sorry I'm not sorry

Hello world!  After a month of silence I'm back to update my cyber diary only to promise what will most likely be another month of silence.  I keep wondering if I'm going to regret this weakly documented year of mine & Karl's lives but after much deliberation the answer I've come up with is a resounding no.  To put it plainly, this year just kind of sucks and I will never forget it, I don't really need a biweekly post to remind me of that.  And quite frankly, I can't think of a single one of my loyal readers who would enjoy logging on every other day to read my complaints of married life, being a boomerang child, without Karl, without my own house/kitchen/decorative freedom/icouldgoonbutiwillspareyou/etc.

moving right along...Christmas was wonderful, however, it didn't feel like Christmas at all.  Just a nice family gathering + good food.  Karl wasn't there, Pa wasn't there, we are still figuring out what it's like to have 3 sets of in-laws to share sisters and brothers-in-law with, cousins + aunts/uncles were missing... basically it was just a wonderful time to focus on The Lord because that was about the only thing consistent that this holiday season provided... and praise God for that, because I have been doing/noticing a lot of that as of late- really REALLY noticing and feeling and experiencing that He is the only constant that can be counted on, the only unchanging, permanent, faithful, who will not fail me.  I'm not trying to be crypic--- here Karl & I are in a season where he has absolutely no control over his absence and inability to be here physically and provide for me in the ways that I want & need- what an experience and lesson this has been in relying solely on The Lord.  By the way, I wouldn't recommend this particular curriculum to anyone. 

Anyways, the past month has been CRAZY!  I have loved every second of the busyness- it definitely helps me cope with Karl's absence better.  Maddie & Matt's wedding was gorgeous and took up every second of my spare time for all of November & December.  I'm glad it's over because it was stressful, however, I did enjoy giving them the gift of planning, doing that with my mom and sisters, and seeing it all come together- it was a blast!!  They both looked gorgeous and it was just awesome!  I can't wait to get the professional photo and video back- I'll definitely post more about the big day when I have those.  Having my cousins and family in town as well as The Johns' was basically heaven- Maddie & Matt's wedding would literally have not been possible without them & some other heavenly help.  Dream.Team.

After Maddie's wedding weekend I kept Lincoln & John's biggest boy, Valin, for a few days while Lincoln got caught up on some rest & house things and then drove Valin back to Little Rock at the end of the week since I was already headed that way to return wedding things that we borrowed from The Riggans!  I spent 2 days in Little Rock with The Harris' and it was so nice and relaxing!  Just what I needed after the wedding, loved every second of it and cannot wait to zip on back up there and do it again!  I tell you what, I just don't know what kind of awful it would be like to have been raised without a close relationship with my cousins.  Being able to call upon them for help, having confidence that you will know their children like you know them, and looking forward to seeing them is the best thing.

As of late, I have moved into my parents house and out of Callie & Jeremy's as they prepare for the arrival of Oliver!  They hastily kicked me out last week.  I kid, I kid.  I willingly left to give them some time as their family of 2 before the big guy makes his debut.  Life at Amy & Paul's is grand- this new house has so much space & privacy... it will be hellish interesting when the renovations start, which could be literally any day now.  Work is good- I had a full day of training yesterday alongside every staff member of the @rlington/Mansfield Pregnancy Centers- we are changing our model of care and I am SO STINKING EXCITED about it!  I will start my new position as soon as I am back from...

VISITING KARL IN KOREA!  I leave the second week of February and will be there for a little over 2 weeks!  He was able to secure a few days of leave so we will get to travel and explore the country together!  I absolutely cannot wait and have had so much fun thinking about everything that we will get to do while I'm there!  We will get to celebrate Valentines together, our 1 1/2 year anniversary, go on as many dates as days I'm there, I'll get to cook for him, do his laundry, clean- it will be the most semi-normal our lives have been in 5 months.  I can.not.wait.  Like, my mind is absolutely consumed with thoughts of my arrival, days there, everything.  Basically it all looks like scenes from a very wonderful movie.  And most importantly, I have been heavily focused on what I'll wear each day.  Obviously.  

Well, I'll probably post a month from now, or maybe I can talk Karl into a guest post while I'm in Korea!  However I make no promises these days.  I'll likely be a super uplifting person to be around following my trip, youuuu know, when my next countdown to seeing Karl becomes 4 months... and then another 4 months.  longest year everrrrrrr.

Love,

Debbie