Goodbye 2011, bring on the dreaded 2012
Well, it is almost the New Year. Time to reflect on the last year of events as we say goodbye to 2011 and welcome 2012. This year has been an incredible year for me. I think I will even go as far as saying it is the best year I have ever had.
I started out the year with some resolutions to get back into a healthy lifestyle and perspective. I started dieting hard right at the beginning of January, and I am happy to say that over all, with a few ups and downs, I am ending the year about 30 pounds lighter than I started it (it would have been less, but I couldn't help but gain a few back over the holidays).
In February, I took my very first tropical vacation to Hawaii with Jamie's family. It was breathtaking, and an experience that I will never forget and forever want to repeat. I am so upset with myself that it has taken me as long as it did to go on a beautiful vacation like that. I am so thankful for Jamie's family for setting everything up and inviting us to join them. I am so grateful that I was able to have that experience. While in Hawaii, Jamie and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary of when we first became an official couple.
In April, after being out of work for about 5 months, I finally got a job in Centerville at a place called Masco. I am doing the same kind of work that I have been doing for years, and they are even paying me a little bit more than I made when I got laid off. It was so nice to get back to having a steady paycheck coming in again, and it was such a relief to be able to start looking forward again instead of just trying to deal with right now.
In July came the best and biggest event of the year. Jamie and I GOT MARRIED! She really is the love of my life, and we are so perfect for each other. The wedding was beautiful, everything went as planned and everyone had a good time. We were so happy, and if you look through the pictures it is hard to find one where we both don't have a smile on our face. Because of the visitation schedule with the kids, we didn't go on our honeymoon straight away. About two weeks after we got married we headed to Las Vegas. My parents had paid for a hotel for us for the entire time we were there and we loved it. This was our first time ever going away together where it was just the two of us. We had so much fun. I really should have done a blog just for that because there was a lot going on.
During the summer of 2011, we sold my Jetski and bought 2 four wheelers. We took a lot of trips camping and day trips of riding the four wheelers. The kids love riding on them, and we got to see a lot of trails in the mountains that we normally wouldn't have been able to see. I loved having the jetski, but I am glad that we made the decision to change it for four wheelers because it has become a lot more of a family activity and there are a lot more trails in these mountains than there are lakes! We also changed our vehicle situation during the year this year. We sold the vehicles we had, and now we have a 2002 Ford Expedition and a 1997 Honda Civic.
In the end of the year, we added to our family by getting our German Short Hair puppy that we named "Radar". He has an amazing story, and if you haven't already, you need to read the post before this one to get the whole story.
With all of this good that has happened, there have also been a few, but very big down sides to this year. The day after my birthday in January, my Grandad passed away. He was such an inspiration to me and I will miss my talks with him and the visits every summer, nobody will ever be as excited to hear me play the guitar and sing as he was. I also watched three of my brothers get put away in prison for 5 years to life. Two of them will be deported back to England after they serve their time. If you know anything about me and my family, then you know that my Brothers are my best friends as well as my family, and life will just never be the same without them.
And so, as we move into what some people believe to be the last year of civilization. I hope that I can have just as many good experiences and none of the bad. Of course, I do not believe that the world will all end on December 21st of 2012, but I plan on living this year as if it WAS going to end!
In February, I took my very first tropical vacation to Hawaii with Jamie's family. It was breathtaking, and an experience that I will never forget and forever want to repeat. I am so upset with myself that it has taken me as long as it did to go on a beautiful vacation like that. I am so thankful for Jamie's family for setting everything up and inviting us to join them. I am so grateful that I was able to have that experience. While in Hawaii, Jamie and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary of when we first became an official couple.
In April, after being out of work for about 5 months, I finally got a job in Centerville at a place called Masco. I am doing the same kind of work that I have been doing for years, and they are even paying me a little bit more than I made when I got laid off. It was so nice to get back to having a steady paycheck coming in again, and it was such a relief to be able to start looking forward again instead of just trying to deal with right now.
During the summer of 2011, we sold my Jetski and bought 2 four wheelers. We took a lot of trips camping and day trips of riding the four wheelers. The kids love riding on them, and we got to see a lot of trails in the mountains that we normally wouldn't have been able to see. I loved having the jetski, but I am glad that we made the decision to change it for four wheelers because it has become a lot more of a family activity and there are a lot more trails in these mountains than there are lakes! We also changed our vehicle situation during the year this year. We sold the vehicles we had, and now we have a 2002 Ford Expedition and a 1997 Honda Civic.
In the end of the year, we added to our family by getting our German Short Hair puppy that we named "Radar". He has an amazing story, and if you haven't already, you need to read the post before this one to get the whole story.
With all of this good that has happened, there have also been a few, but very big down sides to this year. The day after my birthday in January, my Grandad passed away. He was such an inspiration to me and I will miss my talks with him and the visits every summer, nobody will ever be as excited to hear me play the guitar and sing as he was. I also watched three of my brothers get put away in prison for 5 years to life. Two of them will be deported back to England after they serve their time. If you know anything about me and my family, then you know that my Brothers are my best friends as well as my family, and life will just never be the same without them.
And so, as we move into what some people believe to be the last year of civilization. I hope that I can have just as many good experiences and none of the bad. Of course, I do not believe that the world will all end on December 21st of 2012, but I plan on living this year as if it WAS going to end!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete:) I love you so much and love to read your blogs! Your amazing ;)
ReplyDeleteAwww. Thank you. I love you too baby. I'm glad you are still interested to read them!
ReplyDelete