What's behind and what lies ahead

Since I've been blogging for nearly a full year now, I won't make this a drawn out post. The beauty of a blog is that it's all right here. I am a person who needs things to be "buttoned up" and tied with a bow...so ending 2009 with one final blog seems fitting.

Mike's 2009 was pretty steady. He cared for lots of patients in the burn unit and also chauffeured many people to the hospital at his paramedic job. After going on several interviews last year, he decided to stay at U of M and really focus on advancing his career. He's taken post on two nursing committees at the U and was also asked to be the unit's web master, a task he is very excited about. He also re-enlisted as a mentor for incoming freshman to the University of Michigan.

In 2010, Mike( the eternal student) plans to more seriously consider going back to school to get his master's of nursing education. He would love to be a nurse educator and some day maybe even shoot for the highest star- dean of a nursing school. He'd also like to get into a work out regimen and get back into running shape. It'll be nice to have a running partner!

My 2009 was enlightening. Having worked in childcare and pediatric health care, I was feeling pretty confident in my knowledge of child rearing. But as someone very wise once said, " It's just not the same unless it's your own." None of my professional training could have prepared me for the joy exudes toddlerdom and that joy is contagious. Raising a toddler slows down the pace of life and you get to exam those things that you before rushed by.Getting to see the world through Mackenzie's eyes is a blessing that I can never explain. Aside from that, I was successful in reaching my weight loss goal of losing 65 lbs. My summer was filled with out door fun- running the trails farther than I'd ever before, bike riding until I was soaked in rain and sweat. I discovered that I really like the challenge of training my body. While I have some pounds yet to shed, I am proud of what I've been able to do over the last year.

2010 will be a busy one for me. I plan on restarting my nursing prereqs and finally conquering math. I also plan on running my first race this April- a 10k! My biggest hope for 2010 is that I can continue to go out of my comfort zone in many different ways and areas of my life. That's where I've learned the most about myself and there isn't much more satisfying than doing something you didn't know you could.

Mackenzie- she's changed so much in '09 that it hardly seems worth it to try to put it into words. Looking back over the pages of this blog, it's easy to see that she's a whole different girl than she was this time last year. She's learned so much and is such a happy little girl- pure sunshine!

This time next year, Mackenzie will have changed all over again-she'll be potty trained and sleeping in her a big girl bed and her knowledge will be far more than it is now. I am really excited to see what this year brings for our little sprite!