Merry Christmas! part 2

We drove back to Kansas City this morning after a wonderful & crazy holiday weekend with my family.  I'm feeling a little bummed that all the holiday festivities are over, but am keeping my decorations up until the Epiphany on January 6th...or spring, whichever is more convenient. :)  I love the glow our Christmas tree casts over the living room at night when none of the other lights are on...will be sad to put it away & deal with the dreariness of winter!

On Thursday night we had a low-key dinner with Jeremy's dad, exchanged gifts, and even got to play a little Wii Mariokart.  It was a lot of fun & very relaxing.  After they went home, Jeremy & I had our own gift exchange, enjoyed a little more peace & quiet, and then headed to bed.  It had started sleeting early in the afternoon, changed over to snow around dinner time, and when we woke up i checked the weather & found this:

Blizzard!?!  Uhh...this is Missouri right? Gah!  And we're supposed to drive to St. Louis!!  There was about 6-8" of snow on the ground, and all reports said it was too treacherous to drive.  I was so bummed!  After doing a little more research, we decided that we'd plan to get on the road around noon, since reports indicated the storm would be tapering off & MODOT would have been able to get some of the snow cleared.  Four hours later we were pulling into my parents' drive, so all in all not too bad.

The rest of the weekend was spent visiting with family almost nonstop, and I just loved it.  We played lots of games, ate good food (I was even responsible & didnt STUFF myself!) and just generally enjoyed having everyone together.  I am grateful to be blessed with such kind & loving and FUN family members! (check out the photos below of my nephew Colin & Uncle Dennis - following an all-out nerf-gun war at the Emge Christmas Extravaganza!) 

Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas!!  It's a a little early, but since I have a rare bit of spare time, I thought I would turn the crank & get the blog rolling again, and at the same time do our first Christmas letter as a married couple.

Source

  So, 2009...what a year!  We started the year by sending out save the dates for our upcoming wedding.  Christmas Eve 2008 marked the one year anniversary of Jeremy's marriage proposal, and with the wedding date set at April 25, 09, only four short months remained.  Every time I think about the night Jeremy proposed I just get butterflies!  We spent Christmas Eve together, just the two of us, and it was the kind of night you read about, or see in the movies.  After dinner we were enjoying a quiet moment taking in the view of the Kansas City Plaza from our room on the 10th floor of the Intercontinental Hotel - softly falling snow, beautiful lights outlining the buildings - so picturesque and touching.  A magical Christmas Eve night.  I think I might be the only one who noticed all that though, because Jeremy was so nervous!  All at once, I realized he was getting down on one knee and asking me to spend my life with him. He worked so hard to plan the evening, and make it memorable, and it turned out perfectly.






Fast forward a year - we were getting ready to kick the wedding planning into high gear!  The next four months leading up to the wedding in April were a blur!  We tied the knot on Saturday April 25th, and the following Monday left for a week of sun & relaxation in St. Lucia.  Bliss!  Since then it's been all downhill.  Kidding!  Each day I am thankful for the companion I've found in Jeremy & look forward to all the adventures & challenges yet to come for us.

Aside from the wedding - which, my goodness...everything else this year pales in its shadow! (and rightfully so!)  So...yeah, that thing called life?

Well, a year ago, aside from getting ready to send out save the dates, we also made the decision for me to return to school in preparation for eventual enrollment in nursing school.  This was a big decision and a leap of faith for both of us, since it entails a pretty big change of career for me.  The first step: complete prerequisites at the local community college.  I enrolled in Chemistry and managed to eke out an A, but was so busy with wedding planning I don't think I remember much from that semester!  I took Nutrition online during the summer session, and in the fall completed Anatomy & Physiology.  Whew!  That last class was killer...four days of lecture a week, two of them with a lab after.  Still, the material was fascinating, and Jeremy got the benefit of my newfound knowledge each  night as he picked me up from class.  Most nights I was so excited with what I learned I managed to regurgitate a 50 minute lecture into the 5 minute drive home. :)  Talk about cliff notes!  In any case, with each class that passes I am more excited at the prospect of this new calling!  Now to just get into a nursing program.






Over the summer I took golf lessons, something I had been wanting to do for a long time.  I played a few full rounds with Jeremy at local courses, and played 9 holes with mom once in St. Peters, and in all cases really enjoyed being out in the nice weather & get some fresh air & exercise at the same time.  Jeremy has played golf since he was in high school, and it really is amazing how much we enjoy sharing this hobby.  Now if I can just convince him how much fun it would be to take dancing lessons!!







Between school, Jeremy's fishing expeditions in the spring, golf in the spring/summer/fall and the wedding, we have had a very full year full of growth, fun and adventure.  Factor in our periodic trips to O'Fallon & Springfield to see family & friends, and you can see we lead a life that is constantly on the go.

In all that has come about in the last year, one thing has become crystal clear.  We lead a life full of blessings, and recognize that without our Savior none of it would be possible.  May the celebration of His birth and the Christmas season stay with you all through the coming year.  Please know that we think of you often & hope you are well.

Love & hugs,
Jeremy & Katie