Looking Back {on 2012} Part I

For me 2012 was a year of personal growth. As the year began I found myself searching for meaning and purpose in my life. It was a year of challenges, but those challenges eventually turned into triumphs, and as the year came to a close I felt at peace. I had learned to seek happiness for myself, instead of waiting for it to find me. 

January

We celebrated the new year in Texarkana for Britt and Dustin's wedding weekend. It was such a memorable weekend and a wonderful start to 2012. 

At some point in January it became a reality that Brandon actually had to leave for three months, starting at the end of March. I began worrying about what this meant for me. I didn't have anything holding me back in Corpus, but I started to wonder if having a job would make the coming months easier. I looked into possibilities outside of child life, and I considered going into teaching. After weighing all my options I decided against it. I didn't want to jump into something just because I was scared of the challenge ahead. 

February 

I spent the month of February taking advantage of my time with Brandon, since I knew he would be leaving in a matter of weeks. Although we squeezed in as many date nights and fun outings as we could, it still felt like there was cloud of sadness hanging over us. Even though we tried not to think about it, we knew that we were quickly approaching the biggest challenge we had ever faced as a married couple. 

Towards the end of the month I made my first Austin trip of 2012. Shell and I experienced the Campus Candy Store for the first time and attended a Texas Country benefit concert that was close to my heart.

March

I realized I had spent so much time trying to figure out the next step in God's plan that I hadn't even noticed His presence in the present moment. I began to see Him working in my life in ways that I hadn't even considered. I learned to accept the stage I was in, and life seemed fun again. 

We spent a weekend in Yoakum before Brandon started his rig training, and at the end of the month we began our Dallas adventures. 

April

I did a lot of traveling in April. I was either in Yoakum with my parents, in Austin with Michelle, or in Dallas with Brandon. I had a lot of time to myself, which I spent running, reading, and just thinking about life. 

We also celebrated my PaPaw's 90th birthday, and we felt so blessed to have him in our lives. 

April was also the beginning of Courtney and Kyle's wedding festivities. My maid of honor duties included a day in College Station for Courtney's bridal portraits, a day I will never forget.

Stay tuned for parts two and three...

Birthday Recap

To say my 25th snuck up on me would be an understatement. I had been thinking about it for several months, and I even started a blog post back in July especially for my 25th birthday. I kept telling myself, Oh, you still have a few months to work on it.

Those months have now come and gone, and the blog post was never finished. I've decided to blame it on the fact that I'm still wearing my summer clothes. It still doesn't feel like fall down here, and as badly as I want to be wearing my favorite scarves and boots I'm forced to slip a pair of sandals on every time I leave the house; therefore, it hasn't felt like my birthday.

Anyway...

This weekend turned out even better than I had hoped! Brandon was supposed to be out of town for work, which I was really disappointed about, but his schedule ended up changing at the last minute. Yay for crazy/uncertain/very unpredictable oil field schedules! {Probably the only time I'll ever say that..Ha!} On Friday evening he gave me my birthday gifts and we went out for dinner and ice cream. It was a very relaxing evening!

On Saturday Mom, Dad, and PaPaw came down. PaPaw had never been to our house, and I'm so glad he was able to make the trip! After resting his back for just a few minutes {riding in the car is kind of hard on him} he was ready to go see my garden.

{Look at my hair. That's how windy it is here!}

Let me tell you... He got a kick out of it! He started laughing right away. He said, "I think you need to talk to your daddy! His are taller than you!" Then he asked, "Have you watered 'em often?" I told him that I had, and he just kept saying, "I don't know what to tell you, baby. I've never seen anything like it." He said it might be the soil that caused them not to grow, and he told me not to give up. I guess I'll be trying again in the spring!

After laughing about my miniature tomato plants we went inside, and mom and I cooked lunch. We had MaMaw's pork chops, and while we were eating Brandon said, "PaPaw, is Emily a good cook?" PaPaw answered, "Yeah, she's a real good cook. You better keep her around!" Then he said, "There's just one problem... She can't grow a tomato!" We all laughed! {My PaPaw still likes to joke with us, even at ninety years old!}

After lunch we listened to the second half of the Texas football game. At one point PaPaw said, "Texas didn't play Oklahoma this year." I said, "Yes they did, PaPaw. They just just lost really bad." He said, "Oh, Texas went to Dallas... But they didn't play!" I told you he likes to joke around!

That afternoon we continued to visit and watch football. I showed PaPaw around our house, and I took my parents to see the hospital where I work. I just loved having all of them here!

That evening we said our goodbyes, and Mom, Dad, and PaPaw headed back to Yoakum. Mom texted me as they were driving away and said that PaPaw was still talking about my tomato plants. He told them, "They've got a real nice place, just no tomatoes." {Lol} We've decided he'll be talking about them for the next year! I was so thankful that he was able to come down and visit us. It was definitely a day I'll never forget.

After my family left I told Brandon that I wished every day was my birthday. I got to see my parents and my PaPaw, Brandon didn't have to work, and I got to talk to all of my friends... Exactly what I needed!

{Yes, we all wear burnt orange every Saturday.}

I can't wait to see what year twenty-six brings!

**My sister would have been here if she didn't have so much homework. We missed you, Shell!!

10 Week YOU Challenge: Week 5

Happy Tuesday!

via

Six Places

Each of these places has played a big part in my life,
but the people and experiences that I encountered in each place
are what make each one special.
  

Austin
My all-time favorite place to live.
The first place we lived when we got married.

Yoakum
Our hometown.

Georgia
Home of my Aunt Betty and Uncle Robert.
My all-time favorite summer vacation spot.

The Forty Acres
Read more here.

Red Rock / Rockne
Home of my grandparents,
and the place that holds my favorite childhood memories.

Corpus Christi
Our current city.
Although it's not my favorite place to live,
I'm sure I'll look back one day and appreciate everything this city has taught me.

Happy 90th Birthday, PaPaw

Today my PaPaw turns 90.

As I sit here his Mississippi Mud birthday cake is cooking in the oven.

My MaMaw's recipe, of course.

And I think about all of the memories I have with him.

From the day I was born to my wedding day,

he has been there for it all.

Happy Birthday, PaPaw!