Amanda’s Top 10 of 2009

2009 has been a great year and one I will look back on fondly. Here are my Top 10 moments of the year.

1. Roman

My labor and delivery couldn’t have been more perfect. Thankful for a safe delivery and an AMAZING new son!

2. Running 26.2 miles

My All These Things That I’ve Done friends and my impending 30th birthday encouraged me to accomplish this life goal. I trained for 5 months and it took me 5:08:59 to run the entire course.

3. Being a Stay at Home Mom

I LOVE my job. I have now been a SAHM for 2.5 years. I am thankful for another year getting to do what I love.

4. iPhone

I don’t remember what life was like before I got an iPhone. It is permanently attached to me all the time now.

5. Vacations

Before Roman came we hung out in a cool house in Austin for a few days. This summer we took a tour of the South in Arkansas, Memphis, visiting with my friend Dawn and her family in Alabama, and New Orleans.

6. Woman’s Bible Study

This Spring I only missed one week of Bible Study, because I had a baby. I enjoyed getting to know the ladies in my Spring study. This Fall I joined an inductive study of Romans. I learned the importance of a quiet time all over again. In fact, I didn’t want the group to end, so I now I blog weekly devotional updates over at Thirsty for Living Water.

7. MEAT & DANCE Crew

It all started with an invite to help eat a 13 pound brisket. Now Melia, Wendy, Zandi, Kara & Ian, and Barb come over to eat and watch So You Think You Can Dance. They make me laugh until I pee in my pants.

8. Book Club / Finishing ‘Middlemarch’

A few ladies at the Spring women’s bible study asked about a book club and I agreed to lead the club. I had always wanted to lead one. I enjoy helping to pick books every month and discussing themes and characters. I also finished ‘Middlemarch‘, one of the best books on the planet. It is also 859 pages long. Any Jane Austen fan would LOVE this book.

9. The Mom Crowd

My parenting blog, The Mom Crowd, continued to grow in visitors and revenue this year. I recently closed the blog, but I am incredibly proud of the work that I poured into the site and the people it has inspired.

10. Cooking

I don’t know why, but I am more excited about cooking lately. I even got a French Oven for Christmas. I am not a good cook by any means. I enjoy finding easy recipes that have ingredients I recognize and taste good. This year I mastered lasagnas and learned how to make a hot Indian curry.

I can’t wait to see what 2010 brings next year. I have some new projects happening and I am actually looking forward to turning 30 in a month.