Best of the Decade

Today is the first day of a new decade, and just like last decade I have no clue what the it has in store for me. I started the 2000's as a 12 year old seventh grader with a somewhat sheltered view on life, bangs, and braces. Now I am a 22 year old college graduate that still has bangs (they're cuter now..I hope!), but I would like to think that I am no longer so sheltered to the realities of life. And thanks goodness I still do not have braces! Although I, (along with every person I know) had some difficult times last decade, I also had some wonderful times that I would not trade for the world. So I picked my favorite memory from each year to share. (I may have cheated on a few and shared more than one, but it is my blog so you can deal with it ;) )



2000- I have forgotten a lot of things that happened in 2000, but one of my favorite memories was playing Alice from Alice in Wonderland in our Fall 8th grade drama production. Everything from the pre-practice Subway trips with Ashley to the curtain closing on closing night were just a blast!

2001- There are many favorite memories from 2001, but my absolute favorite memory was in November when my family had just picked up my mom and Kyndal from the airport. We were at home, and Kyndal had just been laid down for a nap. When I heard her crying from my room next door I could not help but sneak in and see if I could comfort her. I took her in my arms and rocked her. She fell asleep holding my finger. It was at that moment that I thought to myself "Wow! This is my new little sister. Like for real!"

2002- By far my favorite memory of 2002 was in late May when I made it into the all women’s show choir, Tiger Ladies! It was at the end of freshmen year and I was SO nervous the day the list was going up. It was all I could think about. I walked to the choir room door and anxiously looked at the list. When I saw my name I squealed. Amanda Kettle, who was completing her sophomore and had been in Tiger Ladies, asked me if I made it, and when I nodded exclaimed to me that she had made Encore!, the higher lever co-ed choir. Even though we hardly knew each other we hugged in our excitement. It was a great moment.

2003- My favorite memory happened at the end of the year when my mother and I went to go see The Nutcracker. It was a complete surprise! My mom told me that she had a work Christmas party in Denver and that I had to go with her since my dad was busy. She said that I needed to dress up for it, so she bought me a really fancy dress. Instead we went to the Denver Performing Arts complex. The Nutcracker was incredible and it enchanted me from the very beginning.

2004- Ok. I have two favorite memories for this year. The first was when I got to go spend time in Michigan with my Aunt Ronda and Uncle Curt. They spoiled me so much, and made my summer great! My other favorite memory from 2004 was when Lauren came to visit. She was my best friend that moved away in the most inopportune time in the middle of my sophomore year of high school. We had kept in contact, but it just wasn’t the same. I can remember driving to the airport to pick her up, and I was literally bouncing in my seat. I knew things were going to be back to our normal humor when she started talking about the guy in the sky with the sty in his eye.

2005- Oh goodness. This year is filled with so many great memories- surprise birthday party, Peer Counselor Elidge Gardens trip, graduating, meeting so many wonderful people all at once at SNU- it is so hard to decide a favorite! I guess I am going to have to go with my Fall Break trip to Killeen with Jessica and Robin. It was during this trip that I knew I was going to make lifelong friends while at SNU, and this proved to be true!

2006- Once again, there are so many great memories to choose from. I am going to choose two again. The first one was when I went to Dallas with Clayton, Danielle, and Marcus! It was my birthday weekend and I had a lot of fun. It may sound silly, but I remember feeling so grown up because I took a weekend out of town trip with just friends and no “adult” supervision. My second favorite memory was getting back to OK after having been gone all summer. I had missed my friends so much, and it was great to be finally reunited! I felt like I was home.

2007- This year gets two too! For the first memory- two words. Veronica Mars. I am pretty sure that Niki, Jessica, and I watched two seasons in about a week and a half. It was kind of ridiculous really, but so much fun! We’d race back to the dorms from our classes, and would dance when the theme song came on. It was simple entertainment, but it was a blast! The second was the summer I spent at Covenant Heights! There I had the time of my life and met my kindred spirit- all while getting paid to do it! It was by far the best summer of my life!

2008- Once again I have two favorites. Scratch that. I have three. My first was Clessica's Wedding! I got to hang out with old and dear friends, meet new friends, and witness the union of two of my greatest friends. Plus I got to go to Schlitterbahn with some more friends the day after. It was a very friendly time. My second favorite memory was when I went to China with my mom to pick up my new little sister- Madilynn! I feel so blessed to have been able to be apart of that life changing trip. MJ was a joy from the start. And finally my other favorite memory from 2008 was RA training week. That is when I got really close to the ladies I was going to be working with for a whole school year. That week was filled with so much laughter and sharing. I still laugh to myself when I remember Kendra and I trying to paint a straight black line (never happened), and when the paper that Devon and Blaire were painting blew in the wind and splattered Devon. We were so much more than a staff that year- we were great friends and it was that week that started it all!

2009- My favorite memory from 2009 was a few weeks into my student teaching. I do not remember the exact day, but I remember there being a day when I realized that I can teach. Before student teaching I had been so nervous that I would just be a completely incompetent teacher. When I realized that I can teach, and that I have fun while doing it, a huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders. After all- it is want I want to do with the rest of my life.

I am sure this list would be different tomorrow if I had posted it then- I have a lot of great memories from the 2000 decade. So here is to 2010 - 2019! Let it be filled with great memories for all of you!