Taking the time to slow down is worth it.
2. Stress is overrated. It’s not worth the negative effects on your body and your mind. If you can’t remove it entirely, take small steps to live a calmer life.
3. Working Dave Ramsey’s plan is much more effective when your spouse is on board. And it’s totally awesome when he gets more excited than you do about saving money.
4. Setting goals and creating an action plan to reach them is effective. This year, I only set personal goals around the middle of the year. In 2010, I’m setting both personal goals and financial goals, and I’m fired up about what the year will bring.
5. Don’t underestimate the power of God. If you asked any of my friends this time last year who they would least expect to see in church, it would be me. Somehow, I made it there and it’s changed my life in a million different ways.
6. Kids can sometimes teach you life’s important lessons. My 10-year-old reminded me of this tonight. He’s a very generous boy and inspires me to be generous, too.

What lessons did you learn this year? How did it change you?

This is a Best of 2009 Blog Challenge post.

Image Credit: One Man’s Perspective

I started to go with totally awesome, a good ride, marvelous, even miraculous, but no… beyond words pretty much covers it.

What word or phrase describes your year?

This is a Best of 2009 Blog Challenge post.

Image Credit: Michelle

And yes, I did skip a #best09 post. I just wasn’t feeling the Day 12 prompt.

Now that that’s out of the way, on to Day 13!

Long story short, I didn’t make any changes to the place that I live this year. Since we’re on a budget, the home is the last thing we buy for and honestly, we didn’t make any additions or purchases for our home this year. But as we get closer to getting some debt paid off in 2010, I’m making it one of my big 2010 goals to do some nice things for my home so that it’s a little more cozy and a little less chaotic.

I picked up this book from the library yesterday. Abode a la Mode is full of fun crafty home decor projects and most of them use items that are inexpensive or re/upcycled. I’ll post more about the projects in detail as I complete a few of them next year. For now, check the book out from your local library or pick it up on Amazon for a couple of bucks. It’s totally worth it.

Did you make any crafty changes to your home this year? What was your best home decor project this year?

This is a Best of 2009 Blog Challenge post.

This guy right here is the best thing that has ever happened to me. He makes me laugh so much that I spew my drink out my nose. He cares so much for his family that he’s made personal sacrifices others would be hesitant to make. He has his faults, but he always means well. His heart is so good and for that and a million other reasons, I love this boy to death.

So my favorite place of 2009 is with him, wherever he happens to be.

This is a Best of 2009 Blog Challenge post.

Swoon by Silversun Pickups

A few runners-up:

It’s Blitz by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The Resistance by Muse
And, um, I kinda like the New Moon soundtrack

One more – maybe not best of the year, but certainly best this holiday:

Midwinter Graces by Tori Amos

What’s your favorite album of 2009?

This is a Best of 2009 Blog Challenge post.

Have you ever thought you had your life completely figured out and then suddenly the rug is pulled out from under you and everything you thought you knew to be true suddenly wasn’t true at all?

I went back to school in 2006 to finish up my degree with intentions of going to medical school. Because I grew up with my father and stepmother in the forensics field, I knew without a doubt that the only thing I wanted to do with my life was become a doctor so I could practice as a medical examiner. I consumed forensics, attending seminars and learning all that I could from books, magazines and the web. In February of this year, I had an amazing opportunity to shadow a medical examiner so I could see first-hand what I would be getting myself into.

What I experienced that day turned my world upside-down.

I didn’t have the stomach for it. It was too routine for me. I couldn’t separate myself emotionally from the process. No matter how stimulating the experience was for my mind, my soul wasn’t into it. I realized that I didn’t want this life, and suddenly it hit me… I was working so hard in school, spending time away from my family in intense study and for what?

I was completely lost. I thought I had all of this life stuff figured out. Hell, I was 30. I should have it figured out. But I so didn’t have it figured out and that frightened me to the core.

This realization forced me out of my comfort zone and sent me to the edge, to go into deep introspection and to seek my true calling. It’s all still coming together, but it’s falling quite nicely into place. I am grateful for the entire experience because it sparked a tremendous period of personal growth for me. I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without it.

What experience this year took you to the edge? In what ways did you grow from it?

This is a Best of 2009 Blog Challenge post.

Image Credit: Leah

It probably sounds terrible to most people that my moments of peace are few and far between but I have had more joy in my life this year than I’ve ever had in my entire life. I’ve learned that when moments of happiness and peace arrive, you have to relish in them. You have to allow yourself to relish in them.

Where did you find peace this year?

This is a Best of 2009 Blog Challenge post.

Image Credit: Danny Hammontree

My blog find of the year has to be The Pioneer Woman from Ree Drummond. Seriously, how did I not know about this blog before this year? When I want a glimpse of what I want for my life in a few years, this is the blog that gives me that vision. It’s eye-candy for the simple life. I just love it.

Some other finds that I haven’t mentioned previously on the blog are:

Ittybiz – marketing tips from a foul-mouthed self-proclaimed Word Nerd

Loveology – whimsical, beautiful everyday things

Share Some Candy – a must-read for creative types

And some friends:

Sharon, my sister-in-law that blogs about babies and life

Brooke, my uber-talented friend that never ceases to inspire me

What are your favorite blogs of the year? Share them in the comments!

This is a Best of 2009 Blog Challenge post.

“A ridiculous God makes ridiculous people do ridiculous things.”

God is Ridiculous from Lifepoint Church on Vimeo.

This is a Best of 2009 Blog Challenge post.

At Fort Fisher, just down the road from Wilmington NC, there is a World War II bunker about a mile’s walk from the NC Aquarium. My dad used to take me and my brother to this bunker when we would visit him during the summers, and it always fascinated me. The Fort Fisher Hermit, Robert Harrill, used this bunker as his home from 1955 until his mysterious death in 1972.

The hubby and I took the boys there this summer and we had a blast. The mile walk there was a great way for us to connect and explore, and during the walk back we reflected on life as a hermit, forgetting all possessions and the pros and cons of living a solitary life. The hermit story reminds me of Into The Wild and the lesson of how, although it is idyllic in some ways to leave the world behind and live a mostly solitary vagabond life, human interaction is important for our happiness and thus our survival. It’s why I love family time so much. We need each other.

I can’t wait until next summer when we can do it again.

This is a Best of 2009 Blog Challenge post.

Shop Indie Bookstores

This is a Best of 2009 Blog Challenge post.

I’ve played it safe my entire life, but this year has been different. I’ve discovered that the path I thought my life would take was not the path I should be on at all, so I’ve taken risks that, luckily, have turned out to be a positive experience for me.

Take Rebound, for example. Creating a podcast about my family’s misfortunes and subsequent continued recovery was scary. To be judged by others is one thing, but to put yourself out there to be judged on such an intimate level is another. The hubby and I initially created the podcast to create accountability for ourselves. We never dreamed that we would inspire others and thus be inspired. Our listeners are the reason we hang in there. It’s why we come back and record each week. It’s why we continue to fight our way out of debt – we know that we’re not doing this alone.

In 2010, I’m putting myself out there even more, taking risks that I hope will pay off. If I fall on my face (and believe me, that’s always a fear), I know I will be better for it. There’s no way to live a remarkable life without taking risks. It’s part of the package.

I’m not remarkable yet. But I’m on my way.

What about you? What did you do this year that was remarkable? Leave a message in the comments and tell me about it!

This is a Best of 2009 Blog Challenge post.

I’ve discovered this year that it doesn’t take a lot of money to enjoy life. If you savor the little things, the smallest fleeting moments, that’s all that matters.

This is a Best of 2009 Blog Challenge post.

The best trip of 2009 was a last-minute day trip to go hiking at a state park with the family. We made lots of discoveries and great memories. Sometimes, it’s the little things that have the biggest impact.

This is a Best of 2009 Blog Challenge post.