2012 in summary

I'm not going to lie.  I really enjoyed 2012. Let's review. 

It started off pretty exciting... breaking down in Iowa on our way home to see family in AR and LA.  We were blessed with a mechanic that let us use his vehicle to get to the hotel and with a hotel manager that responded to the tears flowing from my eyes and let the puppies stay inside with us on the 0 degree night. When we checked out, the manager said with fear in his eyes, "Did they destroy the room??" 

A couple of weeks later, Charlie went from having a part-time job he HATED (At Cabellas) to a really fantastic full-time job at an organic farm. He's learned bee keeping, maple syruping, new farming techniques, chicken raising, and other things. What an amazing answer to prayer.

We survived our first winter (That's pretty huge.)

And our first thaw

They like winter, but they also like a cool spring. Here, we're swimming at the local dog park

Next, we had visitors for this!!

Family is a GREAT thing.

Oh, and we may have done this, too! :)

For a while, I thought I hadn't gone anywhere in 2012.  Boy was I wrong!!  I had an amazing, travel-ful year!

Washington, DC!  hey Abe!

Where I got to meet my Congressman and tell him about exciting Nutrition initiatives  he can support

Steph goes to the Capitol!

(Then there were multiple  Corgi-of-the-day-Finals' Weeks)

And then (are you kidding me?) I got to go on a cruise with this lovely lady!

And then, I know it's weird, but this was one of my favorite summers (right behind 2011)

Although Charlie and I were apart during the week, we spent so much quality time together on  weekends

Look at what a hottie I'm married to!

During the week, I got to travel (for free) around Minnesota and see ridiculous and funny things like this

While Charlie got to do cool things like this

And this 

We both got a week off for an awesome road trip to LA for a wedding

Weddings make you feel the love

And then I got to go back to work and do what I love

And travel more, and learn more, and practice more

 Then we moved!  Across town to a MUCH more affordable house that has turned out to be absolutely perfect.  It's right on the bus line and we have very nice neighbors.

Then, there was a 3-year anniversary

And then I spent a week at diabetes camp.

I wish I could have brought them all home with me. I learned a lot here, while working with Madame Nutrition President of Minnesota

 Then, I started my last fall semester and developed a strange heart thing.  I thought I was going to die.  Or at the very least, have to drop out of school.  God provided.  I think if I have learned one thing this year, it is that God always provides, and he always gives you favor when you need favor. Charlie's learned that. I've learned that. There's no one to take credit except for God.  BELIEVE ME, I do NOT say this to brag on myself, but on this semester when I honestly thought I would have to drop out of school, I made all A's.  I didn't do that. God did that.

Again, like I said, this has been a blessed, blessed year. Thank you, God.

Thank you God for positioning us so I don't have to drive to school in this.

Thank you God for making us white as snow :)

2013, I look forward to meeting you.

Bits and Pieces

I've done a poor job of updating lately.  You'd think I'd just be brimming with ideas from all the time I have on my hands.  But alas.  Time does not always equal productivity.  So, here is a quote my aunt shared with me recently that I really, really like:

Bits and Pieces

Bits and pieces, bits and pieces. People. People important to you, People unimportant to you cross your life, touch it with love and move on. There are people who leave you and you breathe a sigh of relief and wonder why you ever came into contact with them. There are people who leave you, and you breathe a sigh of remorse and wonder why they had to go and leave such a gaping hole. Children leave parents, friends leave friends. Acquaintances move on. People change homes. People grow apart. Enemies hate and move on. Friends love and move on. You think of the many people who have moved in and out of your hazy memory. You look at those present and wonder. I believe in God's master plan in lives. He moves people in and out of each other's lives, and each leaves his mark on the other. You find you are made up of bits and pieces of all who have ever touched your life. You are more because of them, and would be less if they had not touched you. Pray that you accept the bits and pieces in humility and wonder, and never question and never regret.
-Anonymous

I think it's a great reflection for the end of a year when things are the same, but you can see the changes coming.

Let me make a countdown.

I think it will make me feel better.

Charlie is currently cray-cray.  Last night, he told me he wants to leave immediately after my last final.  I was like, "Hmmm... hello there, honey.  I may need a couple of minutes to, you know, PACK FOR A MONTH." and not leave our house in complete disrepair. (I'm not a very good housewife.) (Maybe it's because I'm NOT a housewife?)

Okay back to the list.
1) complete test for Nutrition Assessment
2) submit said test.
3) complete study guide part 1 for Metabolism final.
4) complete study guide part 2 for Metabolism final.
4 b) Learn everything on said study guides.
5) Party for church Saturday evening.
6) Church and coffee shop duty Sunday morning.
7) Study group Sunday afternoon.
8) Church Christmas play Sunday night.
9) Take Metabolism test Monday morning.
10) Pack.
11) for a month.
12) clean the house.
13) bathe Rufus
14) shave pernkie
15) Christmas shop for Charlie. (UGH!)

Well. That's close enough.  It's not THAT bad, but I kind of need A's on both of those finals. This has been a rough semester, yall.  I may not keep my precious 4.0.  Charlie said I should feel lucky to have any GPA after this semester, though and I think he's right. But it still stinks.

11'' of winterland fun!

Sia--Breathe Me

Power

My prayer.  My mantra.