It's A New Dawn

"It's a new day, it's a new life, and I'm feeling good."  A little shout out to Michael Buble!

It is a new year though. 2011 is here and greeted me with open arms. Even though I'm thankful to see another year, 2010 was a great one I have to say.

Let's have a little recap:

NYE with the Watson's
in Gatlinburg

Snow tubing in Gatlinburg

Our first snow of the year

Initiation on the other side

Many UT basketball games

My 1st Knoxville snow

Chi Omega dominating in All Sing
(and winning the ACE Cup later in the year)

"I'm bored... let's go to PuppyZone!"

2010 would not be the same
without Menchies

UT beating #1 Kentucky!

Troy and I going to Chicago
over Spring Break

This defines Spring 2010 perfectly

Probably the funnest mixer ever

Bucketlist-type trip to Charleston

On the way back from Charleston...UT
making it to the Elite 8... go big orange!

FL over Reece's Spring Break...
so tranquil

The infamous Spring formal picture

Dream Connection 2010

Sending Jalen on a Disney Cruise!

Reece's junior prom

Running the Music City Half Marathon
in 2 hours and 8 minutes!

Best support ever

Gallatin Road flooded due to the
Nashville flood

They threw me a surprise party

I spent much of 2010 on this couch, with this girl,
and wearing this sweatshirt

Mom and Dad taking us to PF Changs
for a "see you later" dinner

Abby turned 20 and we decorated

Mom turned 47

Robin came to H'ville

Sara threw me a surprise 20th birthday party

Troy and I celebrated my 20th at J. Alexanders

Troy and I had a date at Love Circle

Dad turned 47

Robin turned 21!

Our family summer vacation in FL

Troy's family summer vacation in FL
the week before

Leslie and I went to Memphis to visit Robin

Troy and I went to Holiday World in Indiana

My last summer to work at Fairvue

The BIG transfer

Troy's football dilemma

UTM, FL, and Bama football games

I (still) went to PeaceLove with Abby

Troy had his surgery

Troy's Papa continues to fight cancer; we
all ran in the Trek and Treat

Troy and I celebrated his 21st, our 7th anniversary, and
he made his decision to go to UT Memphis Pharm School

Reece had and exciting season with newspaper headlines
and scoring up to 28 points in a game

UT played UNC in the Music City Bowl... crazy calls
during the game

The house that built me blanked in white for
a white Christmas!

It truly has been a blessed year. So many blessings that I feel undeserving of. Thank you, Jesus!

As always, with a new year, I tend to think of new resolutions. I feel like nyr's usually have a negative vibe to them... it's always "I'm never going to do this, or I'm going to stop doing this." This year I kinda wanted to have a different take on it and instead of only taking something away, I want to add something into my life this year. My nyr for 2010 is to "subtract" soft drinks and "add" bedtime. I want to try to get in bed at a good time... midnight the latest, at least for the semester of school. I feel like by getting good sleep, I'll be able to be more productive and energetic. We'll see how this goes...

Much like my reminiscing rant with all the pictures above, at the very beginning of the year, I ordered a "family meeting." We sat down and reflected on the year. We talked about our favorite parts of the year. I also got Mom, Dad, and Reece to name off something they want to do in 2011--a mini nyr. After that we prayed for 2011 as a family... for health, guidance, wisdom, to really live out our purpose in Him, with thankful hearts... etc. I loved praying aloud with my family in the humbleness of our living room. Such a precious time.

2011 is going to be an influential year for us, as Reece begins college and I begin my student teaching/teaching experiences. It's so awesome that the specific things we poured out to God... He already has the answers on the way. He had the answers long before we requested them! I am so thankful for that!

"I will not show you what is on the road ahead, but I will thoroughly equip you for the journey."

I look forward to 2011 with a thankful heart, knowing all things are in His hands!