Highlights of the decade

So much has happened in this decade, I can't possibly recap everything. Instead, I'm going to focus on highlights and positive things since we're all about positive thinking here these days.

So, starting from the year 2000, I graduated from SMU after an amazing four years meeting some of the best friends a girl could ever hope for. Karen and I got our first adult apartment without permission from our parents or a need for them to cosign (we'll ignore the fact that said apartment was in the ghetto and we had furniture resembling airplane seats). Our adult lives were getting started...we had full time jobs and everything.

Late 2000 I met a boy named Brandon and we went on our first date to his company Christmas party on December 16, 2000. You all know how this story goes...enagagement October 2003, married October 2004, bought our first house, and welcomed Harley the kitty into our lives. In 2009 (on my 31st birthday) we found out that we would be expanding our family even more! I get a little teary just thinking about the amazing years the two of us have already had and I can't wait for the years to come!

Also this decade, we've had some wonderful vacations...some with friends (Hilton Head, Key West, Sun Valley, and many more), some with just the girls (I can't wait until we can do these again), some just Brandon and I (Jamaica, Mexico), and some with family (Italy for mom's 50th birthday).

We've witnessed so many of our wonderful friends get married and start families...lots of babies in 2009 and more to come in 2010! We've also celebrated family weddings including Meredith and Shawn and Allyson and Scott this year.

I completed 3 marathons and Brandon and I both started graduate school. I also joined Junior League of Dallas which has allowed me to volunteer in the community and meet my dear friend Meridith Royall.

Needless to say, it's been an amazing decade. I'm sure as soon as I post this I'll think of a million more things I could have listed.

I am looking forward to what 2010 brings us...hopefully at least three more months of pregnancy then some healthy newborns who learn to sleep through the night quickly (hey, a girl can dream!) I'm sure the first half of the year will be a blur which is why I'm not holding myself accountable to a list of resolutions. However, I do have my sights set for the White Rock half marathon in December!

I do want to acknowledge those friends and family who may be struggling right now. I am not getting into specifics, but I just want those of you going through rough times to know that you are in my and Brandon's thoughts and prayers. I know we are not the only ones spending time at the hospital during the holidays or spending time apart from loved ones for one reason or another. I hope that 2010 brings you peace, closure, miracles...whatever you need to ease your pain.

I wish you all a happy new year!

Random observation: this is actually Brandon's observation from Christmas. He was leaving the hospital Christmas day(after the snow) when two girls were arriving. They had just gotten out of their car (with a college sticker on the back...DBU) and one girl said, "OMG, what it all over the parking lot?" to which her friend replied, "umm...I'm pretty sure it's sugar." This scares me a little...