1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before? I got married!

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Yes, I really did keep them!!! I made more, like always making coffee for Alex even though I hate coffee.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, lots of friends, and my brother and sister-in-law adopted twins!

4. Did anyone close to you die? No one very close, but a lot of people close to people close to me.

5. What countries did you visit? None...

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? A car would be nice. other than that...?

7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? August 12-- because I got married. It's kind of amazing.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Oh.. Um. Is getting married an achievement? I don't think it really is. But I think finally marrying my boyfriend of about 8 years is an acomplishment.

9. What was your biggest failure? Forgetting that my greatest ally isn't Alex-- it's Christ.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Not really, nope.

11. What was the best thing you bought? I bought a box of trucks and gave it to my nephews, and their enjoyment of it is wonderful.

14. Where did most of your money go? Music, books, groceries, Messiah decorations, Christmas presents.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Getting married.

16. What song will always remind you of 2005? "From This Moment", by Shania Twain.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

Thinner or fatter? Fatter. Oops.

18. Richer or poorer? Richer! My heart is so full!

19. What do you wish you'd done more of? Cleaning, lol.

20. What do you wish you'd done less of? Cleaning. What is wrong w/me?

21. How will you be spending Christmas? I spent Christmas 2005 with Alex's family and our friends, and Christmas 2006 will probably be the same.

22. Did you fall in love in 2005? All over again.

24. What was your favorite TV program? Um... I don't know. I really enjoyed Will and Grace..

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Nah..

26. What was the best book you read? Hard to say...I'll think about it.  

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Duets with someone you're in love with.

28. What did you want and get? A husband. *holds scalp*

29. What did you want and not get? Um.. a brand new coloring book!

30. What was your favorite film of this year? I don't know. All that seems overshadowed by life.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Um... Alex and I went on a double date with his parents, and I turned 23.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More Sundays.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? "I am beautiful in everything! Fear my sweatpants!"

34. What kept you sane? Alex, friends, music.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Nobody, really..

36. What political issue stirred you the most? I was too busy to be stirred... except, does Terri Schiavo count?

37. Who did you miss? My friends from France.

38. Who was the best new person you met? Alex's step-grandma. 

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005: Smiling hurts a lot, but it helps, too.

So Alex and I got back Saturday night... we were in Europe, but I'm not allowed to give any details. That's a Vansales rule-- no exact details on honeymoons to unmarried people. A little weird, but whatever.

It's *so* great to be married.

School started on Monday, and it's been fun. I'm still directing 6th grade band, 7th grade jazz band, and teaching lots of lessons. I'm also teaching private lessons to some homeschoolers. We're still in housekeeping right now, but that's okay...

For an account of the wedding, see Mary's Xanga.

You have reached the weblog of Sophia Renee Vansales. She is currently returning from her honeymoon and is unavailable to answer comments or make real posts. When she and her husband Alexander arrive at their new home in Cloverdale, you will be made aware. Please leave a message.

I love my soon-to-be in-laws, they're all so smart, and funny, and crazy, and helpful and all around awesome.

Like this morning, Alex mentioned in passing that Carl, Rob and Travis (his younger brothers, ages 20, 18, and 14) got up at 5:30, cleaned all the bathrooms, fed the animals, swept, dusted, and mopped the entire first floor, brought their parents, and sister breakfast in bed, then started weeding the garden. Alex tells me this is normal for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and apparently Alex and his sister Mary do the same on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and they all split necessary work on Sundays. They've been doing this for about 10 years. They just decided this would be a great way to bless their parents, without any encouragement. That's so awesome.