End of the Year

As this year comes to a close, I am amazed at how quickly it's flown by. It felt so long during the days, but suddenly it's the last day of 2010.


I took some time yesterday to read over my blogs from this year as well as look through my journals. And what I've realized and remembered is that this year has had its ups and downs, though honestly has felt like a pretty bleh year, for me at least. Nothing too amazing happened, lots of things that we wanted to, didn't. I struggled with a lot of things, lost some good friends for various reasons, and overall it's just been hard.  


However, there's been great things that have happened, and that's what I will think about when I think of this year. We moved into a wonderful condo that has continually blessed us and feels like home. It has served us very well, and has enabled us to help out friends when needed as well as have friends be able to stay over and hang out.


I have been able to figure out what I'm doing with my life. I started at a CC in Early Childhood Education, and have been loving it. I cannot wait to finish up the units so that I can become a preschool teacher. I miss working with kids, and I have loved learning about how they develop and grow. 


My hubby and I celebrated 2 years together by going on a cruise, which we've decided to try to do every year. It was such a blessing to relax and be together with no worries for 9 1/2 days, also the longest vacation we've taken together. As I've said, we're going to do it again this year and boy are we looking forward to it! 


I am also so happy to see how much we've grown together, even more so than last year. We've pushed, helped, encouraged, and otherwise enabled each other to grow and become confident in who we are. He loves me and I love him, no matter what, and there is such freedom that comes with that.


Personally, I've become stronger in who I am and more confident. I've had some hard things go on this year and I've had to do a lot of soulsearching, but I am (finally) completely content in who I am. Not that I think I don't have any more growing to do (HA!). But I am honestly content in being me. I used to get so freaked out cause I couldn't figure out who I was or what I was or who I should be, etc etc etc, and I've finally just come to the conclusion that I am me, with all of my good things and bad things (that I'm working on), with all my ups and downs, "warts and all", and I don't need to pin myself in those specific words in a box to describe me. 


I picked Gypsy as my word to describe this year. And I initially chose that because I thought I would have a lot of changes coming along, mostly in the physical practical sense. The only huge physical "change" in my life was that I switched schools to one nearer my condo. I then thought that I didn't really "live" this year as a Gypsy, like I thought I would. But...the more I think on it, the more I realize that that's completely untrue. While I didn't have too much new physical things happen (Moving once and switching schools), this has been the year of me growing in who I am. I've become content in who I am, what that means, what's important to me, and how I show that. I've learned to love people in different ways, I've taken control of issues that I needed to, and I've let myself change as I've needed. I know who I am and I am happy and content. I know I'll keep growing, but I don't know how much HUGE change will happen like the mental work that did this year. We shall see. 


I've gotten closer to friends, grown apart from them, and made new ones. I've gotten closer to my in-loves and have been so blessed to be accepted into their family. I've grown in my love for my husband in such deep ways that it's hard to explain in words. And I've reached that stage where I accept who I am (I know, I've said this a lot, but it's a huge deal to me!), and I love it. 


So here's to 2010. You've been a hard but growing year, with your own ups and downs and frustrations and satisfactions. 


Let's see where 2011 takes us and what it brings. I need to think up a word for you but for now, I'm just content in relaxing in the last few hours of 2010. 


Have a wonderful evening, have fun, and be safe. 


Cheers! 

Merry Christmas!

Not a long post today but just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!! 


Hope your holidays are wonderful and blessed. 


Lots of love,


Aaron and Beth 


<3<3 

Better late than never and bits in between.

Oh my gosh, you guys, I totally forgot to do a post about the fact this past Friday was Lover's and I's anniversary of our first date! It's been 4 years since we first went out! So I guess I'll have to do it now, and go "Better late than never!"


So. Friday, the 10th, was our fourth anniversary of being together. Four years ago on that day (It was a Sunday), after church, Lover took me on the Metro down to Downtown to "study" and hang out. He had me at "8 story library". So we studied and wandered the library for a while, and then went up to Hollywood for dinner (amazing beefdip sandwich place that is now our favorite ever!), and then Universal CityWalk where he bought me my first Dodger cap (cue the "dawwww"s). We--actually, he--spent entirely too much money on me on that first date, but oh man, was it fun! A year after that, we were in Laguna where he proposed and of course I said yes! 


I can hardly believe it's been four years. It doesn't feel that long, and yet, I can barely remember what my life was like without him. I am so happy, and it honestly feels like I've been with him my whole life. We've grown and matured together. We've helped each other become who we are and comfortable/confident in who we are. He loves me for who I am, all of me, and I love him for the same reasons. We complete each other, push each other to grow, and otherwise fit together. I can't imagine going through Life with anyone else. He encourages me to follow my dreams, pursue my interests, and to do the silly things I enjoy doing. 


So here's to us, Darling. Four years and stronger than ever, I can hardly believe this will be our 5th Christmas together. I love you, darling boy. 


<3 


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Also, in celebration of our anniversary and such, Thursday night we went out to Benihana for dinner. Oh my goodness, such great amazing food. So yummy! We also sat at a table with another friendly awesome couple, so we chatted joked the entire dinner. Then Friday night, we had our office Christmas Party, which was a blast with such great food. I also got my Christmas gift from my boss (yay bonus!!), and then Saturday, we left bright and early to head off to San Diego. Where I spent the day with my girlfriends, and Lover went up to do some fun things with teh guys.

I got to have tea/lunch/coffeedate with my best friend. We were able to chat, hang out, relax, and otherwise just get some much needed time together. We have such great conversations together and needed to hang out badly. I also got to better meet her son (OMG so cute!). We went on a walk, exchanged presents (she got me a gorgeous wall calendar!), and otherwise just relaxed with each other. It was lovely.


Then I met up with another friend to go shopping at the Nordstrom Rack. Oh my goodness, so many amazing clothes! I got my first pair of jeggings (Yes I know) that when I put on Lover's eyes went HUGE in that way that tells me I look great. I also found an adorable purple military style jacket, another cute sweater/layering thing, an amazing sexy librarian dress, a gorgeous black lacy tunic, and these gorgeous red heels for more than 1/2 off their original price!! I love this store, and thus my pocketbook is going to hate me.


Again, it was such a great time of hanging out and getting some much needed girl-time. We exchanged gifts as well (She got me adorable lipgloss, gloves, socks to go with my oxford's, and a really lovely bottle opener). All of us then met up to do dinner, and it was a lovely raucous time together. 


Overall, a much needed wonderful weekend! I am so glad it all worked out. 

This week is going to be incredibly busy and fun as Lover's family is coming into town on Friday, and then Christmas is in a week. I need to decorate and clean and bake some more. Eep! I also have some fun shopping trips planned, and other stuff. 


That was my weekend. Better late than never with a little bit in between. ;)