2010 Meme

I got this from Leslie, and of course, decided to post my own....

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
I bought my Annual Disneyland Passport for 2010. Never had one before. My son and I each got one!! WOO HOO!!!

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions from last year and will you make any for 2010?
Of course, I didn't.... and yes, I will !! = )

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, not anyone CLOSE to me. But I did go to one baby shower for a co-worker.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank God.

5. What countries did you visit?
None... in fact, I don't think I even visited another STATE!!(?) BUT I'm going to Mexico in two weeks!! LOL!!

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A thin body, my associates degree, a new love, a new house, and Derek Jeter's personal cell phone number.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory...and why?
None that I can think of at the moment.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting my son graduated from high school and into college... ok, it was really HIS achievement, but you don't understand how much of that effort was MINE!!!

9. What was your biggest failure?
I'm not a failure! LOL!!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
MY DISNEYLAND ANNUAL PASSPORT!

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My mom, we had a rough time over the summer, but she's much better (Yes, I AM talking about her behavior! LOL!!) And I HAVE told her that I'm proud of her!!

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The American people when they voted the wrong person into office! (I have a right to MY OPINION!)

14. Where did most of your money go?
Probably food out!! I meet my friends for lunch, dinner, or even breakfast ALOT!!!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I GOT MY DISNEY ANNUAL PASSPORT!!! (you asked!)

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Ummm... I have NO idea!!!

17. Compared to last year, are you...
...happier/sadder? happier
...thinner/fatter? what a depressing question!!! LOL!!
...richer/poorer? Poorer, no more child support, gotta pay for college for the boy, and inflation is killing me.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise!! But I'm sure I won't do much more this year, either!! LOL!!

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Eat!

20. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
Spent it with friends!

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Yeah, AGAIN..... but Derek Jeter won't return my messages!

22. How many one-night stands?
This question is unclear to me.... I have one night-stand!? ; )

23. What was your favorite TV program?
American Idol which starts soon, and I won't be able to watch it because I have class on Tuesdays, now!!! UGH!!! I know, I can record it, but I like to vote!! LOL!!

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No NEW ones. = )

25. What was the best book you read?
I'm assuming you mean THIS year, not EVER. The best book I read this year was probably The Shack!

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Can't think of anything right now. But I'll work on that.

27. What did you want AND get?
My DISNEY ANNUAL PASSPORT!!!! LOL!!!

28. What did you want and NOT get?
A thin body, a new house, and Derek Jeter's personal cell phone number.

29. What was your favorite film of the year?
I haven't been to the movies in months!!! Don't remember the last movie I saw, so I can't answer this question.

30. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
WENT TO DISNEYLAND AND BOUGHT MY ANNUAL PASSPORT!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! I am 47!!

31. What ONE thing would have made your year immensely more satisfying?
Hmmm!! It's a toss up between a thin body and Derek Jeter's personal cell phone number .

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
I'm SO totally my OWN fashionista, I do NOT follow any trendy styles!! If I like it, I wear it, regardless of the 'fashion' at the time!! If it's in fashion, but I don't like it, I WON'T wear it! I don't worry about stuff like that!! My concept is that there are WAY more important things in life to concern myself with!

33. What kept you sane?
NO DRAMA!!! I don't allow ANY unnecessary drama in my life!!

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Derek Jeter (ALOT during the World Series, which, by the way, was WON by the NY Yankees for the 27th time!! = )

35. What political issues stirred you the most?
EVERYTHING Obama said or did!!! And NOT in a good way!!

36. Whom did you miss?
My son, he goes out with his friends ALOT and I miss him being home.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
My friend, Becky. She's funny, and just a really good person.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson that you learned in 2009.
Do what I have to, to become the person I want to be.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: (My LIFE):

"I've been locked up way too long in this crazy world, how far is Heaven?
I just keep on praying, Lord, and just keep on living."


Now, it's YOUR turn!!!

Joann~

My Birthday Dinner photos

Hey, if there's music...........


My MOM will be dancing to it!!!!























I had a WONDERFUL birthday dinner and am grateful for all my wonderful friends!! Thank you, Jesus, for such a blessed life!

Joann~

Disneyland at Christmas!!

Our friend, Jack Skellington, in the Haunted Mansion!



Jack Sparrow relaxing with a drink!!



Sally, Jack, Chris, and Jennifer (a friend that went with us).


The Main Street Christmas Tree.


Sleeping Beauty's Castle really sparkles at night!!

God's Blessings!

These are my friends, Roseann & Kathy.



This is ME after a good SOAK!! LOL!!

We went to a friend's house for a Christmas party yesterday. Janie has a beautiful condo right on the beach.... outside her living room window all you see is ocean, it was beautiful!! She also has another home in the desert... that's the best of both world's!! She had several homes before she and her husband retired, but they've sold most of them now, and live very comfortably.

I talked a bit with Janie, and she gave me some very valuable advice. Advice that I'm totally taking to heart.

She said that there's NO WAY in the world that she and her husband should have such a great life except for the grace of GOD!! She said that during their entire married life (and they married young), they've ALWAYS, ALWAYS TITHED!!

That REALLY got me thinking, you know, I tithe, but I don't tithe my FULL 10%. I know that I'm supposed to, but 10% of my GROSS salary (which is what He requires) is ALOT of money, so I compromise... I'm sure GOD understands... running a household on one salary is hard enough without giving back 10%... I could USE that 10%... I have LOTS of bills to pay... I'm sure God will excuse me from paying my FULL tithe.... right!!???

WRONG!!! He GAVE me my job, and everything else I have, I know that... so why would I be exempt from His law, and essentially, His PLAN. This money is ALL HIS to begin with... it really is!! So why not give Him just the small part that He requires back!?

My New Year's Resolution is to give Him back His FULL 10% of the money He gives me.

I may never see the blessings that Janie has, but I'll be right with God, He'll know that my heart is where it belongs in HIM!!! And it will allow Him to do the things He is trying to do THROUGH ME!!

Thanks, Janie!!

Happy Birthday, Roseann!!

OK, these pics were taken with my phone, so they aren't the best pics... but I thought I'd post them anyway!!


My friend, Donna, and I at one of many birthday dinners for Roseann!! LOL!!!



Denise & Roseann


Of course, we all had a great time!! Great food, and great company.... what more could you ask for, right?!?!

Our Community Christmas Parade

I'm so proud of our little community. Tonight was our annual Christmas parade, and it rocked!!

We are a community that actually CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS!!!! There were THREE different nativity scenes in the parade from 3 different churches; there were several floats singing different Christmas songs celebrating the birth of Jesus... and there was one float from another church where my friend, Lilly (along with others from her worship team), sang "Mighty to Save".... (you guys were the best, Lilly)!! All the banners on the floats and cars said "Merry Christmas", not 'Happy Holidays'! PEOPLE shouted "Merry Christmas" to each other!!

It's just so wonderful to live in a place where people aren't afraid to stand up for what they believe!! I love my Lord, and I'm so blessed to live in a place where I'm free to share my passion.

Sometimes, I'm not sure how much longer I'll be FREE to do that, but I'll always feel the same about Him!! That will NEVER change!!

Joann~

It's Christmas Time!!!

Well, I haven't posted an entry in a very long time... and now that I've changed my playlist, the only way to get anyone to listen is to post something, right?!? LOL!!

I just added a few of my very favorite Christmas songs... hope you enjoy them!! Can you tell which one is my absolute fave?? OK, so I have to make a choice... oh wait, no, I don't... It's MY playlist!!! LOL!!!

The last post I did was in early October, when my nephew was leaving to Australia. Well, an update is that he's made alot of new friends there, and is having a good time. He's DRIVING there now... which is a feat, because they drive on the WRONG side of the road, there... (OK, maybe it's US who drive on the wrong side of the road, but it's become the CORRECT side for us... LOL!!) He has a job, and seems to be doing ok. Just remember to keep him in your prayers, kind of sad to be away from family over the holidays.

I'm writing out my Christmas cards already.... so if anyone would like one, just e-mail me your address and I'll send you one.

Some pics of our Thanksgiving......





I hope you had a great Thanksgiving.... Mine was wonderful!! We went to my cousin's where there were about 18 people, so we potlucked it, and there was ALOT of delicious food!! My mom took a ham and I made an apple pie (my first ever), and two pumpkin pies with the little crust maple leaves and pumpkins on them!! I didn't get a pic of those!





Well, I hope you are all doing well, if I missed anything important in your life, please e-mail me... because I'm here now. Meanwhile, I'll try to get to all the blogs this week, because I've really missed you guys!!

Take Care,
Joann