The Memories of 2013

It is crazy to come to realization that 2013 is coming to a close.  I keep asking myself, "Where did September go?" 2013 has been filled with ups, and downs, but it has been a wonderful journey of a year.  With the New Year almost here I thought that it was time to reflect upon this past year.

1. Changing my Last Name

I have already blogged about my wedding back in July, and I can't believe that it is already almost 6 months!  But that was definitely a highlight of the year.  It started with a wonderful day and it has been a wonderful journey that is never ending

How can you not smile?

There are always ups and downs when it comes to bringing two lives together, but that is all part of the vocation.  Bring the other closer to God and their faith.  My goal in life it to get Travis to heaven, and I think that in itself is a journey that I am excited to take!

2. Baby H on Board

Last year at New Years I was looking forward to a July wedding and this year I am looking forward to a April Baby!  We got to take first pictures of the baby back around Thanksgiving and that was exciting.  I loved watching Travis' face when he would look at the ultrasound pictures, he smiled like any proud father would. :-)

Baby H with his/her hand by his/her mouth

It has been fun watching Travis talk to the baby (usually at night telling it to kick so he can feel it, thus waking him/her up for awhile, while I am trying to fall asleep...).  I had to pack away all of the regular clothing that I usually wear and trade it in for pants with a high elastic waist (actually comfortable!).  I have finally experienced heartburn (not so fun). But, I have also been able to feel the baby move and kick a bit (exciting).  It has been a new adventure, and I am so excited that I get to take this next journey with Travis by my side!

3. Saying Goodbye

2013 has been the year that I have had to say goodbye to many close people in my life.  I am fortunate enough that this is the first year that anyone close to me has passed away.  First in December and January (2012/2013) we said goodbye to the Overby's (I blogged about it once before - #3).  They were the best neighbors that anyone could ever ask for.

Then in October we had to say goodbye to my Grandmother.  That I think, was one of the hardest things in 2013.  As a Catholic I know that she is in a better place, where there is no more pain and suffering for her.  But, the first Thanksgiving without her there was had.  Celebrating Christmas with the Pohlman side without her there was a challenge.  Getting a card that just had Grandpa's signature was different.

One of the last pictures that I have with Grandma from my wedding in July

This Christmas we got two little books in our stockings that Grandma and Grandpa each filled out awhile ago about them growing up and it was questions and they would answer.  I went home from Christmas celebration and I turned on White Christmas and I started going through the books.  Seeing how they life was growing up, their favorite foods, etc.  But then I came upon the holiday section and they both said that White Christmas was their favorite Christmas movie.  Right then I felt like Grandma was sitting there with me watching her favorite Christmas movie.

Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord, 

and let the Perpetual Light shine upon them.  

May they rest in peace. 

Amen. 

4. Last Family trip

I started 2013 off by flying to Florida on January 1st.  Early morning with Mom, Dad, and Angela we drove to Dayton and then flew to warmer weather.  My Aunt and Uncle have a condo in Venice, FL and we spent almost a week down there.

Me, Dad, Mom and Ang

I always laugh when I think of Dad on the evening of January 1st and we are standing on the beach of the Gulf and Dad was amazed that it was January first and I am in shorts on the beach!  It only got better when we were at Siesta Key and Dad would say: "It's January third and I am on the beach in 80 degree weather!"  Take that outline and every day Dad was amazed at one thing or another!

Ang and I in Florida

It was really the last trip that I took with just Mom, Dad and Ang.  Family vacations were always a wonderful part of growing up and it was like an end of an era for me with family trips that week.  Granted Ang might say that she was happy that it was over because I move around too much at night when we shared the air mattress...

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2013 has been filled with its ups and downs, but it has been a wonderful year of memories.  I am blessed to have such a wonderful family and now a extended family!  Travis and I are excited to start our new family in 2014 along with many other exciting adventures!  I am thankful for my health, and for my ability to have a job.  I am blessed for the friends that I have, and all of the memories that we have made!

2013 was great!  Hears to a even better 2014!

Taking me Back

I have decided that it is due time to start writing again.  Not like my life is really interesting, or that anyone would read this.  But I think that it helps also to provide clarity of mind.  Sometimes I think too much and all of my thoughts get jumbles and this helps a bit.

There has been too much going on since I last wrote, that I am not going to to a catch up piece, because that would almost take up toooo much time.  So we are going to start fresh.

Today at work we had Mass in our small chapel and I was transported back to Spain for World Youth Day almost two years ago.  This was my first big trip without my family, and it was across the ocean and I really didn't have contact with them other than the three times I blogged while on my trip and they had commented on the blog. And even though I was traveling with the Diocese, none of my close friends went, so it wasn't like any normal trip I had taken before.

The church we went to and what it looked on the outside - would you guess it was a church?

To say the least, I felt like I was a bit cut off from everyone. We traveled to Lourdes (which was amazing) and by the time that we got into Madrid a bit of home-sickness come on.  It was one of the first days there and I was having a bit of an off morning, not feeling like talking and interacting.  We had gone to this church in Madrid for English speakers and had a talk and then Mass.

One it was hot, two no air conditioning, and three we were in the loft area.... I was just trying to stay in my own little bubble.

Second level can be seen on the right

I was stuck....

But then came the point in the Mass that we said (one of the points that was changed in the new translation...) "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you but only say the word and i shall be healed." I was taken home and I felt like I was getting a big hug and that even though I was far away from everyone, I wasn't alone and they were right there with me.  I was across the ocean and we were able to hear the same Mass.

Even when we say the new part: "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed."  I am taken back to that moment, when I remembered that I wasn't alone then, and I can never really ever be alone.  

There is comfort in that :-)

One Year Ago

One year ago.... well one year ago I decided to take a jump off of the Grand Canyon of my life and I am so glad that i chose and followed that path.  Because my life now would not be the same if I didn't jump.

One year ago I went on my first date with Travis :-)  Leading up to that I had to make some choices, and I had to let go of some things that were holding me back.  But I jumped and my parachute opened. One year ago I thought that I was just lucky enough to go an a date with a great guy from school. Well, granted I didn't believe that it was a date and it took my younger sister to convince me that it was a date.

I became open to the possibility that God was going to work through me life, and He was going to lead me down the path that I should take.  Every day I feel so blessed that I am traveling this path in my life!  This past year wouldn't have been the same if it wasn't for the friendship and love Travis has shown me.

I thank God for every moment, and while the past is a great story.  I will always look forward to tomorrow!

The Final Moments

Have you ever been to a midnight showing of the last film of a trilogy or a series?  Have you ever bought the last book of the series that you have been reading for years?  The lead up to the last scene, the last moment is what we have been waiting for. But, when it gets there, you realize that you didn't think that it would ever come to an end.

That is how this week has been feeling for me, and I have been associating it with when I read the last Harry Potter book and when I saw the last movie.  It was the end of something that had been a part of your life for so long that you never thought that it would come to an end.

This coming Friday is my last day at the job that I have had for almost 4 years, and even though I knew that this day would come, I didn't think that it would come.  I know that sounds stupid, but, when you are somewhere for so long and you know that you are only going to be there as long as you are in college, you sometimes don't connect the two timelines together.

It is an end of an era. I thought that I was ready to say goodbye to the people that I have worked beside for 4 years.  But when I had to start doing that this past Saturday, I felt a ting of sadness. I'm read to move on, don't get me wrong, the unknown frontier is an exciting place to look at.  But it is the people that I am going to miss.  I cherish all of the moments that I have had, but it is time to move on.

God is the writer of my story.  But I can't stay stagnate, I have to keep moving, I just have to listen, to pray for his guidance on where to go to next.  He knows, I just have to let myself go and give it all up to Him.  God is great and I am just his hands and feet on this earth.

Not my will, but His be done.

question for the day

So today I was trying to organize my scrapbook stuff and I was going through my old planners.  One one of the days I have this written on it: What would you do if you weren't afraid?

This was written over a year and a half ago, and I think that it is always a great thing to ask yourself. But what is really holding us back from what we want to do with our lives?  Fear is usually what we hold back, we just need to remember that we should not let fear hold us back.

So just remember don't let fear hold us back.  So you would never have to ask yourself what would have you done, if something wasn't holding us back.

Coming to an end

Do you ever just have one of those days were every thing seems to be coming to a end or very soon? You realize how fast this world goes and it doesn't slow down.  We can pretend that time is standing still and everything is perfect, but when reality hits you, it hits you hard.

My whole lifetime I have gone to the same church, I had my Baptism there, first Reconciliation, First Communion, and it was all a part of me.  Today I was sitting in Mass and it came to the realization that after today I am going to be a parishioner at another church.  Up to today I thought that I was really excited to be changing, but then looking around during Mass I realized how much I am going to miss and how many memories (good and bad) I have in that church.  Growing up I always thought that I was going to get married in this church that I grew up in, now I don't feel like it is my home, but today I realized how much I had expected that to happen. Yes sorry I am ranting about nothing really.  Because when I start going to the other church I am going to feel at home there I know, because I already do.  Sometimes it is just harder to say goodbye than you thought it was going to be.

Then I realize that in 7 months I am going to be graduating from college! I know that sounds exciting, but I realized how scary that can be. Everything that has become a part of me in these last three years, will soon not always be there.  I have to be able to let go and trust in God that he will find the right people to lead the groups that I am leaving, and trust that I will be able to find a job in this town of mine.

So often when I tell people at work that I am going to be in marketing they usually say something about how I will be able to find a job if I am just willing to move away. The thing is that I don't want to move away, because what and who I love in in this town or near it.  I guess that you would say that if I had to choose I would pick Love over a job.  Because Love never fails.

Well that is my ranting for the day.  Sorry you got to this part of the post, and realized that there was nothing really important to read today.

So until next time, let go and just let God :-)