hasta la bye bye, 2009

i have decided to make an honest attempt at this blog thing (again) and i'm hoping it turns out successful.

so...here's to 2010, a brand new year and a sweet new decade.

not gonna lie, 2009 was pretty much awesome. for me, at least. when i think about a year ago and where we were and who i was, it's like i can see all the things that have changed and how much i have grown sitting right in front of me. its a bizarre feeling, really, but a good one nonetheless.

december was a most enjoyable month, too!
1. i graduated :) GT alumna? over here, baby
2. i graduated WITH A JOB. shocker, we know. excellent, for sure.
3. andrea got a job in atlanta!
4. the most wonderful family came to atlanta to celebrate with me and i am so thankful.
5. we also got to celebrate christmas with BOTH of my families. too much fun.
6. mom and dad opened Vista Yoga! a true dream come true.


and that was just december (and some of november)! needless to say, it has been an exciting end to the year.
that being said, it was also a somber one.
Gpa died in December - slowly expected but still heartbreaking. i went to maryland with my mom to see him before thanksgiving and i am so. so glad that i did. it had been far too long and i am happy that i got to see him before he went to a better place. no more suffering for him (although i do miss his harmonica skills :) and i sing his wake-up song to rafa now...he "loves" it...baha)

it feels like a lot of people died this year.
not necessarily people that i know, but you know how we can relate to celebrities sometimes like we "know" them? weird, really.


also, 2009 was the deadliest year in mexico in their taunting battle against the drug cartels: over 7,600 mexicans lost their lives.

seriously, ya'll: this shit is fucked up.
and i dont know how else anyone can put it.
and i really love mexico, and the problems that it is facing seem slightly impossible, and that makes me even more sad. just to be a debbie-downer, every time you do drugs, it has someones blood on it. remember that. not that anyone reading this does drugs, but you can spread the word.
all the other reasons not to do illegal drugs aside, i think that should be enough to stop people.

...that is clearly not a majority sentiment.

the picture at the top is at a an iglesia in a tiny town in Michoacán (one of the deadliest states from drug crimes). it was beautiful. the picture at the bottom is my most favorite: it's a close-up of the front wall outside the church: Sanctuary, House of God and Door to the Sky.



however, i still love 2009.
:)
rafael and i are doing so great and it is wonderful. we have come so far in just a year and i love it.

other than that...waiting to officially start my new position at GTRI and wondering just what will come next in this crazy world. possibilities are out there so we will see soon what they will bring...



for now, here are some favorite pictures from the past year (most of which are from the past few months):

NYC, i love thee

the best picture from Dad's 60th


love her


the whole gang


techies! minus rafa


(delicious) reindeer cake pops!


my sweetest baby girl


and a favorite from NY

a final note: thoughts and prayers to the pipers and mcgill's. emily, you are a treasure.

It is right it should be so;
Man was made for joy and woe;
And when this we rightly know,
Thro' the world we safely go.

Joy and woe are woven fine,
A clothing for the soul divine.
Under every grief and pine
Runs a joy with silken twine.