Dac and I grew up in church together. We were good friends and started "dating" back in 1998 during my freshman (his junior) year of high school. We dated long-distance during college (I was at Oklahoma State and he was at Wichita State). Dac got a degree in Graphic Design and I got a Journalism/Public Relations degree. He popped the question (finally) in March 2006 and we had a small, simple wedding on September 16, 2006. We lived in Wichita briefly before moving back "home" a couple months later. My first year anniversary gift was a dog, well, actually, it was a fence... so we could adopt our dog... Peety. He's a pug and I love him. =) We both work for the school district now and operate our photography business on the side. In September 2009, we bought our first home (a 1920 bungalow) and have been doing little (and not-so-little) odds and ends to fix it up and make it our own. Between full time jobs, photography sessions, and the house, we stay very busy... sometimes too busy.
Now then, this past year has been a whirlwind. In many ways it's flown by but at the very same time it has seemed to creep on so painfully slow. 2010 was full of so many awesome blessings. We saw the most photography business ever and worked with tons of amazing people we now call friends. Dac was laid off for most the year, but he was also blessed with a new job he enjoys. I lost two very close family members to cancer and yet was blessed with a lot of family time and a better understanding of myself and who I want to be because of them.
Here's just a quick look at our 2010 - month by month.
January - Dac was laid off. Had Wii Nights that we'd continue every other week for the rest of the year.
February - Dac turned 28.
March - Visited my old college roommates/friends and was reminded that I should take weekends off way more often and that at least a few of those should be spent with these fun girls. Cried a lot (and I mean a lot) because my cousin Ryan (who I always loved more like a big brother) continued to struggle more and more with cancer. Vowed to train for the Pancreatic Cancer 5k. Got up to 2 miles before fizzling out. Went on a girls weekend to IKEA with my sister-n-law and our good friend Cori, and returned with lots of goodies, some of which have still yet to be put on the wall.
April - Woke up one Sunday morning to learn Ryan had passed away during the night. Cried more. Ran up a ridiculous text message bill. Took a trip with my dad, aunt, and cousins to Minnesota for Ryan's service. Laughed, cried, and toasted more in two days than ever before. Photographed our first 2010 wedding. Learned my grandpa Carl had stage IV colon cancer. Cried more.
May - Continued to be super busy with photo sessions and weddings. Went to OKC to hang out with the girls another time. Photographed a wedding over memorial day weekend and left bright and early that Sunday morning for Louisiana to see Carlos.
June - Held his hand. Said goodbye. Got about 30 minutes down the road back home before getting the call that he'd passed away. Went ahead and drove home. Cried the whole way. Turned around and went back the next day to help plan and attend the service. Took a day off to help my mom after surgery. Started back to physical therapy. Celebrated my 26th birthday and my "little sister" Sky's 13th birthday. Had a fun girls day with my friend Kayla to celebrate both our birthdays with pedicures, lunch, and shopping. Decided we should do that every year!
July - Headed back down to Louisiana to help my grandma with some house stuff and visit with the fam. Celebrated the 4th of July with an awesome cook out and some karaoke. Dac started gutting our spare bathroom. Helped feed the homeless in Wichita a few times and loved it, even though it broke my heart. Did an awesome summer Bible study. Went to Country Roundup with Dac's family.
August - Celebrated our 4-year anniversary a little early by going to the Dave Mathews Concert with our good friends John and Anna. Went "bowling" at Genghis Grill a few times with Val, Steve and Cori. Took a Turbo Kick class. Hurt my leg. Stopped Turbo Kicking. Took Sky to Eskimo Joe's with some friends. Started up "Criminal Minds" nights again with Heather.
September - Got dressed up in a little black dress to go out to eat and to the Melodrama with Heather, Erika, Kayla, Tabitha, and Jana for Heather's birthday. Celebrated our 4 married years together. Continued to be swamped with awesome weddings and photo sessions. Dac got a new job.
October - Had our 2nd mini-session day. Did a short 6-week Bible study. Went to and helped host a school PR conference. Celebrated Arkalalah and had friends stay with us for Dac's 10-year high school reunion. Attended the reunion.
November - Still super busy. Went to the high school musical and was sad it just isn't like it was when we were in them. Peety turned 4-years old. Celebrated two Thanksgivings in one day.
December - Started thinking about New Years and thus, the commitment to this blog was born. Had our final two weddings of the year, along with several other photo sessions to round out 2010. Decorated our Christmas tree with green and orange balls and dried orange slices. Watched Peety eat almost all the oranges. Hosted my work Secret Santa party at our house. Finished up our Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve. Attended the 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service. Celebrated Christmas three times on Christmas day, once the next day, and then again a week later. Got my Wii "Just Dance" on. Had friends stay with us for New Years Eve. Played some Settlers of Catan. Had a great time and got super excited for a brand new, hopefully less chaotic year.
Well, obviously a lot more than this happened, but it's a start. Next year I'll have a lot more documented! =) Looking forward to that!
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I love that you're doing this! I look forward to cyber-stalking this blog... in a non-creepy way.
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