2009 Recap

December was a crazy month...which is quite fitting as 2009 was a crazy year...

As I reflect on the past year, I decided to do a quick recap of the exciting events (pictures included for your enjoyment):

1. January - I started off the year getting engaged to a very handsome and wonderful man.

2. January - The Ponca City crew came down for the annual superbowl party and declaration of the Fantasy Football Trophy (my name gets engraved this year! wahoo!)

3. March - Went on a "Last Fling Before the Rings" (titled by our dear mother, we even got luggage tags with the phrase...I can sense your jealousy) cruise with the all the girls. It was a great time...though I learned that cruises are not my favorite vacation.

4. June 20th - I got married to my best friend! (sorry he's not in this picture...I have an entire post of the wedding if you desire to look...)

5. June - Celebrated our marriage in the great city of Zihuatanejo, Mexico. The best vacation I've ever been on.

6. June - Moved for the first time into a home I can call my own. I LOVE having a home!

7. July - We came back just in time to celebrate the marriage of my sister, Caitlin!

8. August - Started back to work...:(

9. September - Celebrated my older sister, Amy, getting married!

10. October - My good friend, Faith, got married! (Lots of weddings this year! What a blessing!)

11. My family grew twice as large in a matter of just a few months (this is at Thanksgiving)

12. December - Still taking it all in...but I quit my job at the school (for a massive myriad of reasons, but the quality of my life is going to vastly improve now). Guess I'll be starting off the new year looking for a new job...

13. Matt and I took a trip to New York City for the Christmas holiday. I've always wanted to go during Christmas time (I had never been before) and it was Beautiful! Freezing, but beautiful! (here we are in Central Park after the monumental snow storm)

14. We arrived back in DFW a couple days before Christmas to celebrate with my family, and then headed to Oklahoma to celebrate with the in-laws. It was wonderful to see everyone and spend time with them, though now I'm finally getting a chance to relax from our vacations!

I cannot believe that tomorrow starts the new year. It will be different than last (and hopefully a little slower paced!), but I look forward to what God brings. I do pray that I can learn to rest solely in His presence again, as the crazy, changing year has wound me up a bit:). I want to bask in God's joy and peace and continually remember that He is faithful. I think it's going to be a good year. ;)

Dickens on the Strand 2009

A couple weekends ago, Kelsey flew into town to celebrate her birthday in Galveston. Due to unexpected snow storm in Houston and various other events, I ended up picking her up from the airport (a day late) and traveling with her down to Galveston to see Caitlin and Karl. We spent the day at this unusual event in downtown Galveston...who knew it was such a big deal! There were people everywhere dressed up from that era in hoop skirts and top hats...I mean EVERYWHERE! Entire families - grandparents, children, wee-ones. It seemed quite ridiculous, but interesting...I tried to document the event, but they just don't do it justice!

We got there right as the parade was starting...

...of course you have your bagpipe band....

....you've got your Pope Saint Nicholas...:)

...you've got your audience...no, they were not in the parade. Just chillin' in their costumes...

...the ship (don't remember the name) from that time period...

...on the ship (it was freezing!!)...

...this is when pre-almost-getting-killed by the "mates" pretending to be sailing the ship while docked...

....and it wouldn't all be complete without an elephant ride. $5 for 20 seconds of excitement...why not?

Thanksgiving Pictures

I finally got some pictures stolen off of facebook from Thanksgiving! We didn't get any in Oklahoma, but these are from my mom's house in Fort Worth...My grandfather likes to bring his "backdrop" consisting of black butcher paper for our annual pictures. Got to love him! :)

The new and improved family!

Then we each got our turn...

Matt and Me

Caitlin and Karl

Amy & Matt Z.

Kelsey and Me -

her stand-in until future happenings
(so she doesn't have to be by herself)

My adorable grandparents - Gramps and Mimi

Matt and I trying to get Mocha to pose for the camera...

it obviously wasn't working out that well. :(

Oh the Power of a Teacher...

“I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized.”

Eventful Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was eventful. My falling asleep at 9pm last night on the couch and not even remembering Matt ushering me to bed might be a good clue to how I need a vacation from my vacation!

We spent a good couple days in the very cold state of Oklahoma (well compared to Houston, it was frigid!). We baked, watched some good "25 days of Christmas movies", hot tubbed, enjoyed a wonderful meal.

Then we headed to Keller. This is where all plans when awry.

1) Watched some Aggie football. My mom had graciously recorded it for us since we were driving back while it was on, but didn't tape the last 5 minutes of the game...and it was actually a good game! At least we caught the highlights afterwards.

2) Friday the girls went shopping. I did buy some awesome boots for like 60% off! That was a perk. But the boys were supposed to meet up with us for lunch a couple hours in. What my mom didn't know was that while she thought they were watching football...they were actually installing her new dishwasher that we all chipped in for her for Christmas. She hasn't had a working one in about 6 months. Their couple hour project - took closer to 5-6 hours!! Not their fault, just a series of unfortunate events. So no lunch or coffee or shopping for the boys...but we did get back just in time to eat dinner with them. At least it's in and working now!

3) Saturday morning we planned on picking up a piano that my grandparents were passing down to Matt & I. It's very special and sentimental, but if you've ever tried to move a piano - it's ridiculously heavy and awkward. We recruited the new brother-in-laws to help us out before the Heine Thanksgiving meal and go get it. We headed 30-45 minutes towards Dallas to pick up the Uhaul trailer. Well, we get there and the only one they have it all beat up and not suitable to drive a piano all the way to Houston. We were there over an hour arguing with the people, before they sent us to south Dallas (another 30 min away) to get another trailor. We wait in line forever... I was seriously about to jump the next Uhaul worker that even looked at me - I was so livid. Then they didn't even have our reservation that the lady at the other one had just made!! Well, by that time it's already noon...we had left the house at 9am...we were supposed to eat at 1:30 and we hadn't even tried to load the piano yet or get it home. The task was just not working out for us. We gave it up. Canceled our reservation. Called it a loss. Drove the hour home. Sad day. Frustrating. Oh well...better luck next time. I hope.

4) Sunday we headed home. Not having a lot of family time over the couple days. But thankfully we'll be back in a few weeks.

A better note...On our way we saw a dad and 2 little kids on the side of the road with a blowout tire. Matt and I decided to flip back around and help them out. The poor kids looked scared to death standing on the side of the road. I had never done that (b/c it's really not safe as a girl), but it was really cool to help out another person in need. Matt helped change the tire while I talked with the kids. They were a sweet family and the dad seemed shocked that anybody would be willing to stop and help out. It was nice to put a smile on a stranger's face.

Thanksgiving

This week is only a 2 day week at work. I'm am so thankful for that. It is also pointless to try to get anything done with 9 year olds in that amount of time, so I often feel as if I am babysitter rather than a teacher.

Matt & I have a full week ahead of us. This year we are attempting to do both families for both holidays. Honestly, I cannot imagine NOT spending a major holiday with my family, and I'm sure that day will come. But not this year!!

If you'd like to partake in knowing the joy of our lives over the next few days...here ya go. :)

Tuesday: Work all day. Leave for Ponca City, Oklahoma around 5pm for the 9 hour drive. Stop through Keller to drop off our beloved dog, Mocha. Arrive Ponca City - approximately 2am.

Wednesday: Sleep. Hang out with the in-laws. Bake. Prepare. Golf (well, I'll be watching golf and possibly driving the golf cart - the best part).

Thursday: Drive to Durant, Oklahoma to celebrate with the Moore's extended family. Watch A&M beat Texas. Drive to Keller, TX. Arrive approx. midnight.

Friday: Shop with the girls. Bake and prepare for meal #2.

Saturday: Celebrate our first Thanksgiving with all the new hubbies in the family. Our family has turned huge in a matter of a few months. I'm excited!

Sunday: Drive back to Houston. Hopefully avoiding all traffic :) and hang Christmas lights on our own home. Because NOW we can start preparing for Christmas...and I will no longer be mocked for listening to Christmas music 24/7 for the last 2 weeks.

I'll keep you posted on how it goes...I love the holidays. :)

Decisions...

Do you ever make a decision and then go back and forth on it like a million times?

I hate that.

I used to consider myself really decisive...almost stubborn...but lately I have been easily swayed on almost anything I decide. Whether it's the pair of jeans I just bought or what's for dinner. It's getting ridiculous.

Anyways...I have really been struggling with this the last few days. Matt and I made a pretty big decision together a couple weeks back and both felt at peace about it...and then my emotions got the best of me and got discouraged by the smallest hurdle and I began to question my thoughts and decisions and reasons...

...basically I lose trust in the Lord and doubt his guidance. I need to believe that if God allowed both Matt and I to come to a place of decision together - that it was in the right direction. Even if my flesh doubts. Yes, it confuses me. Yes, it is rather frustrating. I mean why can't I just stick with it and not go back and forth all day long? It's quite exhausting. But...

This morning while I was driving to work...I drive into the sun and usually it's very annoying and slightly blinding...but this morning there were some clouds and it created this beautiful sunrise in the sky. I had prayed before I left home that God will give me a spirit of confidence and faith. Then God allowed me to be reminded through this magnificent sky that HE IS BIGGER than me and my life and decisions. When I can't seem to be at peace within myself (ahem - like right now)...at least I can be at peace about Him. I like when God reveals Himself through the little things.

Today is a good day

I decided that today is going to be a good day. Why today, you ask? Well...

1. It's Tuesday - which means I have the luxury of THREE conference periods. If you are a teacher you understand the joy in that.
2. It's like a perfect 70 degrees and sunny outside.
3. I went and got a Starbucks during one of my lovely off periods and the girl gave me a grande for the price of a tall (on accident, I think, but I'll take it!)
4. There are only 35 work days until Christmas vacation...and more importantly my trip to New York with Matt!
5. I had a wonderfully quiet lunch in my classroom while doing my Bible study. Refreshing.
6. Next week is November which means all the retailers are about to be Christmas-decked-out. And Christmas just makes me happy. :)
7. And irregardless is anybody really reads this (seriously...does anybody read this?) I'm posting this to remind myself that I choose for today to be a GOOD day. :) And it should be for you too.

Camping!

This past weekend Matt and I ventured to a nearby state park to go camping. I love the outdoors, so this is something that I have been wanting to do with Matt for quite a long time! After having to reschedule several weekends due to illnesses, rain, etc - we finally made it...us and hundreds of boy scouts. Yep, we chose the place that was hosting every single boy scout and child between the ages of 5-14 from the Houston area. We were unable to make a drive to a more remote location - so I guess those type of consequences are expected. But either way...we have a great time! The weather was perfect! Just cold enough for a fire, but not miserable. We made burgers over the camp fire. Ate one too many s'mores. Talked. Laughed. Listened to small children scream. Had a couple camp fires. Hiked every trail that Stephen F. Austin state park has to offer. And relaxed. I love to just get away and enjoy nature and nothing else. So refreshing!

And sadly I actually remembered to bring the camera, but it was dead. So these are the few off of my phone...

Our tent :)

(I had to fight Matt from bringing the mattress from our bed at home!)

My wonderful husband making fire #2
so I could enjoy some much needed HOT coffee.

Mission accomplished!
(I don't have the patience to make fires, so I'm glad he does.)

Personality Type?

I love analyzing and learning - especially when it comes to people and personalities. And since Matt is out of town and my family who came to visit me already left :(, I had nothing else to do but watch re-runs of Seinfeld and take this free personality test I found on a fellow blogger's blog, based on the Myers-Briggs personality test. The good thing is that my personality doesn't really change based on the test (I think I've taken more than enough of these!)...maybe I need to find a hobby. But for those of you who read this and care, my results are as follows:

Introverted (I) 86%
Sensing (S) 68%
Thinking (T) 70%
Judging (J) 64%
Extraverted (E) 14%
Intuitive (N) 32%
Feeling (F) 30%
Perceiving (P) 36%

This personality is explained here, if interested. :) Or just take the test and enjoy (it's super short).

Happy surprise for a blah Monday

Have you ever had one of those days that you just feel blah? Nothing seems to go right, the world seems against you...and it's Monday? Well, today is one of those days.

BUT (yes, thankfully there is a but)

I'm sitting here during my one and only off period today taking a breather and thinking about when to take my next "sick day"...when I got a call. Now on Saturday, Matt and I stopped by a teacher supply store (*note: this is the only time I have ever been during the school year. I usually go once a year at the beginning when they give us our gift certificate. Don't worry, I don't intend to call myself an overachiever teacher.) Anyways, while we were there they were having a drawing for all the people who came in that day. I submitted my slip with name and number, not expecting much...but they called me today to tell me I won! I never win anything. That's right. I will be treating my wonderful husband to a movie with my newly acquired $25 gift card to the movies. Thank you teacher supply store!

It brought a smidgit of joy to my day. :)

And I think I might take my sick day on Wednesday.

Bright Idea

Upon noticing the iPhone on my desk, one of my students expressed his jealousy and informed me that "my dad said I have to weigh 88lbs before I can get that phone".

I think that's genius. Especially since his size is on the smaller end of the class. :)

Perspective

Since I started back up working, life seems to be restricted to the following regime: early rise, work, gym, eat, spend a little time with Matt, sleep, and wake up to do it again. Nothing says a fruit-filled life like routine. :)

The school year has started off to be challenging (more to come on this later probably). I had high hopes for a great year and was determined that God wanted me to return to my current school. So here I am. But it is not completely what I expected nor hoped for. There have been ups and downs, but each day I wake up and know I need to spend time with God before I go to work (something I've never routinely been able to keep up in the mornings) which has been such a blessing. I can tell by my thoughts and immediate responses when I start the day with eternity as my perspective and days when the five feet in front of me is my limited perspective. I have to take each day at a time and chose to be content with my circumstances. I've been continually reminded that God put me in my job for a reason and I need to rejoice in it and look for the opportunities available to me while I'm here. He's growing me and reminding me of the mindset I once had not too long ago, about the joy found in life despite circumstances and situations - about focusing on God alone and finding my rest and peace in Him.

This past week, a friend and co-worker, was telling me about a high school friend who at age 26 had just passed away from a 2 year battle with melanoma, leaving behind her husband. Her blog is an incredible example of God's work through an individual - www.fisherags.com. Gregg Matte did the memorial service and spoke about it on Sunday during church. What a reminder of how short life is. What a conviction about the reality of the small problems that I think are so big and complain about. What an example of the way Christ can work through someone in such hopeless situation. What a reminder about the joy available to us.

I feel like I have been learning a lot recently, and being convicted of even more. I've decided transitions do that to me. Maybe that's why I like change so much, because it makes me grow. But I guess staying at the same job for 3 years is also making me grow, so God is not limited. Anyways, here are a few areas that the Lord has been teaching me:

• what it is to be a godly, loving, selfless wife (obviously, a work in progress)
• how to be patient when I have 26 8 year olds not paying attention...again
• how to be a good friend while being married and learning to balance my time appropriately
• what it is like to not be my own anymore, but the joy of sharing life and decisions with the man that God gifted me with
• that my job is not just where I have to spend the majority of my day, it's a ministry and I need to allow Christ to reflect in my attitude
• year after year (going on now the 6th year...) that God's plan is bigger than man's and He has a purpose for every decision and timing of freedom
• that the circumstances provided are exactly what God is using to shape and mold us and we need to rejoice in that, whether it is true suffering or not

Lessons in Home Ownership

When Matt and I tied the knot, I contributed a dog and Matt contributed a house to the marriage. There are definite wonderful characteristics of both, but we are each having to learn to adjust to each of our "gifts". For example, about a week before we were married I discovered that Mocha had somehow contracted heart worms - and they had gotten pretty bad. For those of you wondering, it is quite expensive to treat and very hard on the dog :(, so make sure you are consistent with the heart worm preventative! We just finished up with the treatments last week and Mocha is back to her peppy self - yay! I figure Mocha is good practice for when we decide to have kids.

But as Matt learns how to take care of a dog, what I am having to learn is how to take care of a house. My whole adult life, I have always rented out a room. Never having to deal with the maintenance. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE living in a house that is ours, but I have also learned a few things - tips, if you will - along the way the last couple months.

1) Paint can do wonders to a room. An easy, cheap fix. But be warned, if you decide to paint a room red be prepared to do at least 3-4 coats. And make sure they dry in between coats or you'll get clumps of paint and dripage in random places. And it is very frustrating. (Thank goodness we decided to only do the bottom half!)

2) If you discover that you have a spider problem, they have things called 'spider bombs'. However, unless you want to take all of your nicely organized kitchen out and any or all furniture/decor throughout your house, return it and purchase a secondary spider spray. It is yet to be determined if it works, as just yesterday I killed 2 spiders. Oh well.

3) A big yard is a nice addition to a lovely home. The problem lies in how long is takes someone to maintain it and make it look nice - and it has to be done once a week! So my tip #3 is as much as I don't like yard work, be willing to help in order to spend more time with the hubby. Yes, I mowed last night while Matt weed-eated. Isn't it pretty? (and freakishly HUGE!?)

4) My forth tip is dealing with hidden fees. Did anyone realize how much they have to pay in taxes on a house each year? Geez. That's all I got on that one.

5) It's amazing how dirty it gets with just two people living in it. Even the back bedrooms which hardly get used need cleaning all the time! My tip is be prepared to vacuum often if you are like me and are slightly OCD about clean living quarters.

6) And my last tip - be prepared for the house to creak and make a lot of noises. So, if your husband is gone, let's say on a trip to London for work, just turn up the radio and tune them all out. You will sleep better that way. :)

Oh the life...

This is what our dog, Mocha, does when she think nobody is watching.

Must be tough being a dog.

Newly discovered perk

I'm learning the oh-so-many perks of teaching (b/c I have decided to solely focus on the positives of the job that I am walking into for the next nine months):

1. Summers off. I could stop there, but I will continue...

2. 2-week Christmas break

3. Discount at my gym, 24-hour Fitness

4. Discount at Barnes&Nobles (if you can prove it will used for your classroom)

5. Really fun gifts and gift cards at all major holidays.

6. I get off at 4pm every day (never mind what time I go in though...)

7. and my latest favorite....discount at Ann Taylor Loft! Just print out the coupon on their website - 15-20% off every purchase! Yay!

See, it's not so bad...right?

Job, please!

It's funny how life takes you on unexpected turns - like right back where you started. Over the last several months, I have been debating, praying, applying, interviewing and experiencing much unneeded stress (and it seems endless talks with my poor husband who sweetly sits there and listens and tries to help)...just to end up back where I started.

So, for all of those that were wondering, I have officially decided that I am returning to my previous job, doing the same thing (in addition to learning how to teach social studies along with my previous schedule) at the same place (but a different and unfortunately further commute) - but I feel completely at peace about it. I was SURE 3 months ago that I was going to head in a different direction job wise...and now I'm confident that I need to stay put. Amazing how that happens. How God can change your heart very unexpectedly. I guess He knew that I needed to venture out - to find nothing better - to know that He will draw me back, in His timing and unique ways, reassured I made the right decision.

*For those of you out there who are currently looking for a job, I have complete sympathy as I know that it is very exhausting and often discouraging. I think I would rather break my leg than have to go to another interview and try to sell myself. Ugh.

Going to the chapel...again...

Caitlin and Karl got married this weekend. It was a beautiful wedding! It's amazing how two weddings can be so different. She had it at Timarron Country Club, the ceremony was outdoors over the water and the reception included a buffet dinner and LOTS of dancing. Caitlin, of course, looked beautiful and I am so excited to have Karl officially apart of the family now! They are currently enjoying their honeymoon on the Virgin Islands. Below are just a few pictures from their big celebration!

Caitlin's last dinner at home as a "Heine" girl

We had a luau. For me they threw a fiesta...we might run out of options before it's all over with!

Me with the bride at the bridesmaids luncheon

We were assigned the young married/soon-to-be married table at the rehearsal dinner which took place at Kirby's steakhouse. It was delicious!

All the sisters, once again!

The beautiful couple - Mr. & Mrs. Karl Kurz

The whole family! I think we have doubled in size in a matter of a few short months!

There are so many boys now! (Gramps is happy, though!)

Where the ceremony took place, looking out from the reception hall
(sorry it's kinda out of order)

Going to the chapel...

Here are some of the official pictures from our wedding! It has taken me hours to go through them and pick out/download the ones I like (good thing I'm not currently working)...so sorry there are so many, I just couldn't decide! If you are looking for a photographer in DFW area, Amber Richardson-Evers of Lifestyle Photography did an amazing job!

Getting ready!

(Right before the 2 longest hours of my life)

Me with all my Heine familia

Adjusting the birdcage veil

My handsome groom :)

Couldn't have asked for a better ceremony venue

My "Gramps" gave me away

Our first kiss as husband and wife!!

Yay! We are married!

Our first moment alone as Mr. & Mrs. Moore

(this is one of my all-time favorites)

Our first dance

(trying not to trip over my dress or each other's feet)

On to the honeymoon!

(see the post below for that one) :)