Tuesday, January 12, 2010

My Decade

First of all I must thank Joy for saving my blog.  She suggested Windows Live Writer and I think I’m in love.  Secondly I have to give credit to Amanda for the idea to blog my decade.  I met Amanda once and she’s every bit as funny in person as she is on her blog.  I hope it wouldn’t freak her out that I read it.

2000

I was on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in British Columbia when the decade started.  I was there that whole year.

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2001

I came home from my mission.  I found out my parents were getting divorced and that my mom was gay.  I learned to be ok with that.

Joe came home from his mission in August.  We were engaged in September.

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And married in December.  Best decision I ever made – Bar None.

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2002

Salt Lake hosted the Winter Olympics.  Joe and I went back to Vancouver for the wonderful wedding of my friend Lindsay.  I apparently have no digital pictures from that whole year.  How did that happen?  Here’s one I didn’t take.

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2003

Joe and I went to Brazil.  Such an amazing, amazing trip.  I want to go back.

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I graduated from college on my birthday.  How cool is that?

The rest of the year was pretty much horrible.  Joe was diagnosed with cancer in July and spent all of August & September in the hospital.  Luckily his doctor was either a genius or else he figured Joe was so sick it wouldn’t hurt to experiment on him.  Either way the treatment worked Joe beat the cancer.

2004

Joe got better.

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I became the Director of Housing for the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau.  I was in over my head, but worked with a lot of great people who helped me figure things out.  I still work there.

2005

Just before Valentine’s day I found out I was pregnant with Brad.  We were SHOCKED.  One of the side effects of chemotherapy is generally sterility.  We’re very blessed.

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We decided if we were going to have a baby we better have a house.

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Brad was born October 12 at 10:12.  He was 8 lbs 1 oz and 22 inches long. 

DSCF0068 I spent the rest of the year learning how to be a mom.

2006

I fell madly in love with this guy:

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And really…who wouldn’t?

We dragged him all over the place on my work trips.  Joe would put him in the back pack and go wherever he wanted.  We went to Orlando, Boston, Tampa that year.

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2007

Went to Toronto (took Brad there too).

I played with Brad a LOT.

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I found out I like riding a bike.

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I got pregnant again.  Didn’t throw up as much as the first time.

Joe and I went on a cruise to the Bahamas.

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2008

I anxiously awaited Lucy at the same time my sister, Tenille, was awaiting Carly.

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(In my defense this was like 2 days before Lucy was born and Tenille still had a couple of month left.  But ok, I was huge).

I gave birth to Lucy minutes after being wheeled into the hospital screaming at the top of my lungs.  She was 7 lbs 11 oz and 22 inches and just lovely.

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My brother Nick’s wife, Lacy, also had a baby that month (Jack), so once Carly was born we had a matching set.

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I learned to be the mother of two.

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I got a new camera and learned to use Photoshop.

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2009

Joe and I went to Mexico.

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We also bought another house and completely remodeled it.  Or at least paid other people to.  I really should take some pictures of the house.

I lost 25 lbs and ironically ended the decade weighing the same amount as when I started the decade.

I started singing again.  It had been a long time.

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It’s been a good decade.  I love my life and couldn’t ask for more.  Bring on the next one.

7 comments:

Kristina P. said...

I completely forgot you went on a mission! Haha!

And you guys got to go to some amazing places. I would love to travel more.

And I will tell Amanda that you are creepily stalking her. :)

Tiffany said...

Oh, Natalie, I loved reading this post! We miss you guys! What a ride the past 10 years have been. I'm so glad that we're friends. And I am totally stealing this post idea. ;) ♥

apholden said...

What a great idea for a post. Loved reading about you Nat. You are an amazing person -- here's to another wonderful 10 years!

Mrs. Langeland said...

Yeah! I am so glad that the blog was saved. I would be sad to miss out on your posts. You have such a fun life!

I love this post. Yes, I too may have to steal this idea!

Tiffany said...

I love this! You are so cool!!! I'm surprised to realize how little I've actually seen you in the last decade. I'm glad we can be blog and facebook friends at least...you're amazing!

Shannon said...

Love it! What a great idea- you have had a very full 10 years! I may have to steal your idea too. :)

Tonya said...

Great post! On New Years Eve, my husband and I discussed the past 10 years in depth...it's neat to see what an important decade it was in terms of evolving into the person you are today.