2011 in Review

Well, it's been almost a month since I last posted. It's been a busy and fantastic month. With Christmas and the New Year having come and gone, I have wanted to take a few minutes to review what I can only say has been the best year of my life. I can't remember when I've had a better year!

First off, It started with my niece Dot being born on New Year's Eve! What a fun time to celebrate and what a fantastic Birthday - you'll always have plans or a party! 

Second, It started with a job! I went into the year unemployed and was definitely terrified of another 2008 happening. In 2008, I was unemployed for 8 months. When I lost my job again, I just had the awfulest of expectations. But my unemployment was short lived, thanks to sweet friends who got me a job as a bank teller. That was only a 6 week position and at the end of the term, I had a new job waiting on me, albeit temporary as well. It has been a challenging year, work wise but I have enjoyed it and I have learned A LOT and I have worked particularly hard. 

Next, I met J. We've been dating for about 7 months now and I have really enjoyed getting to know him and our relationship. We had a great time in 2011 getting to know each other and doing so many fun things. I'm excited about 2012 and all the fun that we'll be having this year. On a side note: we started off 2012 with a real bang by staying home, drinking margaritas, getting super sleepy at 11 but somehow staying awake until midnight to watch the ball drop. Super fun but it was actually really nice to be home!

Next, I got hired on full time at Marriott. It was such a relief to be full time and to be ready to earn a real living again. It's so nice. I've met a lot of great people at work too and have enjoyed making new friends and learning so much about a new industry. It is such an inspiring place to work and I have really loved every minute of it. 

Next, my new nephew was born around Thanksgiving! Baxter Carpenter Waters. He is a beautiful and Handsome baby and I am so thankful that he is here and healthy. I never thought that Gabe and Ashley would have another baby after losing Maeve. But it has been such a wonderful healing process for our whole family. I can't wait to get to know him more. I have a niece named after my grandmothers (Dorothy Louise) and a nephew named after my grandfather (Baxter Carpenter). It really makes me cry happy tears to know that they will be remembered long after they are gone from this earth. 

And the Christmas season was just wonderful. J and I got to do a lot of fun things together. We went to the Biltmore for Christmas and ate dinner there. We went to see A Christmas Carol at the Clarence Brown Theater on the campus of the University of Tennessee. We went to the Singing Christmas tree with his parents. We were able to do dinner and lunch with them several times. I wish that my parents were closer. J is close with his parents so it's been good to get to know them. Laura and her husband Christian were in town for Christmas and J and I went to dinner with them and David and Melissa. It was so fun! I wish Joetta could have been here. We also went over to the Greene's house so I got to visit with Ashley, Tim and Cooper! It was so good to see them! It has been nice to catch up with my college roommates recently - everyone except Joetta...hope to catch up with her soon!

J got me a few great Christmas presents. One is a remote control for my lamp so I don't have to get out of bed to turn it off at night or on in the mornings. I really love it! The other big thing he got was me diamond earrings. I was totally surprised to open that gift. :) I know that I've talked about J a lot but he's been a big part of my life this year! 

I'm so looking forward to all that 2012 has to bring.