Happy New Year!

Did you ring in the New Year in style? Brad and I, along with Heather, Alex, and Amber partied like rock country stars on New Year's Eve. We bundled up, decked ourselves in festive hats, and spent the evening with 50,000 other party animals on Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville.

 

The girls getting ready for the evening

 

Brad and me on the bus heading downtown.

 

We found our way to the front of the crowd near the concert stage!

Heather and I huddled together to keep warm!

Bradley and Alex sporting their fancy hats.

In Music City, naturally it's a music note that drops during the countdown.

Kissing (in the cold rain) at midnight to welcome 2013!

What a way to ring in the New Year! I think it's so fun sharing experiences with tons of other people, and it's even better to share them with people I love. We had a blast listening to the bands all night and then joining in the raucous of the crowd by blaring our noisemakers through the streets of the city. Some day, we're going to go to New York City and watch the real ball drop in Times Square with millions of other people. It'll be the ultimate party, and it is going to happen, eventually.

Another Year Closer

Well, there goes 2012. It's been a long year. I'm kind of glad to see it go, actually.

Every year (and every single day) is filled with countless blessings, and I don't ever mean to not fully appreciate each of them. But, in terms of fertility, or lack thereof, is it horrible to be glad to just check another year off the list? Surely now, we're a year closer to our children, right? I never thought I would look at our journey to parenthood in year-long time increments, but yet another Christmas has passed us by without even a pregnancy. Surely the number of childless Christmases we are to experience as a couple is dwindling down, right? While the number of babies extraneously present in my life are constantly increasing, the number of days or months or years until we have our own simply must be decreasing. They just have to be. That's how math works. Today is a day closer to me becoming a mama than yesterday was. And tomorrow will be closer, still. Because of that basic arithmetic, I'm glad to see this year come to an end.

 

I know God has a great plan for us. And I know that He already knows what that plan is, down to every detail. I trust that completely. And because of that, I'm glad to have marked another year off of the journey. Don't get me wrong, I completely hate that it actually was a full year within that journey; I wish the journey to parenthood was already complete and that it had been measured in days or months alone, instead of entire 12-month calendars. But regardless, I'm excited to take that 2012 calendar off the wall and start a fresh, new one. With 12 more months of 2013 ahead of me, maybe a conception (followed by a healthy pregnancy and birth) is possible. Maybe 2013 is the year.

 

Here comes that tricky hope again. That scary flame that encourages me to keep dreaming. But maybe it's right. Maybe 2013 is the year. 2010 wasn't. 2011 wasn't either. And 2012 wasn't, still. But maybe, just maybe, 2013 is the one. Only one way to find out.

 

I've got to take another step forward. Move another day ahead.

 

January 1, 2013 is, at the very least, one day closer to me finally becoming a mama.

Happy New Year!

[pic via]

I have a really good feeling that God is going to bless 2011! Can't wait to see what He has in store for us in the New Year!

Good-Bye 2010! Hello 2011!

[pic via]

While I'm in no way glad to see Christmastime come to an end, I am very happy to say good-bye to 2010. This past year has been a pretty rough one for me, and for Brad, and for me and Brad. A lot has been going on behind the scenes of this blog that I've never really gotten into publicly. And even though we've always been Beyond Blessed and God has never once, not for even a second, left us hanging, it's still been a pretty rough one for us.

Maybe it's because we're getting older. Maybe it's because we've been married longer. Maybe it's because we have to be more grown-up and responsible now. Maybe it's because our choices are having more drastic and lasting consequences. Maybe it's because the  more you love, the more it hurts when it hurts. Whatever the reason, we've definitely had to reach out and cling to the Lord, His Word, His promises, His forgiveness, His grace, His mercy, His comfort, and His hope more than either of us have ever had to at any other point in our lives.

The hard times make the good times considerably better. The redemption from mistakes and failures easily make salvation that much sweeter (if that's even possible). The dependence on Someone much bigger and better than ourselves helps keep life in perspective. It all leads to much needed growth, albeit painful growth. I'm not one for asking why "bad things happen to good people," because I don't believe any person is truly good, let alone myself. Besides, who am I to expect an easy life when the Son of God Himself was persecuted and executed?

But, just because I make every attempt to be continually positive and thankful for His stability and to not throw myself a pity party when life turns out harder than I had ever envisioned, that doesn't mean I'm not more than ready to holler "Adios!" to a year that has been full of challenges, hurt and pain.

So, while I generally enjoy the "fresh start" of every new year, I revel in saying good-bye to 2010 and hello to 2011 even more than usual. Sometimes a new beginning is exactly what the soul needs. And that's what 2011 is; a new beginning. I'm just glad I'm not walking it alone.

Are you excited to start again? Has 2010 been a year full of both blessings and difficulties for you? It's never to late to make any changes you've been needing to ("New Years Resolutions," if you will). You and I can both take comfort in knowing that as we enter into the new year, God will never, ever leave our side.

Praise God, for He is good!

New Year, New Me

I'm one of those girls that wants to look cute but never wants to put any effort into it. Especially regarding my hair. I'm definitely not opposed to trendy cuts and stylish colors. But I'm way too lazy to fix it every day, and definitely too cheap to make it a financial priority when there are so many other things I'd rather spend my money on. Thanks to this stubborn frugality, my parents gifted me a hair appointment for Christmas.

Gosh, an all expenses paid trip to the hair salon? What's a girl to do?? Brad was rooting for me to go dark and short again like I had this past May, but to add a "bit of deep auburn hints" this time. Erin suggested that I go back to the blonde I was when I was still a young bride. Hmm... It was a tough decision to make with all of these endless possibilities out there for me. I'm truly not that attached to my hair, and could literally do anything, especially if someone else is paying! In the end, my husband's opinion won out, since I care a little more if he thinks I look good than I do Erin... (Sorry, Erin.) So, I was boldly going to transform my long blondish-brown tresses into a trendy style of brownish-red short hair.

Because of my haphazard hair regimen, I didn't have a regular "hair lady" here in Nashville, but Bonnie highly recommended that I go to the new place in Nolensville called A Salon 2 Dye 4 (haha, get it?). I was able to get an appointment right away and blindly walked into the chic salon for a whole new 'do. I thumbed through a few of the magazines and selected some examples of shapes and colors that I enjoyed. I described to Jane (my official new "hair lady") what I was hoping to achieve, and she was a bit surprised by my aspirations since it was so drastically different from my current look. But, I explained to her that this has kind of become my routine. I chop my hair short, and then don't go back to the salon for another 8-10 months. It's not that I want my hair to be long, it's just that I forget to do anything about it for a long time, all the while it's growing back out. I originally got the "wife chop" way back in 2005, and have been continuing the cycle ever since.

With my full assurance, she was anxious to get the transformation going. We looked at a few hair color samples and decided on a mixture - 3 parts dark hazelnut brown, and 1 part cinnamon auburn. We agreed that this combo would accomplish our desired goal. When we discussed the hair style, I told her I wanted to look cute with ultra low maintenance, because I wasn't going to lie to her or myself and pretend like I'd spend a long time on my hair each morning as I'm getting ready for the day. We agreed to stay away from the bob (she says it's overdone and going out of style) and go for something that could easily dry flat / under or be flipped out for the days I am willing to actually turn on my curling iron or hair straightener. This is what we came up with:

So what do ya think? It's a little more red than either of us intended, but I'm pretty sure I like it. She told me to shampoo a couple of times, feel my friends out, and see how my husband likes it, and if I want her to darken it up, she'll be glad to do it at no charge anytime. Thanks Jane, my awesome new hair lady! But anyway, I think it'll stay. Brad super loves it, and tells me more and more each time he sees me. People don't really recognize me unless I'm with Brad or at my usual desk at work, but that's kind of fun. This 'do will do for a while. Who knows? It may last for the next 8 months... We'll see if I remember to maintain it.

New Year's Day Hike

Brad started off his new year in the great outdoors. He's embarking on an adventure to experience God through Nature, and there was no better way to say hello to 2009 than a day hike with the guys. His friend, Pat, from church invited Brad to join him and some old friends as they trailed through The Savage Gulf in the Cumberland Gap, which is basically a giant gorge with lots of wilderness and waterfalls. To document his journey, Brad took my new camera with him. He took a ton of pictures, and I'm going to make collages of some of them so you can see more in this post. (I may be doing that more from now on.)

This is a picture that one of the other guys took. If you look really closely, you can see Brad sitting near the waterfall.

I believe it would be impossible to not encounter God when surrounded by His glorious Nature. Thank You, Lord, for speaking to us through Your Creation.

Complete New Year's Day Hike Photo Album

Ringing in the New Year

For New Year's Eve, Brad and I celebrated at Brian and Bonnie Baker's house. At the party, there were quite a few people that we had never met before, and a couple of people that we had only met in passing. It was a great opportunity to form some new relationships and strengthen some developing ones, as well as spend some quality time with the Baker's five kids. The guys shot off fireworks as midnight approached, and the kids enjoyed the chance to break in their noise makers. The fun lasted well into the new year as we played a multitude of different card and board games, including our new Christmas gift, Buzz Word. By the end of the night (well, actually the middle of the morning - 4:00), we were all exhausted, but had had a great time celebrating 2008 with friends. Even Conan O'Brien, enjoyed himself. :) What better way to ring in the new year?

Hello, Goodbye

2008 is gone and 2009 has come. Each new year is a great time to reflect on the blessings that God has granted us during the past year, and to anticipate the many ways He will manifest His love for us in the year to come. God has continually been good to me throughout my life, and He did not take a break in 2008. It would be impossible for me to number all of the many ways in which He has blessed my life. I will, however, mention a blessing He has already bestowed upon Brad and me for 2009 - Brad has gotten a new job as a Financial Advisor with First Tennessee Bank. As we step away from Edward Jones, we say goodbye to door knocking, straight commission, and cold calls, and say hello to actual business hours, a bricks-and-mortar office, and an already established clientele base. Hallelujah! He starts working on Monday. We are very excited and anxious to see what else awaits us in 2009.

I'm not generally a New Year's Resolutions type of gal. As a rule, I don't really like measurable goals. I know that sounds silly, and is the exact opposite from the majority of the human race (especially my husband), but specific obligations and demands overwhelm me. Instead, I like to adapt a sort of theme or idea. It's easier for me to grasp, somehow. This year, I'm going to focus on the following scripture to guide my thinking, actions, and attitudes:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

It is such a comfort for me to rely on the fact that God not only knows what 2009 holds, but He has even planned good for me. I am confident that He has already fulfilled His part of this bargain mentioned in these verses, and this year, I vow to better uphold my part by praying more fervently and seeking Him more diligently. I want to know Him in a way that I have never known Him before. I want to have a relationship with Him and open myself to Him, allowing Him to cultivate His will for my life and His love in my heart.

I don't know what 2009 has in store for me, but I am confident that the Will of God will never take me where the Grace of God will not protect me. I am very blessed, and very grateful.