15 in '15: Final Report

Looking back at 2015, I really was able to get a lot done.  No, I didn't manage to cross off every list item, but there's always next year (and my 2016 list!)

And now, for my report card...  I knocked out 9/15 list items.  Here's the review.


1.  Visit 2 new states.  COMPLETE!

Georgia in January; Iowa in April; Minnesota in April.

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2.  Print Instagram photos in Chatbooks.  COMPLETE!

They are happily on my coffee table waiting for visitors.
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3.  Read 12 more books.  (5/12 complete).

Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist (February)
St. John Paul the Great by Jason Evert (March)
Before Amen by Max Lucado (April)

Babywise (August)

The Harsest Peace by Kara Tippets (August)

I'm disappointed that this did not come true, but honestly, I way over-estimated my ability to read during maternity leave.
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4.  Run another half marathon.   Complete a post-baby 5K. 

Again, over-estimated my abilities after baby.  I am back to running again and WILL run a 5K and a half marathon in 2016!
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5.  Take a fun trip for The Boy From Texas' 30th.  COMPLETE!

We spent a few days at the beautiful Inn of the Mountain Gods in Ruidoso, New Mexico.  If you missed the blog recapping the trip, click here!

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6.  Plant flowers in our yard and the fun pots we got.  COMPLETE!

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7.  Cook 52 more recipes in the Newlywed in the Kitchen series.  (49/52 completed).


I came close on this one....within 3 meals!  I've not yet posted all of them (have several coming soon) but I've cooked them so I'm counting it!  To see all the Newlywed in the Kitchen posts, click here.

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8.  Finish Uncle Black Belt's book. 

We're still rolling on this.  Uncle Black Belt has gotten drafts down of the first 6 chapters and he's working now on 7 and 8.  I'm working on edits and photo placement and the like.  This, too, is on the 2016 list.

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9.  Complete one Bible.com study a month.  COMPLETED!


January:  New Day, New You by Joyce Meyer.
February:  Breathe Spiritual Passion into Your Marriage by Gary Thomas.
March:  Praying for your Elephant - Praying Bold Prayers
April:  Discerning God's Will
May:  Hope
June:  Assurance
July:  The Lies of Busyness:  Devotions from Time of Grace
August:  Using Your Time for God
November:  Hard Questions and Adore
December :  Waiting Well and Remembering All God has Done

I'm a big fan of this app--makes it super easy to get your devotional in because it's right on your phone!
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10.  Complete 5 Pinterest projects (other than recipes).  COMPLETE!

Plant a ceramic pot garden (April)
Plant a mixed plant pot (April)
Send a birthday box to a friend (May)
Make lavender bunches (June), baby folders (August)
Homemade stain remover (September)


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11.  Knock off three more bucket list checkmarks. COMPLETE!

Meet a blog friend in person (January)
Stay at the Inn of the Mountain Gods (July)
Have a baby (September)
Visit Cadillac Ranch (December)

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12.  Order books/prints/canvases of our wedding photos.  COMPLETE!

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13.  Listen to the New Testament. 


This was the thing I'm the most disappointed in myself for not doing.  I didn't even make it through Matthew.  I just didn't get it done, no excused.

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14.  Pray Novenas for 12 friends and send them notes to tell them about it. COMPLETE!

January:  Novena to St. Anne for a friend suffering through infertility.
February:  Novena to St. Joseph for my single friends.
March:  Novena to St. Patrick for my friend and her growing family.
April:  Divine Mercy Novena for another good friend expecting a little one and a friend diagnosed with cancer.
May:  Novena to the Infant of Prague for two friends struggling with infertility.
June:  Divine Mercy Novena for a good friend going through a stressful time.
July:  Novena to St. John Paul II for a friend taking the bar exam.  Happy results...she passed!
August:  Novena to St. Joseph for a friend whose husband was looking for a job.
October: Novena to Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin for a friend having a baby.
October:  Divine Mercy Novena for a friend who lost his brother.
November:Novena to St. Joseph for a couple who got married.
December:  Flying Novena to the Infant of Prague for friends of ours making some major life decisions.
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15.  Organize my pictures. 

I do have some folders set up, all of my cd's of wedding, maternity and newborn pictures in one place, and photos saved off of my phone onto the computer.

Best Blogs of 2015

In taking stock of a year, I like to compile a little list of what I deem the best blogs of the year.  This has given me a great collection of my best works.  Here they are from 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014.  Who knows, maybe I'll turn these little blog posts into a book one day.

And now, for the 2015 edition. I tried to narrow it down to 10, but I just couldn't do it.  So I did 13.  A baker's dozen.

I Will Remember.  I didn't really remember this post until I went back and read it.  A reminder after finding myself free to worship in our little country church on a Sunday morning while across the world ISIS beheaded 21 fellow believers, that I must remember my ability to sit safely in an pew is a blessing.

The Epic Baby Announcement Fail.  Only me.  If you missed the epic failure of a baby announcement that occurred when I decided to find a cute, clever way to announce to my parents we were pregnant with The Baby from Texas, go read it.  You'll laugh for sure.  "Why did you tell us with a sword?"

What Real Friendship Looks Like.  This blog post makes me tear up.  It recounts the story of me telling my dear friend who was struggling with infertility about our being pregnant.  A year later, I am thrilled to report that she is currently holding her own baby girl in her arms.  Praise the Lord.  Good things happen for good people.

Thin Places.  I love the idea of Thin Places---places on earth where God seems closer, the distance between Heaven and Earth appears to be thinner than it usually is.

Chivalrous Acts and Wet Willies.  This post recounts a super romantic gesture followed by a wet willie.  This is our life.

Gran Was a Liar.  The shock of a lie my grandma told that lasted for over 30 years is the topic of this blog.  My Gran is snickering from Heaven you best believe!

The Sentence That Made Me Love Him Even More
This is probably my favorite blog of the year.  In the face of scary news, that husband of mine stepped up big and said just the right words at just the right time.

30 Things for His 30th  In celebration of The Boy from Texas turning the big 3-0, I made a list of 30 things I love about him.

Loving Him More  This is the third blog in a row about him, apparently I love my husband.  This post, written from the throws of post partum hormones, recounts how much I adore him as a dad.

I Am the Girl on the Sidewalk  After the tragedy the struck my alma mater, Oklahoma State University on homecoming, I wrote down my thoughts on drinking and driving and college kids.

When Your Vocation Seems Mundane  Another post partum fog post about how sometimes our vocations seem more mundane than glamorous, but are important all the same!

People Not Policies  My thoughts on the Syrian refugee crisis, a situation that just breaks my heart.

Gran's Investment Sharing the story of opening BB's very first bank account with money from my Gran.

Word for 2015: Grow

Each year, I like to summarize the past 365 days with one word.  Previously, those words have been love, change, full, awestruck, and fleeting.

When I sat down to think of a word for the incredible year that was 2015, only one would do.  Grow.

Just 7 days into the year, we learned our family would be growing.  For the next 9 months, we watched my belly expand and our excitement for this little guy increase.  Then, finally, on September 10, our family grew from 2 to 3.

My love for The Boy from Texas exponentially grew after his beautiful faith during a scary time and upon seeing him take care of me and BB after his arrival.

Our house grew, we doubled the size of the Little House on the Prairie, making it the perfect size for our little family.

My faith grew, particularly through the false positive we received on our genetic screening test and my monthly commitment to praying a Novena for another.  We saw many prayers answered and much comfort given.

Our animal friends grew as well.  Angus was added to the household in July.  Thelma and Louise joined us in September.

My friendships grew stronger, particularly as College Roomie, the Oklahoma Girls, BFF, ABJ's Mama and Emma's Mama all had babies this year. Going through this experience--as rewarding as it is--was immensely difficult as well. Thank God for  being surrounded by so many who understood right where I was.

Our farm equipment collection grew with the addition of a tractor, a new shredder, and a new pick up.

My list of states visited added Iowa, Minnesota and Georgia.

My list of recipes grew thanks in  large part to the Newlywed in the Kitchen series.

My tolerance and sympathy has grown beyond imagination. Anytime I now hear a baby crying in public, my reaction is sincere sympathy and a "we are in this together and tomorrow it could be my kid" realization.

Not everything grew, however.  Our bank account balances went in the opposite direction.  Our little family got smaller before it got bigger when we lost our sweet dog, Chili, in July and The Boy from Texas' companion of 13 years, Cabella, in December. There were days where our patience did anything but grow.

But as we look back at 2015, our lives are so much fuller and happier and better thanks to the tremendous blessings we were given this year.  I remember saying toast year that I was not sure how 2015 would top 2014, but it blew right past it. I can't wait to see what 2016 has in store! 

Word for 2014: Love

 "I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." - Arthur Rubinstein

When I sat down to write this blog, there was really only one word that I could select.  Never in my life have I felt as loved as I did this year.

Obviously, marrying this fella played a big part in that.  There's nothing like seeing a boy down on his knee to make a girl feel loved.

He has already taught me so much about love and life and I am so glad to be spending the rest of my days with him.

Then with the 400 of you who showed up to celebrate with us, and the numerous well wishes and prayers from afar...how could I not have chosen love as my word?

During the sheer misery of taking the Texas Bar Exam, I felt love from all of you who sent up prayers (and those of you who sent over cookies!)  Fortunately, the prayers and cookies worked and I was able to  be sworn in at a ceremony with my parents and the Boy from Texas.

I continued to absolutely love my job.  This year, I gave 60 presentations across the country and enjoyed every minute.  I spoke everywhere from a sale barn in Central Texas to a ballroom at Tufts University in Boston.  The fact that I was also able to see so many great friends and watch a game at Fenway was all just gravy.  I feel so fortunate to be able to have a career that allows me to work on something I truly enjoy.

I celebrated the day of love (Valentine's Day) by surprising The Boy from Texas by showing up to spend the weekend with him.  As much as I am glad the long distance thing is over, I did love surprising him and seeing his face!

God's love was, of course, ever present, but I so enjoyed the opportunity to tangibly feel that during the hours I spent at adoration and in the perfectly timed red flower surely sent by St. Therese.

Celebrations of love were celebrated throughout the year.  My cousin's wedding shower, ND Friend's Ranch Party and wedding in Chicago, and Blonde Oklahoma Girl's beautiful wedding day.

 

 

We loved winning guns at the NRA banquet as we celebrated the anniversary of our first date.

 I was surrounded by love at four--count them, FOUR--amazing wedding showers and an epic bachelorette party full of non-lake people who trecked out for a day on the water just for me.

 

People I love had great achievements that we had to celebrate.  Aunt and Uncle Evil Kineval's new lake house.  Baby Hepburn's high school graduation.  Running with ABJ's Mama in her first half marathon.

 And, of course, there was the week celebrating marriage during which we fell in love with our neighbor to the north, Canada!

It was the best year.  Sure, there were struggles, losses, stressful times.....but throughout, there was love.  From God and from the people who he has seen fit to put in my path.  I am so grateful for both!  Here's to showing this love to others in 2015.

Bucket List Year in Review

“If there's one thing I learned, it's that nobody is here forever. You have to live for the moment, each and every day . . . the here, the now.” ~Simone Elkeles, Perfect Chemistry

Each year I like to look back and remember the bucket list checkmarks I was able to obtain in the past 365 days.  Here are the recaps for prior years..... 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.

This year, although fewer in number, I am pretty excited about the list items that have been achieved!

1.  Get married.  The biggest item on the list has fallen.  WOO HOO!

2.  Visit friends in Canada.  Ever since I met my first Canadian friend (The Crazy Canadian) in college, I knew that I wanted to visit one day.  As you will read about in a recap series coming soon, our honeymoon offered us the perfect chance to see the beautiful country, have fondue with our sweet friend Miss Canada, and to visit The Crazy Canadian's parents' ranch.

3.  Complete a 365 day photo challenge.  I've tried this a couple of times with no success.  I am so excited to report that I successfully completed the Fat Mum Slim 365 day challenge!  And I didn't do it alone!  College Roomie, Miss Arizona, and High School Friend all completed it as well.  I could not have done it without them!  Coming up soon, I will be sharing my favorite photos from that challenge.

4.  Grow my own tulips.  I love tulips.  Hands down my favorite flower.  So growing my own had always been on my list.  Last fall, I planted bulbs.  This spring, up came beautiful tulips.  They didn't last too long before I killed them, but it was enough for me to check it off the list!

5. Watch a game at Fenway or Wrigley.  I'm not a huge baseball person, so it may seem strange for this to be on my list.  But being a major sports fan (and a good American), I felt like seeing our national past time played in one of the most iconic venues in the country had to be on there.  When I work trip took me to Boston this past summer, Fenway was calling my name!  Read the full blog here.

6.  Become a famous blogger.  This is a checkmark that I honestly didn't think would actually ever come.  But when I started blogging back in 2009, I put it on the list.  And although "famous" is pretty arguable, I'm going to go ahead and count the fact that my Texas Agricultural Law Blog was named one of the top 100 legal blogs in the country by the American Bar Association count as famous enough!

Best Blogs of 2014

The tradition of selecting my favorite blogs of the year continues!  If you're new (or just want a refresher), here are my best blogs from 2010, 2011, and 2013.  Now, for 2014...

Every year, I think that I'll narrow this list down to the Top 10 blogs.  Every year, I fail.  Whatever, it's my blog and I'll have 20 if I want to!

1-4.  Wedding Related. You know that I have to start off with wedding related blogs.  Obviously.  The he said/she said recap of our first date was a huge hit.  Followed up by the he said/she said description of The Boy from Texas proposing to me.  Then there was my realization that The Boy from Texas was even better than the Letters to Mr. Right I had written over the years.  Finally, there was my thoughts on wedding planning and remembering exactly what is supposed to last forever.

5.  Being Single.  Having been single throughout nearly all of my 20's, I hope that some of my posts can be encouraging to the other single ladies out there.  The series jointly written by Blonde Oklahoma Girl and me (both of whom got married at 30!) offering advice to single ladies was a huge hit.

6-7.  Diversity of Friends.  Twice this year I have been compelled to blog about the diversity of the friends that God has so graciously placed in my life.  First, I wrote "What I Would Have Missed" and I followed that up with "One of Everything."

8.  Respecting Different Paths.  Next up came a soapbox about how even though people may be on different paths than we are, they still matter and deserve respect.

9-11. Ag Related Posts.  You knew there would be some of these in here!  First off, two Family Farm Friday blogs make the list.  The first was titled "I'll Take the Stock Show" where I explained that in my mind, the benefits of a stock show outweigh Disney World every time.  Along those lines, I wrote "State Fair Did That" where I reflect on all of the impacts that the New Mexico State Fair had on my life.  Finally, we celebrated the glorious rains that finally came after years of absolutely horrific drought.

 12-14.  Current Events.  There were a few times I felt compelled to comment on events in the world.  I celebrated my favorite Pope becoming my favorite Saint. I have zero doubts that he has interceded for me each time I have asked.  Then we discussed America's Most Eligible Bachelor getting married in my post encouraging girls to wait for their George Clooney.  Lastly, I felt compelled to weigh in on the Brittany Maynard assisted suicide controversy and remind folks that there is another way to die with dignity.

15-17.  Remembering The Lost.  There are so many amazing people who made an impact on my life that are no longer here.  You frequently read about them on my blog, and this year was no exception.  On the tenth anniversary of her death, we remembered Gran and her Reward.  Five years after losing Mr. Franklin, I vowed to remember the good, rather than dwell on the sad.  And while mourning the loss of an elementary school classmate and friend, I spoke of the scars that people leave behind when they take their own lives.

18.  Anniversary.  On my parents' anniversary, we discussed why they are a bad example of marriage.

19.  The Point. After losing my cool in an airport, I realized that I was in danger of missing much more than the flight, but the whole point of this life.

20.  Closing a Chapter.  As I packed up my life into a Budget truck and bid farewell to College Station, I  deemed this chapter one of answered prayers.

Fifth Annual Bucket List Year In Review

"If you think back and replay your year, if it doesn't bring you tears either of joy or sadness, consider it wasted.”

I know that you guys are probably sick to death of these year-in-review posts, but this is the very last one.  Over the years, my bucket list has been a source of a ton of fun (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)!  I have been able to check a ton of things off my list, and this year I added 7 more checkmarks.  Check it out!

1.  Go to the National Finals Rodeo.  I am behind on life and have not written about this yet, but my parents, The Boy from Texas and I all went to Vegas for the rodeo.  And it was freakin awesome.  More to come soon!

2.  Go on a 30th birthday trip.  4 countries.  2 great travel companions.  2 miserable overnight trains.  700+ pictures.  I think that the Eastern European Adventure lived up to my expectations and more.

3.  See Auschwitz.  I knew this would be hard.  I did not know what it would be as hard as it was.  If you ever have the chance to go, do it.  Without a doubt one of the most moving experiences of my life.

4.  Go dancing at Billy Bob's Texas.  Even though The Boy from Texas got there too late for dancing, Real Cowboy filled in and took me for a spin around the dance floor so that I could check this baby off the list.

5.  Have an article published in a magazine.  I actually managed to have two published in Seeing the Every Day this summer.

6.  Fall in love.  There, I said it.  The "L word."  On the blog. 

7.  Give a stranger $100.  Being able to do this in honor of one of the sweetest people in the world's 30th birthday made this even better!