A few days ago I celebrated my 23rd birthday!

It was a pretty nice day. I only had to watch Colt for a couple of hours, we had my favorite dinner (Vegan Crab Cakes), and Charlotte got some vegan cupcakes from our favorite health food store.

Every year around this time, I start to reflect on my life, goals, and dreams. I always try to think back to the year before. What did I think my life would be like by now? How did I measure up to last years goals?

I can never remember.

This year, I decided to be proactive.

Right before graduation, I finished off my print balance, by printing out a bunch of illustrated questions, and compiling them into a book. Until now, I've kind of been unsure of where to go from there. But now I've got it.

I'm going to answer all of them (there are like 30), on this blog, over the next few days/weeks/however long it takes. Then next year, I can do the same thing, and see how I've grown and changed.

So... here goes nothing...

1. What has changed in your life in the past year?

- I could write a super long post answering just this question. My life has changed so much in the past year. The day after I turned 22, I moved to Linden, North Carolina.  I met Colt, and started my new life here. I went to the ocean for the first time in my life (Myrtle Beach), a few weeks later. In July, I flew in an airplane for the first time (from NC to PA and back). I became a member at For Women Only Fitness Center, which has been life changing. I bought my first car (a 2005 Chevy Caviler). I became a vegan. I lost about 64 pounds. I met a lot of really great, interesting, wonderful people. I had a lot of good times, and learned a whole lot about myself.  It has been a good year.

2. What are your top three short-term goals?

- This is tough, because I feel like I have so many goals in so many areas of my life. And what is "short-term" anyways? Okay, so some of my more significant short-term goals are to:  1. Find a job, that I like and that pays the bills. 2. Lose 2 pounds a week until vacation. 3. Save money. For lots of things. For vacation, and then eventually for an apartment... but that is a little further away.

3. What is the most important lesson your grandparents taught you?

- This is hard, and kind of a sensitive subject these days. My mom's parents are getting older. My grandma, who is one of the most amazing, caring, kind people I've ever known, is starting to show signs of Alzheimer's. So grandparents are hard to talk about. But... I think that my Grandma Studer has taught me that love is forever. She took care of my grandpa (and a lot of  other people), until the day he died. She took her wedding vows so seriously. I can only hope that I love someone that much some day.  My Grandma Greathouse taught me to be kind. She treats everyone with respect, and is just so wonderful. I hope that some day people love me like our family loves her. She really is a special person. My Grandpa Greathouse has taught me a lot about hard work and responsibility. He worked for years, even after retirement. He helps anyone who needs it, and he takes care of his family. He is the epitome of what a "Man" should be.

4. If your house burned down, what 3 possessions would you miss most?

- Alright, my answer for this is probably going to be a little shallow. But, I think I would miss my photo albums and scraps books, my clothes, and my electronics (so like my laptop, and digital camera), the most. I cant really give a better answer for that. Maybe someday I will have things that are more sentimental. But for now, that's it.


Okay, so there are some tougher questions coming up, and it is late so I'm going to stop here.

But, I'll be back soon!