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! :)

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.

Home

We're baaaaack!!!

It was a great time away,

but it's also really good to be home.

I'll give you a more detailed post with pictures later on this week,

but here are my thoughts on Las Vegas:

1.  Vegas is like Branson on crack.  There are LOTS of people, lots of shows, lots of touristy things to do.

2.  The casinos didn't reek of cigarette smoke as bad as I thought they would...they must have excellent ventilation (and yes...I was worried...I packed LOTS of headache medicine.  3 different kinds to be exact).

3.  If you're like us who don't drink, don't party, don't gamble...then go to bed at a normal time, get up at a normal time and do everything you want to do during the day!  There are not as many people out during the day as there are at night...

4.  When people told us food is cheap in Vegas...I should have asked, "Where?"  It ain't cheap, people...at least not on the strip.  Actually...nothing is cheap (or even inexpensive, if you want to be politically correct).  Be prepared to spend money.

5.  This was our first trip that we took that we relied on public transportation the entire time.  Not too shabby...I wouldn't even want to think about driving in Vegas.  Seriously...it's like Mexico, and I'm not joking.

6.  Even the 2 hour time difference sucks.

7.  We walked 34 miles in the 4 days we were there...when people tell you you'll be doing a lot of walking...they aren't kidding.  My calves definitely got a workout.  Oh, and I took a pedometer, that way I could keep track of how far we walked...basically 9 miles a day, except on our last day.

8.  That city needs Jesus.  In a bad way.

9.  The hotels are just as fabulous (if not more) in person as they are in pictures.

10.  I'm not planning a trip back there any time soon.

We had a really good time...took lots of pictures.

Saw a couple of shows.

Ate lots of food.

Walked a million miles (as stated above).

Now I'm gonna go take a nap. :)

Random Thought Thursday...

...I've been thinking so much and have wanted to write so much, but it's all a jumbled mess. 
So here goes!

• I've been blessed abundantly.  When I'm feeling sad or lonely, I just think of all the good things God has given to me:  a place to live, a job, a husband, the financial resources to pay bills, etc, etc, etc.  He is good.  All the time.
• My husband has been a HUGE blessing to me this week.  I've been trying a different night time routine, and when we've come home from some late-ish nights {or just past the time that my nightly routine was supposed to start}, he's helped me out!
• He also bought me the most beautiful flowers this week to cheer me up.  I had to go to the dentist.  I hate the dentist.  Not her personally, just what they do.  He had met me there and was about to leave.  I couldn't say anything to him because I was about to cry.  Yes, I was dreading it that much.  Then I came home to these.  I'm thankful he knows me. :]
  
  
  
  
  
• Do you ever wonder if you've said too much?  I've been thinking about that all day.  Sometimes I wonder if I should have just kept my mouth shut...or at least filtered a bit more. :]  Oh well...that's the real me.
• I am really tired today.  I don't know why.  I got 8 hours of sleep last night.
• I am super-duper excited to be hanging out with a college friend and her husband  tomorrow night!  Hopefully it will calm my loneliness down...it's getting better!
• We love our small group!  I posted last week a little bit about it.  Well this week there were a few more people there...which was great.  We got to know a few more a tiny bit better.  I am excited about the activities our group has planned...we get to fellowship together; we get to serve together.  It's gonna be fun.  I'm looking forward to getting to know each person better.
• You haven't heard?  My shop is back open!! I'm so excited to be crafting again. :]  Check it out here!!  Oh, and the coupon code for 10% off your entire order is still good!! Enter BLOGFRIENDS10 at the checkout!  {code good through Friday night at midnight!}
• Oh, and also...I created a facebook page for my little shop.  You can "like" it here.  Please bear with me...when I get some more time, I'll be adding to it and making it cute!

So how's that for random?? 
Have a wonderful Thursday, friends!! :]