2008 Catch up

It's been a busy year. I'm way behind on the blog. My bad. Who knows if anyone even reads this thing anymore. (No comment, huh??)

Quick rundown of events in 2008--not exhaustive by any means...but as much as I can remember.

Katie Mc's b-day--Sunday party at Dawson then a nite out of bar-hopping! (we went to 3 bars and now we hate Gin Gimlets!) Fun stuff.

Annie Liebovits (sp??)--Anne, Susan and I went to the exhibit at the Corchoran. It was pretty amazing. Ansel Adams was there, too..but much less impressive.

Orland, FL--I spent Jan. 14-18 in Orlando for a sales meeting. We stayed right on the lot of universal studios. It wasn't warm or sunny. I didn't get to see Mickey. I just got robbed.

New bedroom--I put some $$ and time into my pad and now have a bedskirt, matching and updated pillows and futon cover, as well as new clothes storage--oh, and my fireplace is now useable. I really like it! I also used my Xmas present from work to get a new stereo. For those of you who are familiar w/ my "real" stereo at home, you would laugh if you saw this one...but still, it's better than a clock radio!! :)

Time w/ Nancy and her little ones--I went to Baltimore for the day to meet Fancy's neice and nephew. We had a great time.

Last but not least, I spent last week and part of this week (left last Wed, got home Monday afternoon) in Arkansas. My Granny passed away on Thursday, so I went home to see her and attend all the requisite family affairs that accompany the death of a matriarch. There will be a post dedicated to her soon. Right now, I just miss her and love her and am glad I was there.

Whew. I'm tired. Haven't quite recovered from all the travel. No doubt in a couple of weeks I'll be stir crazy again!

2008 is gonna be GREAT!!!

Happy New Year's!

I'm so late on the New Year's post....here are some pics....

Part of the NY gang (NY is new years)

Natalie break dancing...

Happy New Year!!!

Another Old Lange Syne....

We had a great New Year's Eve at the Dawson House! We had a fondue party!!! Scott made a really good funny when I told him what we were doing to celebrate. He said, "oh, that explains that phone call." I said, "what phone call." He said, "1950 called and they want their party back!"

Fun times.

Here's to 2008! May it be GREAT!

Birthday update....

First off--HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARADEE!!!! Even if it was on the wrong day, I still love you and wish you God's very best in this year!!!

To celebrate your big day, here are 5 things I really, REALLY miss about you:

1. Watching you fall asleep in the most random places at the most random times. But mostly yelling, "Maradee!!! Wake up!!!"

2. Beating you at Trivia. Hey...it happened. Once.

3. Getting schooled at being "thrifty." I'm still a little shocked that you went so crazy in LA and spent so much $$. :) In my book, you'll always be frugal. ;)

4. Riding in the car w/ you listening to Indigo Girls or some random person you are currently obsessed with. (IE-"i've got a brand new pair of roller skates....)

5. Chinese food. What was the name of that awesome place in Alexandria?? Love it. Miss it.
And I miss you, too!!!

Happy Birthday, my friend!!!

Speaking of b-day fun, here are some missing pics from my awesome b-day extravaganza!!!

All the girls at b-day lunch.

A real, live pool party!!!

Home-made b-day cake (in the style of my mom's awesome choc. cake!)

At the Cowboy's game!

Still loving my b-day!!! :)

2007--Gone, but not forgotten.

This is a take on my "grateful" posts...2007 was a hard year in a lot of ways. I lost a job that I loved (and all the people there that I loved), had a huge vacation that included lots of time w/ people I love dearly, got another job that I HATED, quit that job and started another job that has been okay, but not quite the same. Professionally, it was a difficult year. That manifested itself personally, too. I also lost a couple of precious friends from NLR days: Lindsey--so young and taken so quickly; Ray--lived a long and precious life-taken more slowly over years of fighting cancer and loving the Lord thru every second of it. But, both are home now. I got to spend a lot of time w/ Shauna this year--always a blessing. Got to take Anne and Tango home w/ me for the first time--what a precious gift to share my home and family w/ them, and vice versa. Lots of neat stuff has composed up 2007. It was a good year in countless ways. To celebrate the last year, I reminded of 7 precious gifts I received in 2007:

1. Tres Dias--the weekend itself was such neat time, but the people I love now b/c of it (and who love me!)--I can't even remember life before them.

2. Restoration--I've had plenty of broken relationships in my life, unfortunately. And there are a few almost broken ones. I am blessed to see God restore some of them and heal others in His mercy. They aren't perfect--but they have perfect moments. And it's a miracle in so many ways that they even still exist. I am humbled by the amount of love it takes to not give up on me. How much I deserve to be despised, but somehow am still loved. So humbled.

3. Sweet boys--Landon and Parker. Seeing Landon change and grow so healthy and Parker grow up. Total gift.

4. Financial health--Despite the professional setbacks of 2007, my salary has increased dramatically. This is enabling me to work harder at getting out of debt, and hopefully being more generous, too.

5. Health--There are lots of things I would love to improve, but I will not ever take my health for granted. I am blessed with good health and ability. I hope to use 2008 to become more healthy.

6. Anchors. I don't mean the kind that weigh you down...but the kind that ground you. That keep you from floating off. I have some precious anchors in my life--ones from years and years ago like Julie, Amy J., Maradee-and ones here like Anne and Loverman-not to mention my family, Shauna, and so many more. These people who know me and love me. It takes alot of work to stay in touch with some...others there is very little effort at all. But every single one of them is worth every ounce of effort. And a big, fat, earthly reminder of how much God loves me.

7. Jesus. Listed last, but definitely not least. I've felt so close and so far from Him at different times this year. But definitely couldn't have made it without Him. And haven't wanted to. That in itself is an amazing blessing.

Here's looking forward to another one! As Loverman texted me at 2am on New Year's Eve--2008 is Great!

Happy Freaking Birthday!!!!

I have to tell you....I had THE best birthday this year. I have had some pretty amazing birthdays in my time. I LOVE my birthday (if you are reading this-this is probably not new information to you) and my friends have blessed me immensely over the years w/ fabulous surprises, parties, amazing gifts, visits, etc... I am so blessed. The ONLY thing that could have made this year any better, would have been to have all of my friends and family there to celebrate with (especially Amy and Alex :)). As it was, it was a great day...and then another. Here's the summary...

I woke up in Birmingham at 4:15 in the am (for a 7 am flight). Got ready and then got my b-day present from Shauna!! It was a great way to start the day! Then we went to the airport and Shauna even came in w/ me and ate b'fast in the terminal. Then I flew away and landed in Baltimore (after sitting in a very roomy and comfy aisle seat w/ very little turbulance) almost 30 minutes early!!!

Mine and Shauna's fancy b-day manicures. I'm still wearing this color. Badly, I might add.

So Anne met me at the airport at almost EXACTLY the right time (not too early and have to wait on bags, not too late and me have wait on her!) Perfect-o. I got b-day flowers and a balloon at the airport--tulips my fave! We drove back to Silver Spring, made a stop at a bike store (my fave thing to do) then went to this cool coffee place, Myorga. So fun--we just sat and chatted for well over an hour. We rarely get to do that, so it was a sweet time for me. I couldn't help but notice, however, that Anne kept checking her cell and answering calls and texts. She disappeared in the bathroom for a while, too, so I figured something was up. "We decided" to go to lunch--we showed up at Tratoria in Rockville, and all my friends were there!!! So fun!!! I got presents and food and so much love! Love those girls. I don't have the pics off Anne's camera yet (mine died), so I'll add the group shot later...

Blowing out my candle

Me and the party planning Anne-chovie. Seriously, you should hire her for your next birthday planning needs!

At lunch was Megan, Merideth, Lisa J., Susan P., Lisa O., Michelle, Jill E. Bean, Anne and me! On the way to lunch in the car, I discovered a long scarf that Anne had in the backseat. I was like..."what's this for?" Anne was like, "that's a blindfold for later"....I was SO EXCITED. Cause a blindfold means something GOOD is coming!!! :) Well, I guess it could mean other things, too...but not on my birthday! After lunch, we got in the car, I put on my blindfold and we drove for a few minutes, I was led into a building w/ stairs ( I thought it was the mall) but it was the MAC Center--the pool!!! I had a REAL LIFE POOL PARTY!!! We had 45 minutes to ride the crazy slide and do all the diving boards. After that was over, we even had cake up in the fishbowl. Totally a real pool party. I loved every second of it. Everybody went off the diving boards w/ me (noone ever wants to play w/ me at the pool--but they HAVE to on your birthday! :) After we played, we sat around and waited for the lap lanes to open--then swam some laps and hit the hot tub before our next appointment at 7 pm.

Anne and I got ready, got in the car and drove way out to Gaithersburg (way out in MD) and I had no idea where we were going. We stopped and got a quick snack and directions...then low and behold, Anne had found this church out there that had a really contemporary worship service on Saturday nite (I really miss contemporary worship--so this was such a treat). We had a really neat sermon and great music. There just isn't a better way to celebrate a new year than in God's house.

After church we went to Rio for 'to go' fajitas then back to Dawson where I had 2 kids movies to choose from-"Ratatouille" or "Over the Hedge." See, I LOVE kids movies and no one will ever watch them w/ me, so it was so fun to get to watch 2 of them!!!! We only made it thru "Ratatoullie" cause we were so tired...then I got a midnite present (kind of a tradition) and we went to bed. It was the best of the best of birthdays. My sweet friend Anne did it up right.

On Sunday morning we slept super late--till after 11 (we had gone to church on Saturday, remember). Got up, had a great breakfast, sitting around chatting, taking our time...when Lisa brings down this random shopping bag. I happen to look in it and see my own clothes--the kind of clothes you wear to stay warm. So I'm digging thru it, and at the bottom is another present, which when I open it is a pair of silky long johns. I think we are going skiing at this point, but like 15 minutes later, I happen to look down and there on the ground (it had fallen out of my long johns) is a TICKET to the Cowboys/Redskins game for that day at 1pm!!! Thankfully, the time of the game changed to 4:15--and we made it to kickoff!!! It was cold and rainy, but so much fun. So much fun. The best birthday ever.

I can't even give Anne enough props for the 2 days of my b-day celebration. It makes me feel so full and so loved (not to mention all of my precious loved ones who called or were there to celebrate w/ me as well!)...but mostly, I feel KNOWN. Understood. Everything we did was fun--and anyone would have enjoyed it--but it was chosen for me b/c each activity is something I want to do so much, but don't get alot of. The downtime w/ just Anne and I at the coffee place hanging out w/out being in a rush....the lunch w/ my worlds colliding w/ all my girls....the pool and everyone playing w/ me--doing whatever I wanted to do....church w/ music I love....movies I love....it's just so perfect. It was my perfect day. Of course, I wish you would have been there with me (you all know who you are), and that would be the only thing I would change. Let's just go w/ it was as perfect as it could be....

Thank you, Anne-chovie for planning it and caring so much about me. Loverman, for the frantic last minute calls and for remaining calm! Susan P. for cheering me on to do a real dive off the high dive! Jill for wanting to do laps after the chocolate cake. Michelle for setting up the pool party and watching me even tho you couldn't get in the pool b/c of your knee. Lisa J. for sexing the place up w/ your awesome hair! Megan and Mer for leaving your families and letting your worlds collide w/ mine. Shauna for starting the day off right. I am beyond blessed and humbled. I can't imagine better friends or a better life.

I'm gonna stop complaining about you all. ;)

Christmas Fun

I had a great trip home for the Birthday celebration (Not mine--the baby Jesus--sheesh people, I know I love my b-day, but I'm not gonna steal Jesus's!!!) :)

I got home on Saturday the 22nd--Heather picked me up at the airport, we had lunch at Casa Mexicana (so yum), went shopping at Kohl's then headed to Arkadoo to pick up bbq. We then went on to Murfreesboro where I got to spend the nite at the new casa and see the kiddos and Chad! SO FUN! I love me some Brinkley's. Sunday morning we got up and went to church with Heather's parents then she drove me back to Arkadelphia. Fun times! A few pics of the girls...

Me and Ella Claire

Cutie Patootie--Isabelle

I spent several quality days at home w/ the fam. In fact, this year has been unique in that I actually spent most of my time at home not really doing anything else but hanging out with them. It was good to see everyone and especially to see the boys. Highlights of the week: I went to pick up a load w/ Jeff in his log truck--fun and exciting. Christmas Eve we had our family Christmas w/ everyone at mom and dad's. Got to visit w/ Barb for a couple of hours Christmas Eve. Spent almost all day w/ Granny, mom and daddy on Christmas Day. Headed to Benton to visit w/ Maradee just for an hour or so--so short, but so good to see her! Headed back to Murfreesboro to return the electronic chargers I had to borrow to maintain my lifestyle in AR (I forgot my phone charger) and got to stay another nite at Heather's. Babysat Parker and Landon for a short jaunt. Headed to Bama to see Shauna for a couple of days--too fast but so good to see her. Flew back to DC on my birthday (a story deserving of another post). Had a very Merry Christmas! Here are some highlight pics...there will likely be more to come after I process it all a bit...

Riding w/ Jeff in the "big truck"

Nana and Landon

About to have Christmas at Nana and Pop's

The camo brothers on Christmas morning

Precious, drooling baby boy...

Me and Maradee chilling in a gas station on Christmas nite. Very classy....

Shauna about to unwrap