2012 In Review

2012 in Review I've been thinking about writing a 2012 in review post for awhile now, because so many things have happened this year. I thought I'd start it by going back and rereading what I was doing at the beginning of the year. Jesus. I was a mess. I frankly don't know how most of you put up with me to be honest. I still wasn't in that great of a place with myself, and I was just wallowing. I'm glad I put on my big girl panties and got my shit together. Mostly. There's still times I freak out, but, one day at a time, right? My resolution for last year was to learn patience, and jebus, I got that in spades. I mean, I moved in with Rachael for one. That's been a whole new learning experience. But as much as I had to learn patience with others, I've had to learn it with myself. And that's a bigger deal that I ever imagined. I'm not perfect and I've got a long long way to go. But, I'm thankful for that. So here are some highlights of 2012. 1. My idiot dog got famous in the WV scratch-off lotto ticket community. 2. My questionable mole wasn't cancerous. 3. I didn't move to DC for work, but did get a promotion to Activity Lead. 4. I went white water rafting for the first time and froze my ass off. 5. I went flying with a coworker in a tiny plane and got to fly over my house. 6. I became a godmother to a very adorable and spoiled by me baby. 7. Several of my dearest friends/cousins got married/had kids. 8. I survived (and had fun!!) at my ten year high school reunion, with people I've been friends with for the majority of my time on this planet. 9. I started taking better care of my health (physically and mentally) and took more time to appreciate the little things. 10. I played on a recreational soccer league and lost every game and loved every single minute of it. 11. I finished the Warrior Dash. This itself should get five mentions. 12. I participated in many charity walks/runs with work/friends/family. 13. I went on an amazing island vacation with new and old friends for my birthday and got to see a sea turtle in it's natural habitat. 14. I dyed part of my hair smurf blue. 15. I bought a car. 16. I moved into a haunted house. 17. I started dating again. 18. I made new friends, I lost old friends. I learned a lot about priorities. 19. I spent more time with friends that don't live in the ten-minute vicinity, that I've missed seeing. 20. I saw Counting Crows in concert and they were awful. haha 21. I spent more time with family and appreciate them for the fact that they are complete insane. If 2012 was about learning patience, I want 2013 to be about learning love. I did love before, and I do love now, in my own way. But I want to learn about real love. And I'm sure I'll have some crazy adventure to get there and this time next year I'll have a hundred new crazy experiences to relive. I wish each and every one of you a happy new year and I hope that it brings you happiness and love. Remember I'm always here for you and I love ya.

So even though I salted the steps last night I busted my booty this morning on the way to work. If this doesn't work, then I am screwed this winter:



So besides my bruised butt and ego, things have been pretty great lately. I had a good trip home, ate too much, slept a lot, got an official gluten free boyfriend, and had safe travels in the ice storm. Twice

Friday I left work at noon bc it was expected to snow. I'm glad I left when I did bc it got bad around halfway home and then got worse once I made it.




Saturday was the Samples Christmas party which is always fun. Bluegrass music, food made with butter, and everyone trying to feel josh and Erica's baby kick (due in four weeks!). Uncle mick gave me a silver dollar to help pay my student loans. I love the humor.

That evening we had a special treat bc kellie and Chris came up to Mammaws. They are two months pregnant and will find out if its a boy or girl around the time Erica is due.





Aunt Beth, uncle Larry and LJ were also at Mammaws, along with lJ's mustache...




It was sad that Laura and Mark couldn't make it this year, but I guess that is growing up. Blugh.

Sunday after church we went to visit great aunt Freda. It's weird that she is getting older. She was always so tall, but now I am just about as tall as she is. Am I getting taller? I wish. She gave me some books that belonged to my great grandparents which is neat. They have old book smell.



We also went to cabelas. I kept trying to take photos to make It look like I had antlers but i kept laughing. This is the best I could do.



On Christmas Eve I spent most of the day home alone. I didn't even get out of pjs until after four.


Ryan had hoped to come down for the day but the weather and a couple other things prevented that. However we did have a real conversation about what we were doing and decided to make a real go of things. Facebook official and all. It's scary, it's the first "real" relationship I've been in since zach, but it's a good scary. He knows about everything that happened and my seasonal depression and how in trying to be healthier and he is amazingly supportive of everything. It's refreshing.

Christmas Eve church was the same as always. It's not quite as special as it was when we were little, especially with most of the family other places. But it's still beautiful to hear Silent night in German.






Mammaw came over on Christmas Day to watch us open present and have breakfast. I am stoked bc I got a great new camera. And also some old ones!!




All in all it was a great weekend. I had to leave early yesterday bc of the ice storm, but on the plus Ryan got to come up for the night. I'm appreciative of so many things right now. Thankful for the ups and downs of this year.






























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Christmas was great even though I missed the Atkins/Cliburn clan very much. I swear I'll make a real post later. In the mean time I think I broke my tailbone again.

Hope everyone had a great holiday!




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It's after midnight and this grandma should be asleep right now but I've been laying here in bed reading about Taylor Morris. I posted some links on Facebook but here is a link to his page. http://www.taylormorris.org/

He is one brave kid. No, not a kid. Even if he is younger than I am the shit he has lived through makes him more of an adult than I will ever be. His girlfriend too. I hope someday to find love like they have, that will stand through anything.

In lighter news I nearly killed Ryan this weekend.

That's an exaggeration but it still wasn't good. He came up Friday to spend the weekend which is great bc I haven't really gotten to see him much the last few weeks. We were going to go to the movies so I could finally see Lincoln but when it came Down to it, we were lazy instead. I ordered my fatty self some pizza and that's where the whole disaster started. See, Ryan has severe celiacs. He was sick for many years before they figured out what was wrong. He's got a super regimented diet now and absolutely cannot have gluten without getting sick.

So of course I order the most gluten filled food there is. And of course (bc the story won't make sense if I don't tell you the embarrassing bitS) we were making out like two kids at church camp. It didn't cross my mind to brush my teeth and he forgot to remind me. But just that was enough to make him sick. And I feel just awful. It's not like stomach virus puke and done sick but achey and stomach cramps and fever for days sick. I know he felt worse than he let on and I feel like a total asshole. So we did a lot of laying around instead of going out and about. I did take him up to see the house that christmas threw up on and he was adequately impressed.




I finally watched season two if walking dead. We were supposed to go to his last tattoo session, part four, but the artist had to cancel. I cannot imagine a twenty second tattoo bc I'm a coward and he has well over five hours in this.


Redamndiculous.

I'm glad there are just five days of work until the holiday. I need a break.

Love and sunshine.

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So I may have mentioned this, can't remember, but last week i signed up to participate in the 13 days of love letters from More Love Letters. Google it. The short of it is people write in about people who need positive reinforcement or just to hear something nice. And getting mail, actual paper mail, is always a really great thing. Then a volunteer can sign up and you'll be given someone to write to. For the 13 Christmas days, everyone is given the same 13 people so they will be completely awash with letters of hope and love.

I'm a sucker for a hand written letter myself and I know how meaningful it is to me to receive one. So I thought I would join this and maybe make some small contribution to someone out there. And even for me (it's up to day eight now) it has been a positive experience. Writing to a total stranger and reminding them they are loved reminds you that you are loved. Reminding them things can get better also reminded me of how bad things have been and could be again but that there's always hope if you're willing to look for it. It's just a completely guy wrenching and wonderful thing. I think I will continue to volunteer to write for this project after the thirteen days are up bc it benefits me so so much and I can only hope it benefits someone else out there too.

I hope maybe you'll look into this too. Or something like it. Something small that can make a big impact. Every one needs loved. Sometimes they just need to be reminded.


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For a Monday morning, it's been a really great day. I had a very cathartic conversation this morning that further reminded me I'm making the right choices in my life. Sometimes it's the little reminders that mean the most.

I hope this finds all of you safe and happy on this rainy Monday!




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Amanda and I have started bootcamp at the gym and good lord I'm a weakling. But part of it is cardio and its helping me get my running back, so that's good.

I don't really have anything specific to talk about. My apologies. Things have been going well overall lately so I'm not gonna complain. Friday I'm walking in the Christmas parade for the relay for life and then Saturday I'm hanging out with Ryan. Yes he does have a real name. Not gonna give him a code name bc it's dumb.

Love and sunshine!


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