A Look Back on 2013

As 2013 comes to a close, I look back on the year and I see how much God has blessed us.

I am in complete awe as I look here and see what has been accomplished and what we've done.

In 2013, I made my word of the year, 'Grace.'

We bought a new-to-us car for Tyler.

We had our first B&B experience.

We vacationed at Walt Disney World {Here, here, and here}

We started a new way of eating.

I wrote for Young Wife's Guide.

We celebrated two years of marital bliss.

We had a getaway to celebrate those two years.

I quit my horrible job and got a new one!

We bought our first home!

I learned what grace really meant.

Overall, this year has been a milestone for us in our adult-hood.  We've made a lot of adult decisions, but it's been a fun year!  I am extremely blessed to get to do life beside my best friend.  

I hope and pray that your New Year will be blessed! :)

Goodbye, 2012!!

2012 was not my favorite year.

It was a year of lessons and trials but had many blessings.

It was a lonely year.

As I bid 2012 adieu, I welcome 2013 with open arms and high hopes.

As I reflect on this past year, I give you some of the highlights:

I gave my best friend a bridal shower.

I learned that I was red.

I got a job!

I went on Girls' Trip 2012.

I was in my best friend's wedding.

Tyler and I celebrated our first anniversary!

Tyler took me on a trip. 

For our One Year.

We had no plans.

We went sightseeing.

I bought a sewing machine and named her Sally.

We went to Vegas for the first and {probably} last time.

We hosted our first Thanksgiving.

We also had our "first" Christmas...but I'll post about Christmas later.

I hope that you had a wonderful 2012.

I wish you all an even better 2013!!

Vegas Vacation {Picture Overload}

As I'm gearing up for a very busy week, I thought I would sit down and recap our Vegas Vacation for y'all.

We were very blessed to have been gifted this trip, and it was great to spend some one-on-one time with my hubby.  He has been really busy at work, especially last month...put in lots of hours, worked late, and we didn't get to spend much time together.  Even when we were home together, we'd be chillin' and trying to wind down from work rather than focusing on each other.

We had never been to Vegas, as I had mentioned before.  I always heard there was a lot of walking involved, lots of crowds, and bright lights.

One thing we knew for sure were the shows we were going to see.  I have been dying to see a Cirque du Soleil show for a very long time.  We were staying in the MGM Grand, and KA was playing there, so we just decided to see that show.  We also wanted to see The Blue Man Group.  My hubby was is a drummer.  He had to see  that show.  Both were excellent, but incomparable.

The sites to see are incredible!  The hotels are magnificent!!  And everyone is right. LOTS of walking was done.  34 miles to be exact.  In 3.5 days.  Crazy!

If we're friends on facebook, you've already seen this pictures.  But for those of you I'm not facebook friends with, here they are! {And in no particular order...}

I love looking out the plane window...I'm fascinated by God's creation!

Yes, we just had to go find the sign!  And my eyes aren't shut...I was just squinting.  It was bright.

We went to Shark Reef in Mandalay Bay and I got to touch a sting ray!

We saw Blue Man Group...were in the 4th row even!

We at at The Buffet at the Bellagio and I tried just about everything which included but wasn't limited to:  rack of lamb, crab legs, California roll, prime rib, duck breast, cheesecake...and other choices as well.  We didn't eat all day {except breakfast} so we could just eat the buffet.  It definitely was not worth the amount of money we paid for it.

We went down to Fremont Street one evening...

We saw a guy spray painting art while we were there!

Isn't it incredible?

The light show was interesting...felt like a hippie. :)

We went to M&M World one night! 

I was very impressed with all the escalators.  That city definitely caters to pedestrians.

Fountains at Caesar's Palace

We even won a little bit of money on the slots...the first night we were there! :)

My attempt at using the panoramic setting to take a picture of the fountains at the Bellagio while they were going off...

The swanky curved elevator at the Wynn...I had never seen one like it!

We had a really good time.  It was definitely a city to experience.  Honestly, being a Southwest Missouri girl, it was like Branson on crack.  LOTS more people, lots of shows, lots of lights.  We aren't rushing to plan a trip back to Vegas, but we'll see.

Reminisce

So today I'm at home. 

The place

...where I grew up.

...where the majority of my memories are.

...where part of my heart is.

...and most of all, where my family is.

It's the town's favorite {or least favorite} part of the year.

Fair Time!!

I happen to love it.

Everyone comes home.

We all hang out on the square.

We talk, laugh, and eat. 

We see people we haven't seen in a loooong time.

Tonight is my 5 year High School Reunion.

5 YEARS, PEOPLE!

To some, you may think, "That's it?"

But to me, I think, "Where in the world did the time go?"

My class was pretty close...we were all friends.

So I'm incredibly excited to see everyone.

Lots of us have gotten married.  Had babies.  Graduated college.  Gotten jobs.

It will be so cool to see what each person is doing in their life right now.

We had a small class...graduated with 88 or so.

According to facebook {because that's where we get all our knowledge these days}, at least half of my class will be there.

*Oh, and I had to get back on facebook so I could get the information about the reunion.  I wasn't really missing it that much.*

I always dreamed that I would be married at my 5 year reunion.

And I'm blessed to be just that.

I'm blessed to be taking my best friend, so that he can meet all the hooligans that I ran around with.

I'm excited to be meeting my friends' significant others and spouses.

I'm excited to be reacquainted again...to see how we've all matured {or not matured}.

Most of all, I hope to see what God is doing in each and every person's life.

I hope that Christ will radiate through me so that others {who may not know Him} will see something different inside of me.