GOOD-BYE 2009!

It is with great excitement that I type this blog...This time tomorrow I'll be waking up in a new year. A new decade. The last 10 years have been filled with so many ups and downs. Immense joys and deep, heartbreaking sorrows. This past year has been especially trying, and I am over-joyed to see it drift off into the sunset. Instead of dwelling on the past, I'd like to focus on the future. I've set many goals for my self [and Ryan, even though he doesn't know it yet] and I hope that at least half of them will happen. But, that's another blog post.

Happy New Year to you all! See ya in 2010!!! :D

Christmas, through pictures

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas Eve and I am overwhelmed with the miracles of Christmas. It's been a rough year for us, but as I sit here and type this, I feel optimistic anyway.

For me, Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year. I love shopping for just the right gift for all of my loved ones, I love seeing everything decorated, I LOVE the treats and eats, and I love how *most* people are filled with cheer and good-will. I love getting Christmas cards, especially those with pictures. I love Christmas music, and how certain songs make me cry every time I listen to them. I love the days off work! But, it's not really about all of that. Regardless of your religious views, Christmas is about family. [In MY family, it's also about Baby Jesus. Ü]

So, I leave you with this, as I think Linus Van Pelt says it best:
"Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. 'And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"


Merry Christmas!! Love to you all!!

Boring

That's what we are. Boring.

I haven't updated my blog in two weeks because, frankly, we have nothing to report. But to keep up appearances, here is a quick update.

I have been at my new job for one month now. Things are going well! I still dream of going back to school and dream the same for Ryan [even more], but I am so very grateful for this job and the people I work with! Ryan is still doing contract work, but is hoping to find something more permanent and stable after the holidays. We also plan to move at the first of the year, and it will be great to get all of our stuff out of storage!

And, honestly, that is about it. We wake up, work, come home, eat, sleep, occasionally see our friends - rinse, lather, repeat!

See. Told ya. Boring. :)

Winter

It's officially upon us!!

I love Winter. Really, I do. I LOVE the cold weather, and the cold weather clothing. Sweaters, coats and scarves are pretty much my favorite things. Oh, and the hot cocoa! Who could forget the hot cocoa?! I anxiously await fall/winter during spring and summer, and mourn the loss when May rolls around. My entire life, or at least as long as I can remember, I've said "I'm not meant for Texas". I loathe anything over 85*.

That being said, when you DO live in Texas and winter hits, expect the unexpected. It snowed this morning. Maybe snow is an exaggeration. It flurried for about an hour, maybe two. Nothing stuck to the roads, yet people can't figure out how the drive in the stuff. Here's a hint - its the same as driving in the rain. Just drive, slightly slower and further away from the car in front of you. It's not ice. [For the record, I HATE driving in ice.] Also, I don't think my lovely Jetta has figured me out yet. I don't like the heat on full blast in my car. When I leave the house, I'm dressed appropriately for the cold, therefore, I don't need uber-heat. However, the windshield and windows in my car fog up like no other. I had to drive to work with the heat/defrost setting on full blast the whole ride just to keep a patch the size of my head clear. By the time I arrived at my office, I was actually sweating. Not cool Jetta. Not cool.