2018 Reflection

I did a year reflection in 2013 and 2014, and I really enjoyed them, so I've decided I'm going to do it again. (Also, side note, I don't post very consistently, but it is blowing my mind that I've had this blog for over 5 years now!) The reflection is just a series of questions that I answer, and it's always a nice way to see what you've accomplished throughout the year and to remember some fun memories.

1. What did you do on your birthday, and how old did you turn?

This year it snowed on my birthday. D: It was actually very devastating, because if I lived in the south, I would never have to worry about that! However, Ryan put a lot of effort into making sure it was a great day for me and he succeeded, despite the snow. He started off the day by buying me those cinnamon toast Eggo waffles, which I love. Then when he left for work he filled my car up with nerd ropes because I like those, so when I went outside to confront the snow, my grumpiness was dampened with the joy of finding a car filled with nerd ropes. He came to see me at school and we had lunch together at The Creamery, and he told them it was my birthday. They don't give you anything free, but they wrote Happy Birthday on the tray, so that was nice of them. :) Ryan was going to surprise me with a trip to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point, but because of the snow we waited and went later in the week. Ryan is so good at listening when I mention things that I like or don't like or that I want to do, and then making an effort to make them happen for me. My birthday this year was great because of him. Also, I turned 23.

2. What are your strongest memories from this year and why? 

I think I would have to say that my strongest memory from this year was giving birth to Rose. Giving birth has been one of my biggest fears for as long as I can remember. (Next to being kidnapped from my bed, my house burning down, or anything bad happening to any of my family members.) And little ol' me managed to make it through. It's amazing to me that I was able to conquer pregnancy and birth and now I feel like I can do anything. Also, I am SO glad to have the sweetest little baby in my life now because I did it.

3. What did you do this year that you had never done before?

See #2.

I didn't really do anything else crazy that I had never done before... I gave a baby a bath, which I'd never done before, and I received my bachelors degree... I went to Goblin Valley... oh and I used the wilderness as a bathroom for the first time.

4. What did you want and not get?

The only thing I can think of that I didn't get this year is Lightroom for my computer. But I have it on my phone and I keep choosing to use money for other things so I'm not really that upset. Other than that, I have everything I want. A good home, plenty of food, a good job, a wonderful husband, and a super cute baby girl. (If it was Ryan he'd probably say that he wanted a boy, but got a daughter instead. Don't let him fool you though, he's completely 100% smitten.)

5. What did you want and get?

A daughter. :) Also, Ryan got me lots of Nutella this year. (I have a stash of 6 large jars of it in my pantry.) Also, I really really really wanted to go to Lake Powell, and everything worked out so that we could go.

They were having a sale...

6. What would you like to have next year that you didn't have this year?

This is funny, in 2014 I wished I had been asked on more dates. For next year I'm hoping to go on more dates with Ryan. It's actually one of our goals. I'm determined to get babysitters and everything.

7. Did you keep your New Years resolutions and will you make more for next year?

I didn't do so hot on my goals for 2018. I DID graduate from BYU, but I did NOT establish an exercise routine that I would be using by the end of the year. I did NOT read the Book of Mormon EVERY day, but I DID read through it 3 times this year, and I did better at reading almost every day than I ever have before (except when I was a missionary...). I did NOT stick to my goal of only using social media once a day and not at all on Sundays... But I DID take a total of about 20 days off of social media throughout the year... so that's... something. Also, I wanted to write in my journal once a week. Since writing my goals in my journal, I have written in my journal 5 times. Oops.

I DO intend to make more Resolutions for 2019 though. And my plan this year is to put a reminder on my phone that will remind me every 2 months or so to look at my goals and see where I'm at.

8. What was your biggest achievement this year?

I've written several blog posts about this, but this year there were 3 things that I felt were really big for me, and I feel like I've achieved a lot this year because of them.

I am really proud of myself for finishing my degree in April. I had to take 20 credits while in my last trimester of pregnancy in order to do it, while also working 10 hours a week, and I'm amazed that I was able to balance all of that.

I am also really proud of myself for giving birth to a little human being. 36 hours of labor is nothing to sneeze at. (Shout out to Krista for that phrase being added to my vocabulary.)

I am also proud of myself for putting myself out there and applying to Graduate School. 5 years ago I would have just decided to stick to being a stay at home mom and never going back to school again, but I feel like I have shown myself over and over again that I can do hard things and so even if I don't get in to the program I applied for, I was able to find a job working nights for experience, and I studied a bunch and did really well on the GRE, and I think those are big achievements as well.

I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but it's amazing to me to see how much growth I have made since graduating high school. It's important for me to acknowledge that so that I can continue to grow and progress.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I don't like this question because there are so many things that I am not good at and so many flaws that I have, but I would only be a failure if I gave up, and that's just not what I do. I think the biggest mistake I made this year would be spending too much time on my phone and not enough time reaching outside myself to serve others.

10. What did you rely on when you were overwhelmed?

My go to stress relievers are: chocolate, reading books, Instagram, and the best relief from feeling overwhelmed is a long hug from Ryan. I also tried mindfulness a little bit here and there and I really enjoy it.

11. What are your strongest recommendations for entertainment this year?

Ryan and I watched all of Friends, Psych (again), and almost all of Monk this year. Oh and we skimmed through The Office and Seinfeld. We really enjoyed all of those.

I also really enjoyed reading The Man's Guide to Women by John Gottman and How to Not Hate Your Husband After Kids by Jancee Dunn (Both are SUPER good and definitely worth reading if you are married.) ((Obviously a Family Studies major right here...))

12. What song will remind you of this year? 

Anything by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. We love them. Also, I made a CD for Ryan, for Father's Day, of country songs about Dad's and their kids. (Stealing Cinderella, He's Mine, Watching You, My Little Girl, I Pray for You, etc.)

13. What was your most enjoyable purchase? 

For Father's Day I put together a "First Time Dad Starter Kit" for Ryan. I bought him a dark blue striped polo shirt, some khaki shorts (that are a little on the short side) and a fishing hat. I also made him a "Dad Jokes for Dummies" booklet. (I guess that's not a purchase) I think that was probably my favorite purchase because I was SO excited for him to open it and to laugh.

14. Did you travel? If so, where? 

We went camping at Goblin Valley in March, which was super fun, but kind of cold.

We went camping at Navajo Lake in Southern Utah, which was also really fun.

We stayed on a houseboat at Lake Powell with my Aunt and Uncle for a week.

We hiked through Mt. Timpanogos Caves.

And then other than that we visited Cedar City, Brigham City, Logan, and Heber City here in Utah.

Obviously we stuck to Utah this year, but next year we're going to spread out a little bit more.

15. This one is for anyone reading this, are there any other questions you think I should answer? Or add on to this for next year?

2014 Reflection

I did this last year, and I think I'd like to do it again. So, here goes it.

1. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

My birthday this year was so fun! I started 11 pm the night before playing ultimate frisbee. I didn't have classes that day because it was a Reading Day (The days given to study for finals. Ha! Who studies?) Throughout the day I: had a picnic with my roommate, Krista, played soccer, went to Great Harvest Bread Company, fed the ducks including some absolutely adorable baby ducks, ate some cake, got some giraffe jewelry, spent time with some of my best friends, and just had a wonderful day all in all. I turned 19.

2. What are your strongest memories from this year and why? 

I think this year the strongest memories are from all the goodbyes I've had to say. At the end of Winter semester I said goodbye to almost all the friends I made my first year at BYU because they were leaving. Then at the end of the summer I had to say goodbye to my family again. Then I had to say goodbye to my cousin, Levi, who is one of my best friends because he left on his mission. Then I had to say goodbye to all the friends I made this Fall semester because I decided to go on a mission. Goodbyes are hard for me because I have a large capacity of love and care. Somehow I keep meeting people to care about and I keep thinking my heart is full and can't love anymore, until I meet someone else to care about. As soon as it hits me that I won't see my friends and family for a long time my heart aches. This year I felt a lot of that.

3. What did you do this year that you'd never done before?  

I  went on a cruise. I went parasailing. I went hiking (Zion, Angels Landing, Willard Peak, Bridal Veil Falls). I sang in front of my friends. I decided to go on a mission. I saw the lights at Temple Square. I cut 13 inches off my hair and donated it. I talked to a ton of strangers and made a lot of friends. I bore my testimony in sacrament meeting. (TWICE) I spoke in front of about 200 girls. I went through the temple. I went sledding for the first time. I went to Idaho. I went out of the country for the first time. I swam with Dolphins.

 4. What did you want and get?

I got another lens that takes beautiful pictures.
A mission call to the Washington Tacoma mission.
My first White Christmas. 

5. What did you want and not get? 

This is lame, but I wish I had been asked on more dates. But that's okay. :)

6. What would you like to have next year that you didn't have this year?

More faith. More courage.

7. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

You know what, last year I wrote resolutions and then never looked at them again, but I just went back to look at that blog post ( click here ) and I SO DID keep them. I'm not perfect, but I totally completed my 365 photo project, and I was more openminded, and I was happier, and I exercised more, and I was way more outgoing and confident. The only thing that I didn't do as well on was painting more. But that's okay!

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

Hmm. I couldn't tell you. I passed my classes, I worked enough to pay for my schooling up until this point, I decided to go on a mission, I was way more confident. I think my biggest achievement was the inner growth I made this year. I am so much better at doing what I think is right, and at liking myself for exactly the person I am, and for not caring as much what other people think.  That's a huge achievement for me and it's fun to look at myself now and compare myself to the girl I was 3 years ago. 

9. What was your biggest failure?

I don't think I had any huge failures this year. I let my frustration get the best of me sometimes, but not very often. 

10. What did you rely on when you were overwhelmed?

Chocolate, making lists, talking to my roommates, listening to music, and towards the end of the year I started running when I started feeling too stressed.

11. What are you strongest recommendations for entertainment from this year?

Most of the free books on Kindle are not worth reading. Authors like to make us mad.
My favorite movie that came out this year was Maleficent. But I didn't watch very many new movies. I mostly watched chick flicks with my roommates and loved those. Some of our favorites are: Leap Year, anything with Sandra Bullock (While You Were Sleeping, Miss Congeniality, The Proposal, The Blind Side), and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. 

12. What song will remind you of this year?

Some songs that my roommates and I dance to: Shake it off, Blank Space both by Taylor Swift, Lose Yourself by Eminem, Once Upon a Dream (From Maleficent) by Lana Del Ray.
Some songs that Levi (my cousin) and I love: All About that Bass by Meghann Trainor and Dark Blue by Jack's Mannequin.
Songs that I listened to on repeat while running out my frustrations: Something in the Water by Carrie Underwood and Chandelier by Sia. 

(Don't judge me, I prefer country, and pretty alternative music, but these ones are the songs that got stuck in my head and that I danced to with my friends.)  

13. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year? 

I don't know this one. This year has been good, it's been fun, it's been happy, it's been a little bit more work, it's been a little bit less sleep, and a little bit surprising. Those aren't song lyrics, but I think it sums up my year pretty well. 

14. What was your most enjoyable purchase?

Ice cream. I bought quite a bit of ice cream. But it never failed me. (Are you wondering what the best flavors at the Creamery are? I knew you were. They are: Coconut Joy, Raspberry and Cream Cheese, Strawberry Sundae Crunch, and German Chocolate Crunch. You're welcome.) 

15. Did you travel? If so, where?

I spent time in Texas (Round Rock), in Utah (Provo, Brigham City, Salt Lake City, The Great Salt Lake, The Spiral Jetty, Zion National Park, Antelope Island, Lake Powell, Springville), Idaho (Bloomington, and Blackfoot), Florida (Oviedo/Chuluota, Key West), and the Grand Cayman Islands.

16. What do you wish you'd done more of?

I wish I had taken even more opportunities to have adventures. 


17. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Waste time.

18. Compared to this time last year, how are you different? 

I'm braver. I'm tougher. I'm a little more organized and a little more mature. My testimony is stronger. I pray a little bit more. I have bigger plans for myself than I did a year ago. My hair is shorter. I like vegetables.

19. Compared to this time last year, how are you the same?

I'm still 5 foot 2. My name is still Kinsey. I still love BYU. I still love chocolate. I don't like potatoes. My favorite color is green. I love my church. 

20. What's a life lesson you learned this year?

• Heavenly Father truly does hear and answer my prayers.
• Tender mercies are all around, you've just got to look up.
• If you are ever faced with the choice of ice cream or no ice cream, choose ice cream. 
• Try new ice cream flavors, it might surprise you.
• DANCE even if people are watching! 
• Take the opportunities you get to do fun things. Those are the memories that will stay with you forever.
• Family is important. And family includes all those people who you would do absolutely anything for, the ones who hold a giant chunk of your heart in their hands. Like these people right here:
  

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I HOPE 2015 TURNS OUT TO BE YOUR BEST YEAR SO FAR!

2013 Reflection

1. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 18. I didn't really do anything special, I went to school and had cake after dinner with my family.

2. What are your strongest memories from this year and why?
Hmm, My strongest memories... The day before I left for BYU, my boyfriend and I broke up, which was pretty hard on me, but I don't regret it. College was a brand new start for me, and I didn't have anything to hold me back from making tons of new friends and new memories.

3. What did you do this year that you'd never done before? 
I graduated from high school and I started college. There are so many new things that go along with those two things that I can't even name them all! (Paying for housing and tuition, living without my mom, cooking chicken for the first time, etc.)

My first day of school picture.

4. What did you want and get?
This year I got my very own laptop with my own password on it. :D I also got warm clothes for Christmas, which I desperately need now that this Florida girl lives in Utah.

5. What did you want and not get? 
I can't really think of anything, as I get older I want less and less.

6. What would you like to have next year that you didn't have this year?
I already know that this is going to happen, but I want to have art classes. This past semester I didn't have any art classes. Any time I wanted to paint I had to find time to do it on my own. This upcoming semester I will be taking TWO art classes. That is 10 hours of art a week. I'm pretty excited.

7. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I can't remember what exactly they were, but I am pretty confident that this year I have accomplished more than I ever have before. (However, I am sure I mentioned something about exercising, which did not happen... Oh well, there is always 2014... or the year after that.) 

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?
There were quite a few: I was accepted into BYU. I made it through the first semester with a pretty good GPA. I gained confidence. I came out of my shell more. I made good friends. I gained a closer relationship with God. All big things, I can't choose one.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I think I failed at being healthy... I don't eat enough healthy food, I don't sleep enough, I don't drink enough water, and I don't exercise enough. I should probably work on it...

10. What did you rely on when you were overwhelmed?
When I get overwhelmed I eat a lot of chocolate. Although, sometimes I will turn on Pandora, plug my headphones in and lay in my bed with the music drowning everything out until I fall asleep.

11. What are you strongest recommendations for entertainment from this year?
I read a book called Edenbrooke that was very good, if you like good, clean, old fashioned romance that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside when you finish. Which I do. Also, Frozen. (LOVED IT.)

12. What song will remind you of this year?
Roar by Katy Perry

13. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?

I ask you: "How many times will you pick me up,
When I keep on letting you down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory,
How far will forgiveness abound?"
And You answer: "My child, I love you.
And as long as you're seeking My face,
You'll walk in the power of My daily sufficient grace."
You are so patient with me, Lord.
As I walk with You, I'm learning what Your grace really means.
The price that I could never pay was paid at Calvary.
So, instead of trying to repay You, I'm learning to simply obey You
By giving up my life to you For all that You've given to me.

These lyrics are from the song Grace by Laura Story. Throughout high school I had a hard time enjoying church, I didn't pray, I didn't read the scriptures. I didn't feel loved or like I belonged. I knew what I was supposed to believe, but I didn't really listen. When I got to BYU, I started over. I began praying again, I began begging for help, for peace, for confidence, to feel something. I did everything. I went to church, I prayed non-stop, when I woke up, when I started feeling discouraged, as I walked to class, when I went to bed. I began to look for the Lord's tender mercies all day. Now, I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and that I am important to Him. These lyrics kind of sum up these things that I discovered.

14. What was your most enjoyable purchase?
Now that I am a poor college student, every purchase is very stressful and not enjoyable at all.

15. Did you travel? If so, where? 
Over the summer I went to Florida twice. The first time I stayed with my best friend, Kristen. The second time I stayed in Sarasota with my other best friend, Tori. I also moved from Texas to Utah.

16. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I had painted more.

17. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I wish I had been less lazy, less unproductive. I spent a lot of time slugging around my dorm eating chocolate and wasting time on Facebook.

18. Compared to this time last year, how are you different? 
I am a year older, more responsible, more confident, and more outgoing.

19. Compared to this time last year, how are the same?
I pretty much look exactly the same, and I am still pretty quiet.

20. What's a life lesson you learned this year?

• To think to myself: "Is the thing you are worried about right now as big of a deal as you are making it to be?" 
• I am important.
• What other people think of me DOES NOT matter. I need to like myself first. 
• It's my choice whether or not I am happy or not. Nothing can "make me" upset. (I know I keep mentioning these same things, sorry not sorry.) 

My New Year Resolutions

In 2014 I want to: 
 

Be happy.

Be more patient and kind.

Accomplish a 365 picture project. 

Be confident.

Worry less and trust that everything will be okay.

Exercise more.

Be more outgoing.

Paint/draw more.

Be more openminded.

 Do well in my classes. 

Happy New Year! :)