Goodbye 2013! Hello 2014!

So here goes the ol’ goodbye to-the-end-of-the-year post and hello-to –the-new-year ramblings!  Hey, everybody’s doin’ it, right? ;)

Twenty-thirteen.  How about a year of amazing things?  I wish I could capture all of these moments and put them in my pocket, but alas, a post will have to do =)

Well 2013 brought me a future with Cruz.  Although we really got engaged ONE YEAR AGO TODAY, I still think of it as a 2013 memory!  From that one memory, I have set our date, found a venue (our house) and chosen the beautiful ladies who’ll stand beside me on the day I say, “I Do!”  The dress has been chosen, as well as the colors.  (Aren’t those the most important pieces to a wedding?!)

2013 brought me a new opportunity for a new job.  Life as a curriculum coordinator has literally FLOWN by!  Without as much take home work, I’ve found myself free to do more things for myself after work.  I’ve found enjoyment in helping awesome teachers with technology, curriculum and in leading weekly meetings with grade levels.  I’ve sat through countless hours of trainings, administered and managed the administration of my first standardized test and have lived to tell about it!  I’ve developed great work relationships with the teachers at my school as well as my CC friends. Such wonderful outlets for laughter, hard work and problem solving.

2013 brought me my first full year of NO COLLEGE!  I didn’t quite remember what life was like prior to embarking on the quest for a Master’s degree back in 2009.  It sure does feel nice to read for pleasure and to live a little outside of Starbucks on Saturday mornings =)

2013 brought lots of ups and downs on our home building process.  Multiple times we needed the help and multiples times it came or it didn’t.  We didn’t finish by the end of the year, but I have high hopes that this process will come to a close in EARLY 2014.  I count my lucky stars each day that Cruz and I have had so many willing family members and friends to help us make decisions for our home, to pack our townhome and to move to our new home.  If only subcontracted help would operate in that same way!  Best wishes to those of you who want to go build your dream home.  All jokes aside, it was a process that I have loved/hated from the time we began to the time we are coming to a close.  I can’t say I’d do it again, but I can say I wouldn’t have it any other way.

2013 brought births of wonderful new babies and the pregnancies of my besties!  Rachel delivered precious little Porter in late November, Lindsey is expecting little Olivia Grace (OG) in early March  and Emily delivered that cutie Cooper in August.   Jessica’s little man Mason grabbed our heartstrings when he made his way into the world in February and  I have high hopes for 2014 that Rosa will land her a sweetie (or 3) no matter if she goes into labor during our wedding!  I wish each of these lovely ladies the very best in motherhood as they continue their journeys in 2014 <3

In 2014, I hope that many great things happen.  Sure, I wish for the wedding of my dreams to go off without a hitch, but chances are, it won’t.  I want tons of fresh green grass in front of our house to replace the giant mud hole that stands there now, but it probably won’t be to my liking.  I’d love to win a Mega Million to go ahead and get a jump start on my mountain of a mortgage, but highly doubt that’ll happen.  In 2014, I want as much family time, as much friend time and as much experience as my heart can take in.  I want to live and breathe and take time for myself that I’ve neglected since I’ve began teaching and building our house.  I want to FINALLY own my car (and will in January, whoop, whoop!) and enjoy nights walking my dogs at our new house.  I want to let the dishes sit in the sink overnight and know that it won’t cause the world to end.  I want to park in a garage and not have to scrape my car in the winter.  I want to go fishing with Cruz and learn to bait a hook and take off my catch.  I’d love to learn to drive his big truck around our farm and correctly park a trailer using a tractor (which I also need to learn how to drive).  I want to volunteer my time to help others.  I want to know that at the end of every day, I have helped someone, somehow.  I want to learn to cook on our new gas appliances because I know that I’ll need to be entertaining many friends and family as the holidays and our wedding day grow near.  I want to take the time to appreciate many of the people and things that I didn’t in 2013.  In 2014, I want to live the good life and walk by faith.

So tonight as you raise your glass of champs, beer, milk, apple cider or Robitussen at the stroke of midnight, here’s to you!  I challenge you to make 2014 be the best year yet!