A dear friend of mine recently did a post on the top 11 things that happened in her life in 2011. Since I am not opposed to stealing things off of people's blogs, I am going to do the same thing. Also, you should really go read her Top 11 because she is an amazing person, and one day you'll be hearing her name all over the news because she's a FANTASTIC writer. Ok, that was my soapbox. Stepping down...
Top 11 from 2011
11: Getting an iPhone
I tell ya, this one seems pretty petty, but I don't care. Getting an iPhone was incredible! I feel like I've had one forever! It helps me in SO many ways. For instance, it helps me cure boredom at the doctor's office, helps me look up a Scripture if I don't have my Bible with me, and will look up any phone number or answer to a random trivia question that I could possibly need. I love it. Plus, I can face time with my husband if we're not together, and that's just nice.
10: Being blessed with job opportunities
I know that there are a lot of people out there who have had difficulty finding jobs post-graduation. When I graduated from Freed, I found a job and started to work 5 days after the ceremony. When I moved to Pulaski, a member at East Hill offered me a job so that I could have something to do either long-term or just during my transition. Now, I work for the other minister at East Hill doing video editing for programs that air on GBN (Gospel Broadcasting Network). I have been so blessed to have jobs (and paychecks!) so that Robert and I can build toward the future and not struggle through our first year of marriage.
9: Finding a great place to live
It's probably no surprise to my long-term readers that Robert and I chose to rent our first year. Let me just tell you, we were extremely lucky with the process. We found a great place with more space than we need, in a great neighborhood, at a great price. We love it so much! It looked especially great with a Christmas tree, but y'know, we like it year-round too! It has been such a nice place to call our first home, and though we're looking forward to moving on to bigger and better things in the future, it's nice (and rare!) to find such a nice place to start out in. We are so lucky and have been so blessed.
8: Getting a new niece
I don't know that I've ever even blogged about Jenna, but let me just say, she's definitely a "top" thing from 2011. I love her so much! Let's be honest, I just love being an aunt. It's the closest thing to motherhood I've experienced, and it's so unreal to love someone so much--even if they don't really know you. Getting to spend time with Ava and Jenna is one of my favorite things to do, and I definitely miss not getting to be around them more.
7: Getting engaged
For those of you who have known me for a while, you know my fascination with all things wedding related. Getting engaged to my best friend was unbelievable. I still sit and look at my ring some days, thinking how good Robert did. =) But in all seriousness, getting engaged was the start of a phenomenal process and I wouldn't trade a single second of it. Ok, maybe I wouldn't lump engagement/wedding so close together, but you take what you get. And planning a wedding? One of the greatest things that I've ever done. It's so fulfilling and exciting and wonderful. And the free samples at bridal shows? Delicious.
6: Starting a novel
While it may never actually get published or even finished for that matter, I've started working on a novel (9 chapters down so far) and it feels great. Writing really frees up my mind and makes me feel accomplished. Even if a (very small) handful of people are the only ones to ever even hear about it, it makes me feel accomplished to put my heart and soul into something. It isn't about money or fame or anything like that; it's about doing something you can be proud of. I am looking forward in 2012 to starting a women's/teenage girl's devotional book. I know that God has given me talents and abilities and I want to be able to use them for His glory.
5: Learning to cook
This has been a long-time coming, but I'm glad it's finally here. When Robert and I got married, I knew how to make the following things: scrambled eggs, grilled cheese sandwiches, pancakes and...that's all. Being married has opened up new doors of possibilities, and now I use a crock pot at least once a week, bake things on a regular basis, and even have a whole cabinet full of spices that I use to make my own garlic butter spread. It's not surprising that I can read a recipe, but it is a surprise to me (and mostly everyone in my family) that I love it so much. I look forward to cooking! Who am I and when did I turn into Julia Child?
4: Renewing friendships
2011 has been a year of finding out who my real friends are. Maybe that comes with the territory of graduating, moving away from people, getting married, starting a new life, etc. Still, this year has taught me a lot about myself and about my friends, old and new alike. I am so thankful for the people God has put into my life, and the people He has kept in my life after so many years. I am thankful that my childhood best friend helped at both my bridal shower and my wedding. I am thankful to have reconnected with a college roommate (and godly role model) , and now call her one of my extremely great friends. I am thankful that my bridesmaids still loved me even though wedding Emily may have resembled MMD Emily at times. I am thankful for the people I have met in Pulaski and how they have welcomed me into their already-established lives. I am thankful for the distance between me and my sisters and my mom. I feel like I've ventured out of the family role and into more of a friend role with each of them and it makes the relationships all-the-more special.
3: Going through trials
2011 has been a year of dramatic occurrences, I'll tell you that much. And yet, 2011 has been a year of growth. I have learned things about myself and about Robert and about God that I never knew. One such thing is that God will take care of you throughout any storm life can throw your way. Things may seem overwhelming (and they very well may be), but God will bring you through it and make you stronger. Plus, the storms of life brought Robert and I closer to each other than we could have ever imagined, and I know that it was truly a gift from God. I could probably write an entire novel on all the lessons I've learned (and let's be honest, I probably will one day), but one thing you should know right now is that even if I could go back and change things, I wouldn't. I know that God's ways are higher than my ways, and I trust that He has a plan for everything in my life--including the bad times. He has taken care of me this year in so many ways and I thank Him for every single blessing and every single trial.
2: Attending Polishing the Pulpit
Let me tell you something, that week changed my life. I heard so many great lessons from godly men and women, and it completely changed my outlook and spiritual walk. After every lesson, I would tell Robert that I had all of my toes stepped on and had been completely slapped in the face. There were so many great lessons that I needed to hear. I realized that, though I considered myself to be a Christian, there were certain parts of my life that didn't reflect God at all. PTP was a life-changing experience, and I cannot wait until next year. Robert and I have already decided that we are going to make that our vacation every year, because nothing could possibly be more important than learning more about our Father and finding new ways to serve Him.
1: Marrying my best friend
I have been looking forward to marrying Robert since...oh, our second date. To see this dream finally come to fruition is beyond amazing. More than that, though, I have learned that marriage is so much more than you ever realize. It's about the little things that mold you into a unit. It's the everyday stress and strain that make you a team. God has given us countless opportunities as a couple and I am beyond blessed to have married someone so God-oriented and people-oriented. He makes me happier than I could ever express to you. Going into our marriage, I heard a lot of "well marriage is different than you think" and "you don't really know the person until you live with them every day" and other things that seemed like people were trying to scare me or at least warn me about the first year of marriage not really being blissful. Maybe that's true for some people, but I haven't experienced it at all. At least, the adjustments have been very minimal. Robert and I have always prided ourselves on our communication; we've always told each other everything--even from the pre-Holocaust films days. He's been my best friend for so long, and shifting into marriage seemed like the normal flow of things. There haven't been surprises; I haven't found things that irk me or drive me up the wall. Instead, I am seeing first hand, on a daily basis, little things that make up the person I fell in love with so long ago. And those little things make me fall in love with him every single day. Marriage is amazing, and I have so much respect for the plan that God has for men and women. Truly it is not good for man (or woman!) to be alone; I am so thankful that God put Robert into my life.
2011 has truly been the greatest year of my life (as predicted in this post last year). I am so thankful for each and every person who has helped to make it that way. I look forward to 2012 and all of the things that God has in store.
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