Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012

What a whirlwind year this has been.

• My Uncle David married a wonderful lady, Jacque and through their marriage we gained a new cousin, Colt. The wedding was so romantic and beautiful that we were inspired to decide to get married  a month and nine days later.

• We chose to have a small ceremony on May 25th, 2011. We had unsuccessfully tried to plan a wedding numerous times. I knew I never wanted a big wedding and my closest friends and I had promised never to ask each other to be in a wedding party. I am not much of a romantic, probably because I am too pragmatic for my own good. Some of my friends questioned my choice to not only have a small wedding, but also why I would want to get married on a Wednesday. My explanation: I have been a near lifelong fan of Oprah and I wanted to see her last episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show as it aired. I realize that some people think that this is ridiculous and kooky. I see it like this; That Brandon would agree on this date, and know the reasoning behind it, agree to a mid-morning ceremony so that I could be home and on my couch with tissues by four o'clock is a testament to the man I married. He was willing to share his day with a woman that he doesn't really like, because it was a big deal to me. He is the most unselfish, loving, intelligent, adorable man I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Our anniversary is exactly six months, to the day, from my birthday. I relish the thought of our future together. It only gets better after the first four years we shared together. We worked really hard to get here and I can truthfully say that it has been very much worth it.

• On June 22 we had to say goodbye to my Grandfather. My mom, Uncle David, Aunt Lori and Mimaw were there to help him transition from life to death. It was probably the hardest, yet most rewarding thing I have ever done. I prayed so fervently that night and my prayer was answered. I told him that I loved him. I told him we would miss him but that it was okay to leave. I wanted so desperately for him to not struggle or be in pain for any longer. It has been hard to watch those around me in their grief. He is missed. I had a habit of gifting him books that I thought he would like for Christmas. I asked that I could have those books back. I wanted to read them and try to enjoy them as he had. One was titled: No Angel by James Dobyn   and when he had unwrapped it, he asked me what I was trying to say. He had a sharp humor about him the whole time I knew him. I like to believe that he is in a better place now.

• Brandon and I were able to prove that we could survive 948 miles with a four year old and teenager. Granted, we kind of cheated by only making our trips at night. I really enjoyed the time we spent in Brandon's home town. His Mamaw is such a hoot and I really enjoy her spirit. I hope that we will be able to make more trips, more often, in the future. I am also hoping that his family will be able to spend some time with us, here in Texas, one day.
  
  
  

• In early August we took off to Ft. Worth for the 2011 Scentsy convention and boy, was that an experience. We had a "quirky" hotel that had little, to no, air conditioning during a record breaking heat wave. We managed to get through all the chaos and heat and were never so happy to arrive home. We did have a good time though.

• Later that same month I managed to wreck our car. It was rainy and a girl hydroplaned into me. Luckily, I wasn't badly injured and neither was the other driver. The car was totaled and I was so sad over that. C'est la vie. 

• We added to our family in October. We were blessed to adopt our perfect puppy, Lexie from her first parents. For me, it was love at first sight. She can make me laugh like no other and no one is ever more happy to see me than her. I never knew a dog would make me as happy as she has. I guess that is why I love her so.

2011 was the year I turned 30. It was a year that I made new friends. People that I care a great deal for. At times this year has been hectic, hard or great all at different times and so randomly. Our world is so chaotic, but there have been moments that I look deep down into my soul and wonder how did I get so lucky. What did I do to deserve such moments of happiness, joy and contentment?  Ten years ago, I never would have thought of this as a life for myself. I couldn't have imagined that it would be so good. Sitting down and looking back on it all makes me appreciate it even more. 

Happy New Year! May it be all that you wish for.

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