2011 Year in Review

It's my FIFTH anniversary for my annual year-in-review. It's crazy to look back at 2007, 2008, and 2009, and 2010 and see how much life has changed. This was definitely a year filled with all sorts of new experiences.

Where did you begin 2010?

Mr. Right and I invited my sister and her husband over for a quiet (gourmet) dinner at our house, and then we rang in the new year just the two of us watching TV. And then about 12:15, Mr. Right had to go home. It was exactly one week before our wedding, we were exhausted, and it was SO hard to send my man home, knowing he'd move in the very next week. But that's how it goes before you're married!

What random cool things happened in 2011?

Besides getting married and spending the most glorious week-long honeymoon in Mexico with my man? We took several trips - a week at Rosemary Beach (outside of Destin), two different ranch getaways (one just the two of us, one with Mr. Right's family), several trips to Oklahoma and Midland to visit family, and the family reunion in south Texas.

I had a big year at work - it was my hospital's 50th anniversary, so I helped plan TWENTY special events in its honor. Mr. Right got a promotion at our church. We started teaching ESL classes and absolutely fell in LOVE with our students. I spent some good quality time with a few close girlfriends. I became a much more serious quilter. My sister got PREGNANT. We went from owning two houses to ONE. And, we became completely debt free (except for the house).

My Bachelor-Watching Bachelorette Party

Books read in 2011?

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson

Secrets of the FBI by Ronald Kesller (audio book)

Charlie Wilson's War by George Crile (audio book)

The Millenials by Thom S. Rainer and Jess Rainer (audio book)

The Man Called Cash by Steve Turner (audio book)

The Broker by John Grisham

Room by Emma Donoghue

The Confession by John Grisham

Spoken from the Heart by Laura Bush

Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Heaven by Randy Alcorn

White Crosses by Larry Watson

Prisoners of Hope, by Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry
The Broker, by John Grisham
Decision Points, by George Bush (audio book)
I'm Feeling Lucky: The Confessions of Google Employee Number 59 (audio book)
Hunger Games Trilogy, Suzanne Collins
Bossypants, by Tina Fey
Frost/Nixon: Behind the Scene of the Nixon Interviews, by Sir David Frost (audio book)
The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008, by Bob Woodward (audio book)
Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen (audio book)
To Live is Christ - the Life of Paul by Beth Moore

Do anything embarrassing?

I lived with a boy for the first time in my life... so of course I did a lot of embarrassing things, being in such tight quarters with another person. My most embarrassing moment was probably the night I almost threw up on him.

Oh, and I cut bangs. It was a bad idea. Not sure it was embarassing, but it was definitely not my best decision. I've been growing them out since July... Next time I want to get a dramatic hair cut, please, someone do an intervention.

What scripture did you study?

I did a Precept Bible Study on Isaiah (woah nelly, that was a tough one!), a self-study on the life of Paul (with the help of this book by Beth Moore), and lately I've been going through the four gospels chronologically/simultaneously, which is so interesting to see the different stories side-by-side in each gospel. I missed teaching my old Sunday School class, but got to fill in for two weeks in December, which felt a little like coming back home.

Did you know anybody who got married?

Why am I blanking on this one? All I can remember is David and Kelly's wedding, but I figure we went to more than that... if it's yours I've forgotten... I'm sorry. It'll come to me in the middle of the night. I know in 2012 we have THREE weddings in January and then I'm the maid of honor for a dear friend's wedding in March.

I love this picture because you can see all of us sitting in the audience (left side).

Did you move anywhere?

Praise Jesus no. In fact, January 3 marks my fifth anniversary in the little house I built. I did gain a new roommate, though, and we did sell Mr. Right's house, which in retrospect was rather quickly, but in the midst of it, seemed to take forever. We also did some fun projects around the house - I am thankful I married a very handy man.

What sporting events did you attend?

We really only went to a handful of Rangers games... and of course the Cowtown Marathon, a local triathlon, and a little 5K in the fall. Not a big sports year for us. 

Describe your birthday:

(My father-in-law and I have birthdays two days apart)

I turned 31 rather quietly with some family dinners on both sides, and a simple night out with Mr. Right for Indian food and then to see the newest Twilight movie. (He's a champ for sitting through that with me... he's not exactly that movie's target market).

What's something you learned about yourself?

Ha... oh my, I have learned so much about myself this year. Probably because I spent the first four months in bed with PLENTY of time to contemplate life while I was doped up on medication with a mild fever. I don't miss that at all. 

I learned to appreciate my health, and to love on people who are suffering through long-term health issues. People tend to pay attention at the beginning, and then forget about you. But I had some dear friends who continued to seek me out, remind me they were praying for me, and come over and hang out with me when I didn't have the energy to leave my house. 

I learned that my husband is even stronger than I thought he could be. He took such good care of me this year, showed extreme patience as I battled sickness and then insecurities that resulted from being sick. He showed me love in such creative and tender ways. One of my favorite memories was in late April, when I had been sick with my latest bout for four weeks straight with no relief, and he knew I was lonely. So, he invited my girlfriends over for a "Royal Wedding Rehearsal Dinner" and cooked us a gourmet meal and then retreated to his home office so that we girls could have some girl time. 

I learned to be a better prayer warrior, as we were faced with challenge after challenge - from my health issues to selling a house and the fear that came with paying two mortgages and not knowing when it would end. We were robbed, we lost loved ones, I wrecked my car, we faced challenges at work and school and sometimes we were so very tired, and yet God never forgot about us. He not only proved to be very sweet in some of our toughest times but he answered many of our prayers much more abundantly than we thought to ask. 

This week I read about how Jesus healed a blind man, and everyone had thought that the blind man was blind as the result of some sort of sin. Jesus told them that he had been blind, not because of sin, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." (John 9:3). I think much of what we went through this year was so that we could see the work of God displayed in our life. 

Were you in school this year?

I went to a weekend workshop to learn how to teach ESL classes. And Mr. Right took 800 hours of grad school. (not really... but I think he took 21 hours).

Any new additions to your family?

I gained about 100 new relatives when I married Mr. Right. It was so fun. Over Thanksgiving three of his teenage girl cousins stayed at our house for the weekend... we watched Selena Gomez movies and drank hot chocolate and talked about hair... it was so fun to fill our house with giggling girls.

Later, when I was unsure about a fashion trend, Mr. Right told me, "Don't worry, I know what I'm talking about - Selena Gomez wore that." Things I never thought I'd hear come out of my husband's mouth!

Favorite night out?

Mr. Right came up with the concept of Top Secret Date Nights, and those were some of my favorite evenings. He comes up with a date, sends me a calendar invite (because we live by our Outlook calendars), and then taunts me relentlessly about how much fun I'm going to have, but how he can't tell me where we're going. Sometimes I can wear him down and he spills the beans (because he's as bad at keeping secrets as I am), but sometimes he stays strong and I don't know where we're going until we get there. This year we took secret dates to the Japanese Gardens, to the drive-in movie, to the Modern Art Museum's special indie film series, and we went on a shopping spree at North Park Mall. Of course, not to be outdone, I planned a Top Secret Date for Mr. Right, taking him to the aquarium in Dallas. 

My other favorite night in was Valentine's Day, when he turned our living room into a candle lit cafe, with our table in front of the fire place and a gourmet steak dinner and chocolate cake for dessert. It was something straight out of a movie. 

And then there was the symphony...

Oh, and there were two picnics at the river that were uber romantic...

What do you want to change in 2012?

I want to be a more patient wife. I want to be more flexible when my plans change and relinquish the need for control over my calendar. These are all things I've come to realize I struggle with after living in close quarters with my man - it's amazing how many things you can hide from yourself when you live alone.

Where did you spend most of your time?

In the kitchen, cooking with Mr. Right (or watching him cook). Which would explain why I gained 15 pounds this year... and which is why we're both training for a half marathon and watching what we eat now. Most of the time. (on the night this picture was taken, Mr. Right made THREE different types of Christmas cookies... from scratch... and two different types of icing.)

Do you have a new year's resolution?

I want to do better at sending birthday cards, thank you notes, and bringing hostess gifts when we go to peoples' houses. 

I want to run a half marathon - scheduled for the end of February.

I want to take some quilting classes (I finished three quilts in 2011 and am very close to finishing two more).

What was your favorite purchase?

My new sewing machine - I call her Magnolia. She's electric.

Did you get sick this year?

Ha... I took 11 rounds of antibiotics and THEN got on a daily dose of antibiotics in early May that I'm still on... so I'm not sure how many additional rounds that will include... basically I glow in the dark.

Start a new hobby?

I did some intense quilting... and LOVED it! I finally got the nerve to try quilting on my machine (before that I did exclusive machine piecing and hand quilting), and yesterday I learned how to free-motion quilt, something I had been so nervous about. I love it. I am happiest sitting at my machine, listening to a book on tape and sewing something beautiful to give away.

A birthday present for my sister Sarah

Christmas present for Aunt Donna

Christmas present for my niece Ella

My first attempt at free-motion quilting, on this vintage quilt top Mr. Right found at an antique store... this quilt is for my man.

I've still got to finish hand-quilting the appliqued hearts on the side. It's a gift for someone special in 2012.

What are you hoping and planning for in 2012?

I am excited to watch our ESL ministry grow - we are already praying that God will bring us new volunteers so we can serve even more students. I am looking forward to gaining a new niece or nephew in early June. I'm excited to be taking THREE trips with Mr. Right (one to Florida for a conference, one to watch him preach a revival somewhere far away - we don't know where yet - and a mission trip to help a church plant in San Francisco). I'm excited to be debt free and to turn our focus toward paying down part of our mortgage and buying Mr. Right a truck with a back seat (because someday he may need a place to put a car seat... or two or three). And I'm looking forward to a second chance at being newlyweds.

Happy new year!

A hair-raising Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas, and praise the Lord for an uneventful holiday so far. Unlike 2008... here's a little revisit of the "highlight" of my Christmas 2008.

(originally posted on Dec. 26, 2008)

Light of the world... literally

I went to my parents' tiny Baptist church for their Christmas Eve candlelight service. It was very special... all the families gathered together, babies dressed in red velvet dresses, little ones anxious to come home and devour their presents under the tree, slightly older ones just ready to come home and devour Christmas dinner... and everybody looking forward to the climax of the service--lighting the candles and singing Silent Night.

Only at this tiny Baptist church, Silent Night wasn't so silent.

Because I set my hair on fire.

I was being a bit mischievous. That's what happens when you get my family together, we look for any excuse to laugh and have a good time. So of course, when I put my lit candle under my chin and made a scary face, kind of like one would do when telling a ghost story around a campfire, sister Sarah provided me with the reaction I was hoping for... a giggle. But then sister Lindsay, in a motherly way, brushed the hair back on my right side and said, "Don't catch your hair on fire...""

And right at that moment I heard a gasp, then "BETHE!!!" and then she reached over and put the fire out that was starting on my left side. It's amazing how fast hair can burn... one minute you're just standing there, being silly and singing Christmas carols, and the next minute, "SPARK," then "POOF" and a terrible stench of burned hair fills the room. Luckily she saw it as it happened, so I only lost a small amount at the bottom, and I have such long hair (and so much of it) that nobody will ever notice, except for the singed ends which I should probably trim off today.

I'm glad we were sitting on the second-to-back row and not in our normal front-row spot for all the tiny Baptist church to see. Only the rows behind us and in front of us really got to experience me adding a "spark" to Christmas... ruining silent light but taking Jesus' command literally in Matthew 5:14 when he told us to be "the light of the world." 

Merry Christmas, and may God bless you in 2009.

Best Christmas Ever

I figured out why I have so thoroughly enjoyed Christmas this year... it's because it's been the first Christmas in ages that hasn't been overshadowed by life events.

Christmas 2010 - Got married exactly two weeks after Christmas... so I was drowning in wedding to-do lists.

Christmas 2009 - Graduated from Grad School (and threw myself a giant party)

Christmas 2006-2008 - Grad School Finals

Christmas 2003 and 2004 - Moved

So that leaves Christmas 2005 as my only quiet, normal Christmas since college. And that was ages ago! But this year we are making up for lost time...

Mostly by baking and attending parties.

From last Friday to today I will have had gone to six parties. And since Mr. Right and I express love through food (and crafts), here's what we did:

Chocolate-dipped marshmallows for a dinner we hosted at our house last weekend. They had kids... and kids love marshmallows. And let's face it, I love marshmallows too... so it worked perfectly. (Mr. Right claims to not like marshmallows, but let the record show that he ate enough to convince me otherwise.)

For a Christmas dinner Friday night I made chocolate-dipped strawberries and pretzel sticks. Chocolate + sweet + salty = love.

For a surprise birthday party Sunday night we made SIX DOZEN cupcakes - half iced in vanilla cream cheese icing, and the other half with Mr. Right's super secret banana chocolate frosting recipe. It's so good it'll change your life.

We were smart and only left ourselves a few at the house, and left the rest of the leftovers at the party, except for a handful which we dropped off at Andrea's house because (a) she has become like an extended member of our family and (b) she loves Mr. Right's cooking as much as I do, so we always try to swing her some goodies whenever possible.

Now that we're just a few days away from the big day, I'm trying hard to stay laid-back and stress-free about my long to-do list, which includes wrapping presents (we haven't wrapped a single one yet) and finishing a quilt (I see some hand-binding while watching Christmas movies in my plans for this week). The unimportant things, like vacuuming, will just have to wait until next week when I'm off of work for one whole glorious week.

Or maybe I'll save it for my New Year's resolutions... I've got to leave something for 2012.

Hand-sewn Christmas Cards

I wanted to show you the Christmas cards I made. It was actually quite easy... I just printed the cards on white cardstock, then sandwiched them around a piece of red fabric, and sewed them on my sewing machine with red thread. The hardest part was cutting everything out - the sewing part was a breeze.

I experimented with different types of sewing - zig zags and straight lines - and found that the simplest technique looked the best.

I'm very pleased with how they turned out, and they were some of the least expensive cards I've ever sent (good for our Dave Ramsey budget). The most expensive part was the fabric (but I had a 40% off coupon) and the postage. Which is a good thing, because combining our two families means that we sent out a LOT of Christmas cards this year! Speaking of which... to my blog friends, if you want to exchange Christmas cards (which would be so fun!) message me on Facebook and we can exchange addresses. This only goes for blog friends whom I also know in person...

In case you want to see where I got my inspiration, I got it from Pinterest. Of course.

A little of this, a little of that

I got a little burned out from the 30 Days of Thankful. I'm still thankful, but glad to not have the pressure to post every day.

So now we can catch up on what I didn't write when I was being so thankful.

-I'm tired of finals. It's horrible for me to admit, but I am. Sick of it, and I'm not even the one in school! Mr. Right does a fantastic job juggling school, work, and me, but finals means a month of intense studying... there's just no way to get around it. Which means many nights I go to bed and he's still downing coffee and pouring over books. I'm proud of his hard work, and I'm happy to say that it ends TOMORROW!

We're going to celebrate with a big night out. It's what we do. And this semester is definitely worth celebrating (he had a really good semester).

-I got to teach my old Sunday School class last Sunday, and I'll teach again this Sunday. My how I've missed it. But I'm also confident that it's not what I'm supposed to be doing right now... that this chapter in my life's book is meant for ESL. For now. But the occasional teaching still warms my soul.

-Mr. Right got a promotion. I'm not sure I've mentioned it yet...but he did. And I'm so proud of him.

-I'm having a disorganized Christmas. I have so many projects I want to do for my house and for gifts, but they're all half done. So is my shopping... and the last of my Christmas cards. I'm not really sure how to finish any of it. But even so, this has been a particularly wonderful, quiet Christmas, and in the end, felt wreaths and hand-sewn cards aren't the reason for the season anyway.

-Mr. Right made me cornbread last night... he just took a box of Jiffy, added half a can of corn, one can of mild green chiles, and cheese. Oh my word, it was to die for. My New Year's Resolution is going to be to eat cornbread every night.

-I'm two weeks in to our half marathon training... Saturday I was supposed to run four miles and barely walked two. Fail (I blame it on a killer headache). But last night I was supposed to run three and went for the fourth... and if felt fantastic. I had completely forgotten that the first three miles are hellish, and then something clicks and miles four through eight are absolutely fantastic. I guess that's what they call "runner's high." My fourth mile felt amazing, which is encouraging because I was starting to second-guess this decision to run a half marathon. And I burned 455 calories... which made me feel less guilty about eating TWO pieces of cornbread.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Santa...

And Mrs. Claus...

I apologize for the crazy eye makeup. I was freaking out about how to make myself look like an old woman... and went a little nuts with my "stage" makeup. Ick.

Oops! Marketing Gone Wrong

I am an avid collector of examples of bad marketing. I'm not sure what that says about me, that I take great delight in other peoples' mistakes. I guess that's what happens when you work in the industry for as long as I have.

Get ready for some cringe-worthiness. 

The first ones come from this magazine, which showed up in my mailbox last week:

It was their annual spotlight on attorneys, where attorneys are featured because they're the best of the best because they were willing to pay the advertising fee.

I've never hired an attorney before, but I guess if I were to shop around for one, the first thing I would want to know is whether or not they have a fluffy purse dog. 

I'm assuming these firms don't have PR people. But if they did, I can only imagine his/her reaction. 

"You're telling me you want to take a picture... for your ad... with your fluffy white dog sitting on the judge's bench? Do you really think that screams 'I'm a great commercial litigator?'"

 But as much as I adore fluffy purse dogs, my favorite ad was for this divorce attorney. Because nothing says "Let me help you with your divorce" like an attorney with a shotgun.

Only in Texas, people.

Here's another marketing "oops" that I will forever love... in honor of the holidays, be sure to pick up a special Chanukah ham during your next grocery visit.

Or, for all of my fellow Rangers fans... this credit card promotion was sent at the end of this year's pennant race to a friend of mine who lives in Arlington. Home of the Texas Rangers. When we were neck-and-neck with the Angels. I'm sure every Rangers fan wants a credit card featuring the enemy.

What was I thinking?

My husband has peer pressured me into running a half marathon with him. I did one back in 2008 and while it was a wonderful experience, I also promised myself that I would never do it again. I'm just not made to run long distances. And I'm a huge wimp. And it takes forever.

Now, organizing a marathon, I can do. I've helped with our town's local marathon every year since 2006, and it's one of my favorite things to volunteer for. I may not be good at running 13.1 miles, but I'm very good at handing out t-shirts to 20,000+ runners.

But I do remember how tight my tushy was after I ran that half marathon, and how my metabolism stayed crazy high for months after I finished. This year when I spent so many months stuck at home sick, I mulled the idea of running another race as a sign of health victory. I'm big on marking wins. And so, in honor of reducing my tush and celebrating some good doctor visits, I've decided to jump right in. I've been running for a few weeks, so thankfully I'm already up to about 3 miles.

I have no plans to make it a fast or pretty half. The last time I ran it, my goals were to (1) not die and (2) not throw up. This time my goal will be to have fun and to do my best.

Now I need to start thinking about what I want my shirt to say... it's the best part of a race, putting some witty slogan on your back for all those people behind you to enjoy. Not that there will be many people slower than me, but I'm hoping for a few. I welcome your suggestions.

Freedom!

We're debt free!!!!!!!! (everything but the house)

After eleven months of saving like no one else, we are officially debt free! The car was paid off Friday and we went out Friday night to a fancy dinner to celebrate.

It feels so good.

But we're not done. Since we're already used to living on a tight budget, we're going to stay hunkered down and save so Mr. Right can buy a bigger car (one with a backseat, just in case we want to fill that backseat with babies someday) and then we're going to work on knocking out a chunk of our mortgage.

So we'll be keeping those envelopes for the time being. Or forever. I kind of like them now.

Thankful... an endcap

It's my final day of my 30 days of thankful. This one is a no-brainer.

Even more than my family, even more than Mr. Right, I am thankful for my savior, Jesus Christ. I am thankful that he saved me, not just from a life of sin, but from a meaningless and directionless life and instead, through his grace, has given me a life of purpose. A life of joy.

What does this joy look like? Last week, it looked like four of our English students plus two of their relatives sitting with me at a church service. It was watching one of our guests cry when the preacher talked about Jesus. It was having one of our oldest students tell me that she loved me like her daughter.

I am full of joy.

I am thankful for Mr. Right

Friends, I feel like a zombie today. It usually happens right after a particularly large special event. This week I practically birthed a free-standing emergency room, and after three days of putting on a huge grand opening, doing four last-minute media stories, and working some crazy overtime hours at a pace that feels a lot like a sprint...

I'm pooped. Which is why I'm still doing my 30 days of thankful, even though it's now December. I'm choosing to be thankful in December, and to ignore the fact that it's because I'm behind schedule.

Oh, and I should tell you that Mr. Right is trying to peer pressure me into running a half marathon with him in February. That husband of mine knows I'm a sucker for a good challenge, and I could use the motivation to work out hard. But I also remember swearing after my last half marathon that I would never. run one. again. 

Which is why I was back on the treadmill last night for my first official training run... 3 miles. It was ugly. But I did it. And the whole time I pictured my hiney looking like Britney Spears' in the I'm a Slave for You video back before she went crazy. You remember... that's the hiney I plan on having after I run 13 miles. Only mine will be more covered up.

So back to being thankful...

You knew it was coming... on day 30 I am thankful for Mr. Right. 

I am thankful for the way he showed up, after 29 years of waiting, and swept me off my feet with an unstoppable determination to woo me. I think that determination has only gotten stronger over our first year of marriage.

I am thankful that he's a hard worker. Not only is he a full-time seminary student but he also works 30 hours a week at our church, and in his spare time volunteered with me at our ESL program, mentors guys on the side, and helps fellow students with their evangelism practicums. He has a stamina that I will never match, and yet it's fun to watch how God has uniquely gifted him, differently from me, to bring Him glory.

(Did I mention that Mr. Right has been chosen to be on the COVER of his seminary's official brochure? I am so, so proud of him.)

I am thankful that he's an amazingly creative cook. He just invested in a $6 smoker at an estate sale (we're such big spenders) and since then has smoked everything he can get his hands on... pork tender, beef jerky, cheese... to Mr. Right, cooking for someone = love. It's a total treat to come home after a long day to a home-cooked meal made by my favorite person.

I am thankful that he's fun. He's a cowboy boot-wearing hippie, a free spirit, and an outdoorsman. He has lived all over the country, but he's most at home in the mountains, on his bike, or in the pool.  Before he came along I didn't know anything about "gear." It's still pretty foreign to me, but I sure do love borrowing his super warm technical shirts, using his sleeping bags and camping backpacks when we travel, and sleeping in his "you never have to wash these, but I'm a girl so I do anyway" wool socks. 

He loves books as much as I do. He speaks Spanish and has created all sorts of funny nicknames for me. He knows how to build things. He loves his family.

I am thankful that he's strong. That he has already demonstrated that he will stand by me during difficult times and fight for me when he has to. I am also thankful that he's okay if I need a good cry, and that nothing grosses him out, including the threat of being puked on. I am thankful for all of the times he's gone with me to the doctor when I was sick, just so I wouldn't have to face it alone.

I am thankful for a husband who asks me every Sunday night, "What one thing can I do this week to make you feel loved?" I am thankful that he's a spiritual leader who encourages me to pursue Christ, and who prays for our marriage daily.

I am thankful that he looks so darn cute in those jeans. :) And I am thankful that he continues to choose me.

PS--I want to officially welcome Mr. Right into the blogosphere... go check him out.