2000-2010 A Decade in Review

2000:

The year started off well. I was a sophomore in high school on top of my game, involved in EVERYTHING - at least so I thought - got involved in some pretty dangerous activities (as most 15 years olds do once or twice). For the first time I started dying my hair platinum blonde. Started dating a boy who made my heart dance in little circles inside my chest and just when I was pulling my head out of my own ass- was informed that my family's financials were crap and that we were moving to Tennessee to stay with family for awhile. In October of 2000 as a junior in high school we moved three states away and I WAS MISERABLE. I had my worst hair mishap ever and had to dye it back to dark. This would be the last short cut I would ever have and would begin wearing my hair longer and longer every year!

Cheerleading

The (back) of the house we moved to in Tenn.

Sweet 16th birthday!

2001: The beginning of 2001 saw my mom and I move back to Ohio and to my mom's home town, where I began attending my 3rd highschool in just a matter of months. I started out sad and miserable but the year definitely began to turn its self around as I made new friends many of whom I still consider very good friends one who is going to be a bridesmaid in my wedding, got involved in lots of activities and was close enough to reconnect with the boy who captured my heart in 2000. We began dating in the summer of 2001 and I couldn't have been happier. In 2001 I also had starring roles in two high school plays and completely fell in love with acting.

2002: I got my first nursing home job in dietary and my interest became completely sparked in gerontology though it was not to become a serious prospect in my career for many moons. I added gerontology as a thematic sequence and took several course in it in college. I graduated high school with thespian honors and a vocal scholarship. The first of many very serious complications and arguments began to develop in my relationship with boy. We broke up, made up, yelled, screamed, and cried on a weekly basis. This was to go on for quite some time yet. In late summer 2002 I began as a freshman at Miami University and lived away from home for the first time. I had a roommate who looking back; wasn't so bad but at the time I just couldn't wrap my head around. I made lots of new "friends" in my dorm none of whom I would keep in contact with after that first year.

Senior Year Book Picture

Senior Prom

Freshman in college - in Florida for Tgiving - studying

2003: I was in my first college musical. Turned down an internship with Disney World because (I'm stupid) I wanted to be a part of the sorority I joined and didn't want to be so far from boyfriend who I was still dragging on with even though he had cheated, I had cheated, and we loved each other so much we hated one another. I finished my first year in college and was looking forward to going back to nursing home to work for the summer when the bottom of my world dropped out. Boyfriend picked me up from a party early,early one morning and proceeded to smack, punch, twist, hit me all the way back to his area of town cursing me threatening to kill me and leave me dead in a park. By the grace of God I survived, filed a police report (the state eventually prosecuted though I unfortunately did not) and fled to Florida for the summer where my sister lived (ironic that I didn't take that internship huh?) I broke all contact with boy until I returned- there was a brief(pathetic) period of reconciliation but we eventually broke ties completely - actually on NYE 2003. In other news in the fall of 2003 I reconnected with Ben- my middle/high school friend and we started to get a little friendlier in December 2003. That fall I also went to NYC to be in the Macy's parade, Alabama for the GMAC bowl and oh- dyed part of my hair hot pink.

Love this picture: sophomore colorguard

Pink Hair

Sorority Girl

Time in Florida to Reflect

2004: My motto was get more in 2004. I started off the year with a smidge of a wild streak but that was soon squashed by a blooming romance between Ben and myself. We officially began dating February 23rd 2004. Thus putting a pause on my friendship with my bff who had once dated Ben and was none to happy that we were dating. I did a lot of soul searching and determined that I had to see things out with Ben and told myself that eventually my friend would come around. Went to Florida with my mom for spring break, was in a play, told Ben I loved him for first time on a candy heart after a cast party one night. Survived the 17 year cicada outbreak! I signed the lease on my very first apartment, moved into apartment and had lots of crazy fun with my friend Rachel who was back in town for the summer. Designed makeup for a show, worked at Fin. Aid and joined Children's Theater. Where I met Jessica and we became fabulous friends. My grandfather whom my mother and I had been caring for passed away in December.

My wilder days with Julie

At the beginning...

We look so young!!!

Florida with Ma Mere

More us...

Cicadas!!!!!!

Blondes Having More Fun - Fo Sho!

College girl at a Red's game with her sissy

Our last family photo with Papaw

2005: Spring Breaked in Russia. Got to know Emily who I had been acquainted with for a few years through college classes and we also became amazing friends. Relationship with Ben continued to grow though we only saw each other on weekends. Did a summer tour in the midwest for children's theater, was in Seussical the musical, took summer classes and still worked at fin aid. A childhood friend's older sister died tragically in June and became the catalyst for me to begin making reconiciliations with Megan whom I saw at the funeral. Turned 21 sprained my ankle and oh yeah dyed hot pink streaks in my hair -again. In the fall I left my own cozy apartment and moved into a house with three girls. Mistake. During the school year (my first senior year) I decided that acting was no longer to be my focus and added Arts Management as a minor. I still worked at fin aid and also choreographed for a high school show choir. Three days before Christmas Megan's mom passed away and that rocked my world. Still grieving, I spent The New Year in Taiwain and it helped me to come out of my funk. To this day I say that evenwith no alcohol involved it was easily the best, most unique New Year ever!

Palace square Russia

Children's Theater cast passing time on Summer Tour- yup rollerskating

My 21st bday!

In front of the house I lived in with the girls

NYE in Taiwan

Beautiful!

2006: Had a role in my last college play ever. Megan and I had another small falling out that lasted just a month or so. We patched things up and really began re-building our friendship. Spring breaked in Gatlinberg with Emily and Jessica and another friend. Finished my first senior year and signed on for another. Moved into my own apartment again but only spent the first couple of months actually staying there when Ben got his own apartment and I began staying there more and more frequently though it was a 45 minute drive to get back up for school. Did I mention I bought my first car for myself? I was asked to be a bridesmaid in my friend Julies fall 2007 wedding. I worked a lot that year. Still at Fin Aid, but also at JCPenney over the summer and Dillards over the holidays. Money was always an issue and I was beginning to stress over finding a job after graduation and where I would live when Ben made it official that I would move in with him (officially) after I was done with school.

My last college show: How I Learned To Drive

Spring Break!

2007: Still worked at fin aid. Stayed with Ben and drove back and forth to school. In Febraury I lost control on black ice and flipped my car over. I climbed out the back window virtually unscathed. Was very withdrawn from college life and was ready for the whole thing to just be over.Spring breaked in Florida with Emily. Graduated college in May 2007 with a job lined up to work in group sales for a local amusement park working on corporate events. Moved stuff out of my apartment and in with Ben we were crammed into a tiny one bedroom apartment through the summer. I was probably the most tan I've ever been! Vacationed 10 days in North Carolina with girl friends. Watched the police excavate a dead body from a pond on the golf course at our apartment complex on my birthday. In the fall Ben and I moved into our townhouse and began painting and decorating. Two weeks before I was to be a bridesmaid in Julie's wedding the whole thing was called off. My job at the amusement park came to an end when the season ended and I got a job at a call center to pay the bills.

Car Accident

Spring Break with Em

Graduation!

We did it!

Tan!

Really, really tan!

Ladies trip to North Carolina

2008: Discovered my hair stylist in January and have never looked back. Was asked to be a bridesmaid in friend Kristen's wedding. Friction developed between Ben and myself after our 4 year anniversary and discussion over whether we would ever get married. We were definitely in a rocky patch for awhile. Applied, interviewed, and was offered my current position for more money than expected. Kristen's wedding came and went. Ben and I had a bleak month where we thought the whole thing may be ending between us but rekindled and patched things up to be better than ever. Reconciled with an old friend. Worked really hard at being good at my job.

Kristen's Wedding

2009: Caught wind that I might be getting a proposal around Valentines Day - and I did! Fell into wedding plans exctatically then Ben got laid off three days later. Celebrated our 5 year dating anniversary in late February. Assistant announced her engagement and just a few months later discovered she was pregnant! Took a long weekend with Emily, Ben, and Emily's family to Lake Cumberland. Went to New Kids on the Block concert with Megan. Hired then fired wedding photographer. Ben got a new car. I bought my wedding dress! Worked a lot! Was a bridesmaid at my best friend's wedding!

Our engagement

So happy!

The gown

Can't wait to wear it for real!

Cumberland

NKOTB

Megan's Wedding

So what are we looking forward to in 2010?

Our wedding of course!
Honeymoon in Mexico!
Our 6th and "last" dating anniversary
Ben getting a really awesome new job
Getting (at least) closer to buying a house
Both of us being super hot for 2010 (resolutions to follow soon- believe you me!)
Lots of new babies in our circle of friends
Starting a new chapter of our life as a married couple
And just continuing to get better with age!

(sophomore year in highschool)

So far so good- amirite?!?!

(Miss Amber Lane NYE 2009)

Happy New Year!!!