What a Difference a Year Makes

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I have read several blogs today about looking back over 2010 and preparing for 2011.  So many of the posts talked about how much change these families have undergone.  I started reflecting back on our year and we have also had a lot of changes.

This time last year I was preparing to tell hubby goodbye for his training in the Army.  On January 4, he staying in Central Arkansas for training and I went back to work in Northwest Arkansas.  In late January he left for Alabama for what we thought was going to be 8 weeks.  Well, 8 days later I got the phone call that he was coming home.  

I felt such a mixture of emotions upon receiving this call.  Some of these emotions I am not proud of at all and made me feel like a failure in the wife department.  But, you know what?  Things always turn out for the best and follow the plan God has set out for us.  

We went for a couple months not really knowing where our path was leading.  Hubby spent some time working in my school and found his new calling.  In July, he started back to school to get his master's in teaching.  18 graduate hours later and his is still working toward that goal and has a full-time instructional assistant position in my school.

I have also continued my graduate study at the University of Arkansas, which I really love.  I have always wanted to be a Razorback and now I am.  

This past year has also drawn me closer in my walk with Jesus.  I find myself spending a lot more time in prayer and studying the Bible.  Hubby and I have also started a nightly Bible study together.  I love it!  I hope to continue these things in 2011.  I don't know if I really have any other resolutions in 2011, but I know I want to spent more time thinking about the positives in my life and not the negatives.  Life isn't about keeping up with the Joneses, but about finding happiness in what I do have.

I wish all of you a very happy and blessed new year!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!

Here's wishing you and your family a blessed and wonderful Christmas.  I hope all of you enjoy your time as much as I'm enjoying mine.  It's our second day here at Disney World and we are enjoying it so much.  I hope to do some posts about the trip soon.  There just hasn't been anytime yet.  The best part is spending time with loved ones.  I hope you get to spend time with your loved ones.  Again, Merry Christmas!!!

Busy, Busy, Busy

I know a lot of us are very busy this time of year, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  I love Christmas vacation!  Tomorrow is Monday and it is so nice to know that I don't have to get up and go to work.  I have two whole weeks off and even though they are going to be busy, it is going to be different than having to go to work.  I know all the other teachers out there have to feel the same way.

Today we made to trip from NWA down to our other house in Central Arkansas.  We had Christmas with my mom and what a Christmas it was.  I'll try to do a post later on all the loot!  It's not over yet, either.  We opened a lot of our gifts that were big so that we wouldn't have to take them to Florida.

Right now I'm in the middle of make cinnamon rolls.  The recipe is courtesy of The Pioneer Woman and let me tell you, she doesn't disappoint with this recipe.  I can't wait to eat these things and I know my hips will definitely thank me for these yummy treats.

Tomorrow will be spent finishing the cinnamon rolls and packing the car for our 6:00 a.m. departure on Tuesday.  Truthfully, we probably won't leave until closer to 6:30, but a girl can always dream.  We stop in Atlanta Tuesday night and hopefully visit The Georgia Aquarium.  If you haven't been, you definitely should plan a stop there sometime.  Simply put, it is AMAZING.  On Wednesday evening we will head to Florida and will arrive at Disney World on Thursday.

I can't wait for this trip, I know we are going to have a blast.  I also have a few Christmas surprises up my sleeve.  I hope to have time to post a couple of times on the road.  If I don't get around to it, I hope everyone has a very blessed and merry Christmas!

Five Question Friday

Rules for Five Question Friday: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then link up with Mama M. Come on. Join in. It’ll be fun!


1. Do you regift...and if so, do you have a regifting horror story?  I have never regifted, but I am not totally opposed to the idea.  I also would not be offended if someone regifted something to me.  I feel that if I have been given something that I know someone else would want/enjoy more I wouldn't feel bad for giving it to them.  

2. Do you know what you are getting for Christmas this year?  I don't know anything that I am getting for sure.  I really hope that Santa thinks I have been a good girl this year and brings me the pair of black Uggs I asked for.  I know I will really enjoy them and that my feet will stay warm all winter.  The brown pair I have just don't match everything I wear.  I'm sure I have said other things that would like, but I don't know what I will find under the tree!  I hope that others don't know what they are going to find under the tree from me, either.

3. Who brings the most gifts in your family, you or Santa?  Since we don't have kids yet, I'm not sure what our tradition will be.  Right now Santa usually only brings 1 each for us adults.  We'll have to see what happens when the little ones arrive.

4. What store do you love to buy jeans from?  I love jeans from different stores at different times.  I used to love jeans from Old Navy, but not so much anymore.  Now, I have been buying my jeans from Maurices because they carry Silver Jean, which have become my favorite.

5. Christmas meal: Big, All Out Meal or Snacks and Apps?  When we are at home, we go all out with a full meal of turkey, dressing, noodles, etc.  We usually eat this meal at lunch then pig-out again at dinner.   We aren't going to be home this year, but we are still having a big meal for lunch.  We already have the reservations so we can carry on the tradition.

The Other Michael in My Life

Let me introduce you to my second favorite Michael in the world.  Of course, he comes after hubby!  Meet Michael Buble`.

He is one of my favorite singers.  I think this is because his music is classic.  I love the fact that it never really goes out of style.  I became acquainted with Michael because of Jazzercise.  Yes, I really did workout once upon a time and truly enjoyed it.  After doing several Jazzercise routines to his music, I went and bought his CD.  The rest they say is history.

I have been to four of his concerts, the most recent one last week with my mom.  Hubby had class so he wasn't able to go this time.  He went with last summer, though, for our anniversary.

Here is Naturally 7.  They were the opening act.

Here are a couple pictures I took on my phone that night.

This group is amazing!  Everything they do is with their voice, no instruments.  They describe themselves as doing vocal play, not acapella since they make their voices become instruments.  Here is a clip of them performing on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

After Naturally 7, Michael Buble` came out and entertained us.  I enjoyed him as much this time around as I did all the previous times.  The highlight was that he threw in a Christmas song.  Here are a couple pictures I took at the show.

Michael Buble` performing with Naturally 7 backing him up.

Here is a video of Michael performing at the Juno Awards.  I hope you enjoy!

P.S.  Only two more days until Christmas vacation!!  Yippee!