Reflecting on 2008

1) What new experience(s) did you have in 2008?

Perhaps the most significant thing that I have experienced in 2008 is my first full year of married life with my husband. It has been at times a scary journey with low bank balances and some stupid arguments, but it has mostly been an exciting adventure that I feel blessed to have. 
Another new experience was starting school at a public university. Until now I had gone to a private college and a community college. It has certainly been an interesting experience!
The other new experience was getting to work with kids on a daily basis for the first time. I discovered just how much I love preschoolers!

2) What inspired you in 2008?
My husband has greatly inspired me this year. He has sacrificed so much for me to go to school! He got laid off and had to start a new job, which was hard enough in itself. And then when I got accepted into college an hour away from where we were living, he packed up our apartment without even thinking about it so that I could be close to school. Now he is having to drive 2 hours every day and having to work a night shift! His selflessness has inspired me to keep going. Every time I feel tired or feel like giving up, I remeber everything that he has sacrificed for me and that inspires me to go the extra mile. 

3) What challenged you this year? 
For a good part of the year it seemed like I was faced with nothing but challenges. In January my husband and I got news that the place that he worked at, a non-profit organization, was losing funding and was having to lay off almost half of the staff. 
In February we received the news that my husband was going to be one of the people laid off. By the end of March he was jobless, we had no health insurance, we were stuck with a car payment that we could not really afford, and our bank account was overdrawn. 
By the beginning of June my husband had found a new job that he was excited about. The downside was that after training was over, he ended up being assigned to third shift (10PM to 6AM) with Tuesdays and Wednesdays as his weekend. As newlyweds, this was extremely hard. As I discovered that I was alone almost all the time because of our conflicting schedules, I became more and more depressed. 
The first week in July, we packed up all of our belongings, with the help of some amazing friends and family, and moved our lives an hour away. For me, this was the first time that I had really had to leave all of my friends and family behind. And, this started a 2 hour/day commute for my husband. For me, this made depression set in even more. 
I also started a new job in July the day after we moved, which was greatly stressful. Thankfully, however, this job ended up being my saving grace in a new and lonely place. 
August brought about the beginning of a new school year at a new school. I started out not knowing anyone and feeling incredibly lonely... it took me really almost until the end of the semester to meet anyone. 
August also brought about a variety of unpleasant bills. We got stuck with move in fees that our apartment complex had not informed us of, and which we could not really afford. We ended up having to borrow money from friends and family. 
In November, I was informed that my anticipated graduation date was not actually what my advisor told me when I signed up for classes in August. In fact, it is 2 semsters later. Considering that this is my 5th year of college, this was a very hard fact to swallow. 
I was also re-diagnosed with depression in November. I had dealt with clinical depression almost two years before that and had been much better for a long time. But, with all of the changes throughout the year, I couldn't take things anymore. I broke down.
December brought more overdraft fees from the bank and no money to buy Christmas presents. This time I was challenged by guilt.
 The list of things that challenged me this year could go on and on, but I'd prefer to leave it at this. Things have seemed pretty bleak many times throughout this year, but these challenges have taught me so much. Every time that I think that I have it bad, someone else has it twenty times worse than me. Also, every time that things seem like they're never going to get better, God comes through for you and heals your heart and your problems. 

4) What new person or people entered your life?
I had a whole group of brand new co-workers enter my life this year. I have become friends with many of them, and I feel very blessed to have an entire group of people who I believe truly care about each other. 
From work, though, perhaps the most significant person has been Christina. She is my buddy in the afternoon. She kind of took me under her wing and showed me the ropes at work. She has become someone who I can share things with, and I consider myself lucky to be able to call her a friend. 
At school, I met Laura. She was the first person at this new college that came up to me and introduced herself. She and I actually ended up in two of the same classes together, which considering the size of the college, is pretty amazing. She has taken the time to talk to me, to listen to me, and to fill me in on things at this new school. For all of the kindness that she has shown to me, I will be eternally greatful.

5) Which global event(s) had a strong impact on you?
The ongoing war in Iraq has continued to have a strong impact on me. Through the year, I have developed even stronger opinions on how I feel about the war and what I think should be done. I also had a more personal connection as my cousin was shipped to Bagdad at the end of last year, and came back half way through this year after having his legs smashed between two vehicles and nearly being sent on a mission that was bombed. It opened my eyes even more to the events happening over there and the importance of  American troops over there.