2010. The List. I’ll Show You Mine if You Show Me Yours.

Get a new haircut and really learn how to do my hair…maybe more naturally…less drying and straightening.  Let it go wavy.  We’ll see.  Any good curly hair advice?  Mine always looks like an electrocuted poodle.  Maybe I should stick to straight.

Drink more water. 

Live a simple life.  Less things.  More exploring.  Less stress.  More prayer.  More love.  More seizing the day.

Not be so dependent on my iPhone…risk getting lost every once in a while.  Risk trying a new restaurant without reading who likes it and who doesn’t before we get there.

DC and I have been very blessed financially.  This year of being newlyweds has resulted in much saving and not so much intentional budgeting.  We plan to make a monthly budget.   I have a really great (and easy!) budget sheet we got in our premarital counseling class if anyone is interested.  Just email me.  Link on the left sidebar.

Just run.  I am liking it a lot.  I would love some running friends, especially while my other half is sick and can’t keep me company.  And a strained hip flexor this morning proves I need to spend time stretching…taking care of the muscles I am using.

Read.  It is my favorite and it has fallen way behind lately.  I have way too many books in the top of my closet that haven’t been read.  And if I haven’t read them, I can’t mooch them to you.

Build “my” space in the apartment…if it has to be on the patio, so be it

DC and I want to buy more organic, but mostly eat less of the processed foods like crackers, chips, anything in a package.  We want to get creative with our food and cooking.  We want to learn more about our bodies and what is good for them, we want to find things to help keep our vegetables and fruits for longer, (anyone have any ideas?) but we just want it to be simple, not complicated.  Nothing wrong with some chips and DC’s guacamole every once in a while.  Or some fattycakes. 

While we’re on food, I want to try more new restaurants in Houston.  We are missing out on so much goodness this city offers.  I told you, the food thing has to be simple.  Give me some recommendations.

I need a complete career change.  Though I don’t know what I want to do.  Maybe go back to school.  Maybe figure out how to not stress about the work politics that make this so hard.  But, while I’m where I am, I want to build better/more relationships at work.  Find some new friends in that Mecca of a hospital.

Invest more in what I think my style is.  Maybe shop at new stores,  wear things I haven’t worn in a while, mix the old with the new.  I need a lot of the new for valid reasons.  Taking donations.

Think positive first.

Spend as much time outside as possible in all sorts of different places.  I would love a dog we could take with us to do this stuff.  But, apartments don’t love dogs and vice versa.  Someday.

Get organized.  Big time.  In everything.

I’d like to figure out what it is I’m doing with this blog.  Sometimes it seems almost foolish.  I don’t have much of a niche for its direction.  I know that I need to stop thinking about writing for who I know is reading it, and just write as the person I am.

Finish up some of my other list.  I think it’s time to edit that already, and that’s ok.  Goals change over time.  I’ll get to that next week.

Keep in better touch with my brothers.  I hope to go see them in Washington, D.C. at least twice this year

Wake up earlier to do some running or eating or reading or spend some time with God or have some coffee time on the porch or just to have a little more time with DC.  To do whatever I want to do before I go stick it to the man.

Be in love as much as I possibly can.  Soak up our time as just the 2 of us.  Figure out marriage as we go.

So long, 2009.

Dang you were fine, 2009, Part Deux

July

We celebrated our independence at the lake house in Livingston. Amy and Ricky came down from Rhode Island for the weekend. It was nice to have someone to play with on the water toys.

Do my arms look disgustingly ripped in that picture? Don’t let this mislead you. I have no muscle.

I also creamed everyone in the non-existent fishing contest

I think that was my 2nd of 5 fish.

My sweet friend, Lisa, got married in July in Marble Falls!

SUCH a pretty wedding, so fun, so Texas. We love Klay. We are happy she found him.

August

I don’t remember a whole lot going on in August except that work was insane for whatever reason.

We went to a beautiful potluck dinner out at some friends’ lake house. Every couple got their own table and were served by whoever brought each course. Such a great idea.

September

In September we went camping at Camp Eagle for a mountain bike race. DC did great in the downhill danger race (that’s not really the name, but it made me so friggin nervous), but got a stupid flat tire on the other one. We had a good time sleeping in a tent, being gross, hanging our clothes in the trees only for it to pour during the night. Why can’t I find any pictures of this??

We also started a Bible study with some couples in our Sunday School class and made some really, really awesome friends out of it.

Jesus loves Beatles Rock Band, too.

October

I feel like October was yesterday. DC went on his annual? semi-annual? Whenever they feel like it Old Man Mountain Bike Weekend at Flatrock Ranch.

I’ll spare you more [stolen] (thanks Mike Roberson!) pictures because from the looks of things, it was a gross boy weekend. I understand there was streaking.

Also in October! Tacie and her then not boyfriend, now boyfriend came down and we went to Ziegfest! Short story- Tacie, her 3 college friends, and I met on a cruise ship in 2006 and have stayed friends ever since.

I won’t say what DC says he looks like in this picture, but I look like a sheepdog.

Naturally, Zach was there, too. Where there is Texas country music, there will be Zach.

November

In November, Kstan (another cruise ship friend) ran the NYC marathon and creamed everyone. I still tell people about it.

I think the best thing about November was our trip to Dripping Springs where DC beat Lance Armstrong in a mountain bike race, and we stayed in the most in the middle of nowhere bed and breakfast.

A perfect weekend for both of us.

December

This month, I ran my first race ever. I really surprised myself when I finished and realized how easy that run was. I was even more surprised that I got first in my age group. Don’t ask me how many were in my age group.

Did I ever mention that it was 22 degrees out? Yes? Well, I’ll say it again. It was 22 degrees. In Texas…Houston, Texas. Ok, enough. I haven’t run much since, and I really enjoy it, so I need to get back on that.

Zach graduated from college. I do not believe this and refuse to ever accept that he is a grown up.

DC has been sick all month. Seriously, as I write this, it has been 27 days. It has been a building of tensile strength. It was our first Christmas together, and he slept through a lot of it. Poor guy. It was still perfect, but DC might say otherwise.

Lots of firsts this year. We’re ready for more.

Cheers to 2010!

Dang you were fine, 2009, Part 1

Thinking through the rough patches and the endless blessings…this is my 2009.  I don’t think many of you care about this…maybe it’s more for my memory than anything.  Hopefully it doesn’t sound like a cheesy Christmas letter.  And if it does, I will be sure to include Chris and Abby.

January

I rang in the new year asleep on the couch, I do not lie, followed by a trip to Dallas for a beautiful wedding and another up and back trip to Sherman, Texas just a few weeks later to say goodbye to my sweet friend’s brother.  I can’t believe that was a year ago.  I didn’t want to be anywhere else that day, RDB.  No where.  That was such a sweet time for us as friends.  Maybe it still is.

DC got me a cookbook stand for my birthday that is my favorite gift ever.  2 days later, I sent him CRAVE cupcakes to work to share on his birthday, and that’s how he knew he was marrying the right girl.

February

I could not have stuffed more things to do into a month.  Wedding planning, apartment hunting, going to the rodeo, Valentine’s day, working full time, final planning meetings, premarital counseling, and my amazing bridal shower.  All of my closest friends from college came for it.  It was excellent.  And probably the last time I will ever get them all together.  I love these women- all of them are doing something really really great.  This group could change the world, I think.

March

In March, somewhere between moving things into our new apartment and last minute wedding planning, Devin took me out to the fanciest dinner I think I have ever been to.  So awesome; I still remember how everything tasted.  I would not be mad if he took me back.  March was also my bachelorette party. 

Yeah.

April

Not much went on in April…just your normal month.  Minus the fact that I married the most phenomenal man on this planet on the most perfect day that God has ever created in the best city in Texas.  Nothing went wrong at my wedding.  Nothing.  It was perfect.  Do you get it?  It was a PERFECT day in Austin, Texas on April 4th.

And it was the best party I’ve ever been to.  And I got the most creative, smartest, one of a kind (or 2 of the same kind) photographer in the country.  Ricky did it perfectly.

and EVERYONE came…from California to New York.  Everyone was there.  So cool.

The most amazing wedding was followed by a beautiful drive back to Houston with tons of bluebonnets on the highway and our honeymoon: an 8 day cruise.  Before said cruise, the airline managed to lose my luggage and I went without everything I had bought for my honeymoon.  8 days without luggage except for a bag of shoes and a cocktail dress.  Try to fathom it.  Then, fathom getting a rash from using whatever stupid cheap shampoo and other toiletries a cruise ship sells.  And still, it was some of the best days of my life being away with my new husband.  He rocks my world.

Also in April, I started this blog, which seems to be going okay.

Oh yeah, I managed to slice my finger completely open with a bread knife resulting in hours in the ER.  I think DC rethought our marriage for a second.  I couldn’t even cut bread.  Gah.

May

In May, we milked living so close to Minute Maid Park and went to some Astros games.  We spent a lot of time in the suburbs getting our wedding gifts from our parents’ houses.  DC raced his first race since we had been married, the Houston Criterium.  DC’s parents bought a lake house and made all of our dreams come true :)  But seriously…we love to spend time up there.  It is such a peaceful getaway.  So beautiful.

I’m gonna learn to do this this summer if I have to drown doing it.

One more thing in May…DC and I managed to both get rear-ended in our cars…on the same weekend.  So, um, that was a bit difficult.  Especially because I was in both cars.

June

I think June was pretty low key.  Lots of lake time in Livingston.  My sweet friend, Lisa, was soon to be married, so I went to the Riverwalk in San Antonio to celebrate at her bachelorette party with some of my best friends and lots of new friends.  This is why I love Texas.  The cities are so different; so diverse.  I had so much fun.  Seriously, so much fun.

Why in the world I am wearing jeans is beyond me.  In June in San Antonio, it has to be 100 degrees and 90% humidity.  I know I had to be sweating.  Someone talk me out of that next time.

Deep Breath, New Song, Fresh

The thing about Christmas is, while it is my favorite holiday, when it is over, I am OVER. IT.  DC and I spent some time this weekend taking some of the decorations down, getting the apartment cleaned up…we’re ready to move on.

My favorite time of year, though, is January.  I love the new beginnings, the fresh start, the motivation to be different in the next year than I was in the last.

This morning I was just thinking about the changes I want to make, the things I want to do, the way I want to be this year.  Break the monotony.  Although my life this year has been anything and everything but monotonous.  Marrying DC has flipped my world upside-down and I love it.  I love thinking I can do something and having him there to tell me I’m right about that.  LOVE. IT.

I hate to call these resolutions because the first thing I think when someone says resolution is "sure to fail”.  Do people ever keep them?  Like, 2 years ago, I told Rhonda that my resolution was to wear more bracelets, and I don’t think I’ve worn but maybe 5 in the last 2 years.  FAIL.

I am getting my list together…my list of changes and goals and anything but resolutions.  Some of them come from my list in October.  Some don’t.  I think I need to edit that list too.  I’m excited.

What’s on your list?

I love to hear from you…your emails, your comments, your messages on facebook.  Love them.

Happy Monday everyone!

Merry Christmas

Good Morning.
Can you believe it's over? I can't.
It's been non stop party here.

DC wasn't so happy when I told him the helicopter was driving me bananas. Then I think my brother told him not to listen to me. I told you they love helicopters. I hope you got one for some guy in your family because if you did, you're a Christmas hero.

Frisky does a pretty good job of showing what we all looked like after a humongous meal yesterday.

I feel like it went so fast, and maybe I owe God some time...I don't know if I took enough time to think about Jesus this season.

It's been a whirlwind with husband being so sick, and the shopping, wrapping, cleaning, cooking. And work is so busy in December. Those are all of my excuses for not taking enough time to thank God for sending our Savior down to Earth to live a human life...and die a very painful human death. For me. And for you. I pray you've been at your lowest of low and still felt the powerful hope that He is. I hope you know the unfathomable feeling of the no matter what love that He has for you. If you don't, I hope you find Him. I'd be happy to go on that journey with you. If you've known him for 2 days or 20 years, I hope you've thanked him for what Christmas is.

How many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many Gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one did that for me.

Merry Christmas.

A Lumberjack Graduation

Banita Creek, Nacogdoches, Texas

Baby brother

The grads

Now.

Then.

The family minus one.  This picture was next to impossible to coordinate.  And I wasn’t sure our picture taker got a good shot and then all of the sudden everyone scattered.  Just a typical Wood family picture I guess.  You better be quick or you won’t get one and everyone will be gone.  And then there was a glare and I couldn’t get it all out.  Gah.

While others napped, I went downtown

I want this.  I don’t even know if it would ever work again.  I just want to set it in our place.

I found some fun things in neat places including 2 jars I have been looking for.

Cue the grad after-party party…

Zach lives in a wood cabin with mirrors everywhere.  It doesn’t even make sense.  It was about 30 degrees in there.

We kind-of resemble each other

Then…pardon the thumb.  This was pre-digital pictures

Now.

Congrats Grad!

And now I think I’ll have another oh-my-gosh-my-baby-brother-is-grown-up-and-I-can’t-even-think-about-him-moving-to-DC-without-completely-freaking-out moment. 

Dare to Have Traditions

It’s a sad day…the last day of the Dare to DIY.  It’s been fun, ladies.

Dare to Have Traditions.

Um.

My family is ludicrous, and thus, we have some odd traditions.

On Christmas eve, which is when most of our traditions occur, you will walk into a warm house filled with the most random Christmas music you’ll ever hear.  Like…Willie Nelson’s Smokin’ Tokin’ Christmas or something.  I’m kidding.  Sort of.  As you throw your coat in the living room and head to the kitchen, a hot delicious mug full of hot Dr. Pepper awaits you.

Tradish #1

Honestly, you probably wouldn’t find a Dr. Pepper in the house unless it is Christmas Eve.  At least not where DC and I live.  In our place on Christmas Eve, you won’t even find Dr. Pepper because I am cheap a good steward of my money.  If I brought Dr. B to a Wood Family Christmas, I may be shunned.  Don’t worry, they would let DC stay because they love him more than me anyway.

Ingredients: DP and Lemon.  And awesome Christmas mugs that you use year round.  Oh that’s just me?

 

Put it on the stove on low until it’s hot to trot

Serve.  The sick ones especially like it, if you have any at your house.  I do.  Sad face.

Tradish #2

While everyone pours and enjoys their hot DP and some hors d’oeuvres, someone inconspicuously puts in a legendary Christmas mix sung by this group of extremely talented vocalists…

And we dance…not just any dance.  We dance just like them.

When the dancing is over and the mugs are empty, you better grab your wallet.

Tradish #3

Rummy Royal.  The 7 (parents, 2 brothers, a pistol of an 86 year old grandma named Goggle, me and DC) of us play Rummy Royal for pennies.  It’s a card game that I don’t care to explain in detail, however, I am sure Wikipedia would love to share its knowledge.

The game gets gruesome.  It gets scary.  Goggle tells you how much she wants to hurt you.  It’s rough, but it’s hilarious.  I never win, but I figure I am better off because that way Goggle still likes me.

So those are what I grew up with.  And now, DC and I might start some of our own.  I bought this book for us last week for our first Christmas (and 19 more…because it’s a 20 year book, not because I am leaving him in 19 years) together.  Hopefully him being sick for weeks will not be a tradition.  Please say a prayer for my sweet husband.