Words of a Life

A New Year, A New Decade, A New Journey

And exhale. 

2009 is officially history. 

Looking back, it's been such a bittersweet year.  The sorrows were many but thankfully the joys still outnumbered them.   There were so many hellos and goodbyes.

·     Goodbye extra weight (for a little while at least), old town, soil con job, ttc, awesome little church, amazing friends, country house, debt

·     Hello new town, awesome program specialist job, big growing-on-us church, Hannah friends, small town house, new beginnings

For the past couple years I've decided not to do resolutions.  I do want to lose weight (nothing new there) and have some goals to make that happen.  And Chris and I will be embarking on a life changing journey and we are hopeful.  Details will be shared here as available. 

Instead of resolutions I've done an "I Am going to Try" List.  And it's worked.  I really try to do these things.  And despite the changes 2009 has brought, I can honestly say that this year has been more fulfilling and hope-filled than years past.  I've kept most of my previous ideas and added a few more.

• I am going to try to look for the good, the hidden joy, the sweet poignancy, in each moment.
• I am going to try to overlook the slights, the insults, the mean or just-not-quite-so-nice comments.
• I am going to try to tell the people I love that I love them more often.
• I am going to try to let down my guard and let a few more people in.
• I am going to try to hug more often.
• I am going to try to harbor hurts less.
• I am going to try to really be a better wife, friend, employee.
• I am going to try to snuggle more babies and little ones.
• I am going to try to relax and dance with my husband whenever and wherever he wants - the kitchen, the grocery store aisles, in the snow - whenever, wherever.
• I am going to try to be thankful, really thankful all the time.
• I am going to try to stay in better contact with my amazing friends.
• I am going to try to complain less and praise more.
• I am going to try to embrace hope more, and show bitter to the door.
• I am going to try to love more.

One final goodbye...

Goodbye Kelly - a part of our hearts went with you...

Goodbye 2009

Hello 2010

Christmas Card

My friend Amy is amazingly talented.  She can take a simple invitation and turn it into a work of art.  I have been absolutely amazed at some of her work that I've seen.  So when she started a new line of cards and announcements and invitations I was hopeful that I'd get to put her to work on something for us.  And though I have a more specific occasion in mind, I was uber excited to find out she was doing Christmas cards too, because seriously this the Christmas cards she makes for her own family are incredible! 

Here's what she made for us!

Isn't she amazing!? 

I LOVE that it's a letter and photos all on a 5x7 card.  And she even made matching envelopes printed with our return address - very sharp!  And she changed the colors to the blues & purples that I love - very accomodating! 

If you have any invitation, announcement or card needs, go visit her at ZaZaZoo Cards! 

Recap

Hmm, almost 3 months of non-blogging - definitely not a record but still a sizeable absence. 

Let's recap my from last real post -

• We've been here almost 5 months.  Again, good but tough months.  We are settling in although we still miss our Harlan/Irwin friends.
• We are starting to kind of have friends here.  We are now in a Life Group through church and went to a movie last week with one of the couples.  And some of them came to our annual Christmas party.
• We now have no immediate family here.  Mom moved in November.  But we have cousins, very lovely cousins.  My cousin Tina and her family had us over for Thanksgiving dinner and her sister invited us for Christmas.  We didn't make it for obvious reasons.  And my cousin Tom and his wife had us over for a pre-Thanksgiving celebration and we've been able to hang out with them a bit.
• The job is still awesome!  Love my boss, love most of my co-workers, love the field office staffs I get to work with, love the State Office staff I get to work with - just pretty darn happy with the work situation!  And very hard to believe that I've been here almost 6 months - I honestly learn something new every day.  Love!
• Chris is still loving working from home too.  Loves the rolling out of bed at 7:59 and being at work at 8:00 aspect!
• The house is still wonderful and it has become home.  We officially hung pictures and prints and decorated around the 1st of December.  Which was then followed with frantic Christmas decorating in time for our annual Christmas Open House on the 12th.  And yes, our house can hold LOTS of people at once!
• Church was the one area where we were really struggling back in September.  I am very, very happy to report that we like it.  We really, really like it.  Chris is now co-teaching the 8th grade boys on Wednesday nights and we are starting to meet people.  We got involved with a Life Group and feel incredibly blessed by those God has placed in our group.  We are currently studing The DNA of Relationships by Gary Smalley and it has been a great experience.  We also love our pastor's teaching style (Deed - reminds me of Dave Bartlett!) and the sermons are fantastic.  We are enjoying being in a church where a lot of folks step forward to help in ministries and we are not required to serve in an area we don't feel led to serve in. 
• Infertility/babies, etc.  Not a lot to say. We've enjoyed a lovely break for the past 6+ months - simply focusing on each other and our relationship and relaxing.  It's been wonderful.  Is there more to come?  Yep, but we are just not ready to share on this blog yet. Stay tuned.

So what else has been happening, you wonder.  Great question!

• Um, lots of relaxing!
• Quick trip to KC for our 4th anniversary!  Got to meet some dear online friends for the first time in person!  Wonderful weekend and beautiful weather.
• Planning a mid-February trip to AZ to spend a week with Chris's parents.  And I'm so hoping I get to meet up with a couple of my dear Hannah's Prayer friends, as well as our friend Stacy.  Wish, wish, wish!
• Lovely Christmas celebration - just Chris and I as we were snowed in.  Still hoping to see family later tomorrow or this week.
• Looking forward to 2010 and all it has to offer.

I'll post our Christmas card that my awesome friend Amy made for us - if you need cards or invites of any kind go visit her website at ZaZaZoo Cards & Invites!