2011 Year in Review

Hello there!  Are you surprised to see me here!  You should be...I have been the biggest slacker when it comes to blogging this year.  23 posts all year long, and only one post since the summer- *shame*  I have been keeping up w/reading my blogs that I follow, but not as much commenting or posting over here.  Not sure exactly why, but I just haven't been motivated.  I've continued w/lots of baking & a good deal of crafting, but just haven't written about it.

Oh well!  I really enjoyed looking back on my year in review f/m 2010, so I thought that I would go ahead and post one even though most of 2011 isn't chronicled on the blog in the first place--thankful for facebook timeline so I can have at least some idea of what happened last year!  This isn't too interesting, but oh well!

January: once again, lots of goals, and I started off pretty strong with lots of goals and plans for what to do w/my long break--and then chaos broke loose!  I went to visit my best friend at the beginning of them month & we went to a couponing seminar to learn how to save some money!  Then right after I got back my mom broke her ankle very severely. I was able to go to visit my friend again towards the end of the month, but then I got the flu and was in bed for a few weeks!  My first few weeks back w/my students were pretty much confined to being in bed.  Needless to say, it was a frustrating month!

facebook status of the month:  "evidence of the craziness of today: i've been running around with a meat mallet sticking out of my back pocket!" (jan 24)

February: Mostly I was just sick.  Sad :(  We did a big outreach event on campus, and most of my time was spent w/my Bible study girls in ministry--my group grew by 3 and our relationships got much closer--definitely the highlight!  Also had another visit to Spring Hill for time with friends--so good!

facebook status of the month:   "patrick: "it seems like i always see wrecks on memphis junction rd" me: who is rex?" #facepalm" (feb 7)

March: Honestly don't remember much about this month...seems like it was mostly cleaning, Bible study, and still a bit of sickness!  Did spend a lot of time w/mom while she was still off her feet.  I also had a spring break for the first time in forever, but just spent it recovering f/m so much sickness and cleaning.  Hubs & I did celebrate 9 years of being together on the 10th, as well as Butch's 4th bday (same day)

 time to clean!

facebook status of the month:  "Was telling my mom about the show "animal hoarders"... She thought that it was about animals who have too much stuff!" (march 8)

April:  Finally mostly healthy!  Lots of visits from former Bible study girls which is always fun :)  One of the highlights of the month was a retreat w/our CRU ladies out at lakehouse.  I was part of a panel to answer questions about life, love, faith, etc... Then the CRU guys "surprised" us (I knew about it) by singing to the girls, quoting Prov. 31 to them, and bringing carnations & cake. So sweet.  I love getting to witness the college students as they grow in fellowship, but I discovered that I am too old for all-night slumber parties & sleeping on screened porches!  Also, TWD was featured in Oprah magazine, and my pick was on the 11th!  Most visits to my blog EVER that day!  Also did lots of knitting :)

facebook status of the month:  "Butch just lost her mind & was cowering & growling in fear over.......my new toothbrush. Who says bulldogs are ferocious?" (april 11)

May: I turned 27!  Hubs gave me a beautiful sapphire ring :)  Had our final Bible study with that group, spent a night out at the Lakehouse w/the lovely ladies, and then most of them graduated!  My sister went on a mission trip to Japan...and then ended up staying!  Began "summer break"--love doing college ministry!

facebook status of the month:  "Terrifying=hearing a banging sound come fm your closet, then seeing the door slowly open by itself... stupid ninja cat. #heartattack" (May 1)

June: Started the month with a visit to Spring Hill, then my sweet friend Lacey came home from Ethiopia!  We had lunch and discussed the option of her moving back to BG & working w/CRU... Celebrated 5 years of marriage!  Started leading a summer Bible study w/my co-worker Jacob--loved that so much!  Started really working on exercise/weight loss, but no real improvement.  Developed SEVERE insomnia & sleep problems.  Then my grandpa passed away on the 23rd--while my dad was in Colorado, brother in NY, and sister in Japan.  It was extremely hard.

facebook status of the month:  "tonight, in an attempt to punish kitty for scratching him, hubs chased down our cat with the vacuum cleaner. It literally scared the crap out of him (kitty). He sat in a corner with his eyes all wide and when he stood up there was a little pile of kitty droppings. Biggest laugh we have had in a while!" (june 17)

July: My cat became extremely attached to me.  We had a memorial service for Grandpa.  My nephews turned one.  Discovered Pinterest!  And saw the final Harry Potter.  Enjoyed lots of time w/Lacey & other friends, and loved doing summer Bible study!  Hubs also started branching out a bit in our normal food rotation :)

facebook status of the month:  "i showed my husband one of my favorite boards in Pinterest w/tons of beautiful room designs that I love. He said "Ugh. I wouldn't be caught dead in any of those rooms." *sigh*" (jul 23)

August: My little brother got engaged.  Another Spring Hill trip.  Got involved more w/the women @ my church.  Lacey decided to stay here!  Started a whirlwind of planning, retreats, and MASTER PLAN to get geared up for the 2011-2012 school year!  Met my new group of Bible study girls!

facebook status of the month:  "I watch Hoarders...then I watch Pickers. I feel like I'm getting conflicting messages about stuff." (aug 10)

September: Women's social events w/CRU started.  Bible study & discipleship in full swing.  A last trip to Spring Hill before Jordan moved to AL.  Edmundson family photo session.  Went to CRU Fall Getaway for the first time since I graduated--learned that I CANNOT sleep on 4-H camp mattresses!  Met lots more CRU ladies.

facebook status of the month: "I was asking hubs about a coffee cake recipe I was making and mentioned that the sour cream would give it a fluffy texture. His response: "ugh.  you know I don't like texture" (sept 28)

October: Hubs turned 28!  Got to tell some people about Jesus :)  Hosted another CRU women's pumpkin carving party.  Enjoyed a Halloween at home with hubs--first time we were both free since getting married!  Got sick again :(

facebook status of the month:  "Who just found & replaced a blown fuse on her car? This girl! What-What!! ;) Needed a win today after dumping a whole cup of water on myself while out to lunch!" (Oct 18)

November: A month of extremes.  Loved leading a women's purity event and speaking to a large group for the first time.   Good Thanksgiving though both families felt the losses.  Heartbroken for a friend who lost her daughter, then we lost Patrick's grandma the Saturday before Thanksgiving.  One huge joy--God provided a new car for us!  I've been driving my '89 camry since I was 16 & we were planning to get a new car this year.  Then a ministry supporter contacted my parents & wanted to donate a van to the ministry--we now have a 2001 Honda Odyssey!

Bible study Thanksgiving dinner

Hubs' grandmother

facebook status of the month:  "sitting in my living room watching all 3 other members of the household nap...and snore. Yep, the hubs, dog, and cat all snore ;)" (Nov. 3)

December; Enjoyed the "Evening of Elegance" put on for the CRU ladies by the guys. However, the same day one of the girls I discipled was killed in a car wreck.  Heartbreaking.  I was blessed to be able to share the gospel w/a school reporter in an interview about her for the school paper though. Got to go to CRU and a party after which was a blast w/our students.  Then it was Christmas break!  Hosted 3 Christmas parties within 3 days--but didn't get sick!  I was able to really take it slow & enjoy Christmas this year which was such a blessing.  Lots of time w/good friends and family :)

Sarai--my student who passed away

facebook status of the month: Dec 13: "So first I set the timer to reheat pizza but forget to put the pizza in the oven. Then, I put the pizza in but forget to set the timer. Of course :/"

2010 in review

I'm blatantly theiving this from my friend Sabrina, but I thought it was a great way to sum up the past year and everything that happened--just a few days late...

January:  started the New Year with several goals (some I did well with, some = FAIL) and tons of blog posts (27 in January!?!?! where did I find the time??).  I baked and baked and baked, enjoyed a bit of snow, and then I was sick.  a lot.  Honestly not a great start.  But I ended the month with old friends celebrating the birthday of my bestest's little one. 

Favorite recipe from that month was the Coconut cupcakes f/m the MSC club (sadly no recipe posted due to group rules)

February: Started the month committing to the Five O'clock club (then failing), a reunion with  the lovely ladies in my first Bible study, and working really hard on all my resolutions.  Oh yeah, and I was sick a lot.  again.  The two first months of 2010 were really really hard on my body and were the catalyst to changes made in the year.  I ate a lot of quiche b/c I like eggs when I'm sick.

This was the favorite recipe:

Mushroom, Leek, & Bacon Quiche

March:  A  month of much introspection.  My parents lost a dear friend and for some reason it really shook me up, though I had never met her.  I began to question whether staying at my job was the right thing.  Discussions & arguments w/hubs about the future took place in the midst of more sickness.  But there were high points too--the beginning of spring, another visit w/my best friend, funny and encouraging things from hubs (celebrating 8 years together!), and some great food!

It was hard to pick a favorite for this month, but the one that has at least been the most repeated is the loaded baked potato soup.  It nourished me during sickness, wisdom tooth removal, and now--oh so much better--I get to feed college girls with it!!

Loaded Baked Potato soup

April: A pretty good month!  I started knitting again, spring came for real w/beautiful flowers, found out that my mouth is too small for an adult toothbrush, met our next door neighbors for dinner, made my favorite craft project to date, and, as always, some delicious treats!

I couldn't choose between these two for this month:

Dorie's Berry Surprise Cake (served at Easter)

and

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake (for dinner w/the neighbors)

May:  I turned 27!  No big celebration, but still a good time I think.  One thing that I never got around to blogging about (shame)  we had a big flood in the area!  Nashville got it so much worse which made national news, but Bowling Green got quite a bit as well.  Also big that month--we made the final decision that I was going to quit my job at Pediatric Associates, and I found out about the opportunity to serve alongside Campus Crusade for Christ at Western.  I still had to keep it a secret though...I also posted about celebrating Nurse appreciation day at my (now former) office which was a great time to honor some very special ladies who I miss greatly!  I also made my first ever stuffed animals--little bears for my soon-to-be new nephews.

Favorite recipes of the month came from the nurse's brunch:

Overnight Sausage Breakfast casserole (comes in very handy!)

 and

Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake

June: A monumental month--our 4 year marriage anniversary, and I turned in my resignation at my office!  Hubs & I took advantage of warm weather to take our little girl to Brusters for her very own "pup cone" ice cream :).  I also started attending my church.  Some frustration occured when, after giving them a month notice I realized that my bosses were not on top of things and would not hire a new person in time for me to train them before my "last day" and I ended up agreeing to stay part time for another month.  But change had started and that was great!

Not a ton of cooking (or pictures) due to all the craziness, but my favorite from the month was Dorie's Tender Shortcakes:

July:  A big month! I switched to a part-time schedule at the office and then had my last day at the end of the month, went to Florida w/just my parents & sister (including a day-trip to disney & a visit w/my dear friend Diana), wallowed in down time and a little bit of guilt & pondering, and started water aerobics w/the old ladies!  Also, at the end of the month the new twin nephews Connor & Logan made their entrance into the world!  Love the little guys :) 

 Favorite recipe of the month was Dorie's Lot's of Ways Banana Cake--so good!  I want some now!

August:  The month started in the best of ways--I was done at my job and spent a TON of time helping Christi w/the twins!  We had fabulous bonding time in the hospital and at her house--It helped us get so close and I loved being there w/the little guys so much :)  I also started the 90 day Bible challenge w/my friend Sabrina.  Sadly, I failed at completing it in 90 days, but I did do the entire Old Testament in 60, and finished the whole Bible by the end of the year.  It was great! Then, before I had time to stop and think about it, WKU was starting, I met my new Bible study girls and spent a CRAZY week on campus for freshman orientation.  And I got to feed people :)  I'll admit, I was scared, but excited. Favorite recipe of the month (though I didn't do a seperate post on or picture of it) was Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Baked French Toast--those students ate it up!

September:  The month was spent very wrapped up in my new routine and investing in the lives of the ladies in my Bible study!  We started with a bang and I had a new schedule.  Monday: clean, grocery shopping, maybe prepare dinner for next night, plan lesson for Bible study; Tues: staff meeting in the am, finish any cleaning/lesson prep, water aerobics, cook dinner for 9 people, dinner w/Bible study, lesson, clean up; Wed: BSF in the morning, meet w/girls individually all day, dinner w/hubs; Thurs: meeting w/girls all morning/early afternoon, water aerobics, dinner for 15 & leadership meeting every other week; Friday: staff meeting 10-2, down time, then often a fellowship w/the students; Saturday: crash; Sunday, laundry, church.  It was a bit of a crazy schedule but there is something about doing what you love that makes it so much easier!  I had instant bonds w/all the girls in the group and knew that God is working!  Also, I got to try a new recipe every week and serve it to 8 hungry ladies. Oh yeah, and the air conditioning broke was it was 90-100 degrees outside, and I had a bit of a meltdown over that...but other than that it was good!

Favorite recipes (can't choose just one):

Lasagna

Chicken Pot Pie & Mashed potatoes

 

Sopapilla Cheesecake

Carrot Cake

October:  It was an emotional month.  We did our family yardsale which was good but tiring, and I just had a lot of things on my heart.  At one point I really struggled about not having kids--for a few weeks I sobbed during every staff meeting that we had!  It was hard.  But a great month too.  Hubs turned 27, ministry was fruitful, and I hosted my first CRU women's fellowship and had 30+ college ladies crammed into my house carving pumpkins and baking.  It was wonderful!  I've got to say that very few things make me as happy as sharing my home & food & time with people like this.  It was also my first Halloween in several years that I didn't have to work late to do the month-end close down.  That was nice :).

Favorite food of the month (that i remembered to post):

Burrito Casserole

November:  Another good month in ministry and tons of joy with the girls!  We did a women's panel event at a local church, and I got to make Thanksgiving dinner and do my family's "thankful leaves" tradition w/my Bible study girls.  Thanksgiving was stressful trying to fit both families into one day, but still good, and it was nice to have the weekend after to rest. I felt so thankful this year for all the changes and to be doing exactly what I had always dreamed about!

Favorite food:

Dorie's All-American, All-Delicious Apple Pie (I made it at least 4 times)

The family also loved the Cranberry shorbread cake from the same post

December:  I had big plans for this month.  As my first Christmas not working at the office since I was 16 years old (and with students leaving after the first week)  I was determined to really lazy it up--relax and bake new things, read those Christmas magazines I've stockpiled over the years, spend a ton of time w/my family, and just enjoy my very favorite season.  Well...it didn't turn out that way.  It was still good, just more stressful than I imagined. It started great.  I did Bible study Christmas parties both for the CRU ladies (around 25 people in my house that time), then for just my group, and then as a staff team, and then w/my old office.  They were all fun and wonderful.  Then all of the sudden I had a TON of food orders (a good thing, but still hard work).  One day I baked 8 kinds of cookies, brownies, cake, & a pumpkin roll, the next day I did 9 loaves of bread, another cake, 2 pies, and about 6 or 7 dozen muffins--and then my dishwasher broke and I collapsed in a sobbing dirty mess!  Then we had several houseguests during the month of December  but the house never got clean for them.  However, Christmas day was perfect!  Hubs & I took the day for just us and actually spent the whole day together playing games, watching movies, and with a candle-light dinner and he got me a gorgeous necklace and my own GPS :).  It was lovely!  We had great times w/the families as well, but sadly I didn't take any pictures over those 3 days. Oh--one of the best things of all--we had a white Christmas!!  Woohoo!!

 

 

 

Favorite recipes of the month are:

Peppermint cookies

and

Red Velvet Cheesecake

 

2010 had some definite hard times, but was a year of wonderful changes and joy!  I'm so excited about what the next year has in store!