Greatest lessons of 2010

I've been blogging now for two-and-a-half years. I look back at those years of scrapbooking, and can't believe I stuck with it for so long. All those fancy embellishments were such a waste of time and money. All I care about when I look at the scrapbooks are the thoughts and pictures. I love having a record of my thoughts and family events, and blogging is the best thing I've ever found. Sometimes I write posts, but don't make them public. I love the connection I feel to my family through blogging. I know my sisters and parents check my blog fairly often, as I do theirs. We all live so far from each other, but I don't feel the distance. In many ways, I feel closer to my family than I did when we all lived near each other in Utah. I am so grateful for modern-day technology that allows me to call, text, email and Facebook my family. Yesterday I spoke on the phone to Tiffany for over 2 hours, and we never ran out of anything to say. My hope and desire is that my children find that connection to each other when they are grown, and that they still love their Mama. :)

I went to lunch with a friend yesterday, and went to lunch today with a group of different friends. I have the most amazing people in my life, and I am constantly astounded at the blessings they are to me. I look back at the person I was 5-and-a-half years ago while living in Utah, and I'm so embarrassed. If I look back 5 years previous to that, the amount of immaturity is even more humiliating. It's so interesting how life lessons have molded me and helped me learn perspective.

A few things I learned in 2010:

• Family and God. That's all that matters in the end, and they will always be my first priority.
• Leadership is often a lonely place to be.
• The things in life that bring the most joy, also bring the most heartache. Luckily, this year there was much more joy than heartache.
• I believe that Heavenly Father plays a major role in putting certain people in our lives at certain times. I have the greatest support system. Each of my family members and friends serves a purpose in my life, and I hope they know how much they are appreciated.
• Smile and enjoy life every day.
• The scriptures bring peace.
• Heavenly Father has already been a parent to each of my children, so he is my greatest resource when I have questions about my children.
• Not everyone will like me. I always knew this, but I didn't feel OK about it until this year. I don't expect everyone to think or act the way I do, but we do all need to respect each other.
• Friends come in all shapes, sizes, personalities and religions.
• I love to learn, and I'm happiest when I'm stretching my brain to new levels.
• What seems to matter so much now, won't matter much at all in a few days. Walk away and smile when you want to scream.
• Christ is not only my Savior for the sins I commit, and not only my Comforter when I feel alone. He is my Friend, and He loves me more than I could possibly imagine. Regardless.
• Love everyone, because you have no idea what secret sorrows and heartaches they are carrying around with them every day. God loves them just as much as He loves me.
• I am so ridiculously blessed. My prayers should be full of gratitude, not pleading.