Dynasty Living: Arkansas

Everyone is saying they can't believe 2013 is over. I'm here to say I can believe it. This has been a long year with tons of changes and busyness and while I don't think 2014 will slow down, I am looking forward to it!

Since I failed miserably at blogging this entire year, I thought a recap was fitting! And in my rage towards social media making everyone's lives look like square-sized pieces of perfection, I'm including highs AND lows from the past twelve months. You're welcome. Here it goes...

January high: Discovering gold foiling// settling into our apartment and getting to enjoy crafting, decorating, DIYs, and cooking in MY OWN HOME for the first time in 15ish months!

January low: Missing Lucy's newborn days. Tears were shed over family separation this month

February high: Karl's Valentine's Day card// Trip to Sedona with Karl & the unexpected beautiful snow we got to enjoy there!// Beginning BSF for the first time- life changer!

February low: Karl worked nights this month. I never write about this for safety reasons but now that this chapter is good and gone and shut I will say him being on nights was THE WORST! And he was probably on nights for the first 8 months of our marriage and then again when we lived in Phoenix. Scary, lonely, boring.

March high: Our first visitors in Phoenix- The Bailey Family! Oliver also walked for the first time while they were here!

March low: The Bailey Family leaving// missing oliver's first birthday party

April high: The Bowen's visit and getting to keep Lucy by myself for 3 whole days!

April low: The Bowen's leaving and realizing that I still had several long months ahead before the big move and missing these people.

May high: My parent's visit to Phoenix.. there is NOTHING like knowing your mom & dad are sleeping under the same roof as you.

May low: Being diagnosed with 10 food allergies- life changer.

June high: Girls trip to Kansas City for sweet Emily's wedding!

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June low: Karl's work schedule stunk// reaching my boiling point with the LOUDEST upstairs neighbors ever. Like ever ever.

July high: Celebrating July 4th in Colorado with Karl, my parents, & Gammy!// seeing rain for the first time in 9 months// getting to meet a new friend (read: our only friends) in Phoenix at Karl's work softball games. So fun getting to watch him play!

July low: Celebrating my birthday without my whole family. Real life: I was a big baby and managed to make the day super lame. There is no picture that can adequately convey the lameness.

August high: Finn's birth and Karl getting to be here for it// Celebrating our 3rd anniversary

August low: Leaving this new baby in Texas for our last month in Phoenix.

September high: Belated Anniversary trip to San Diego with Karl// Moving home and getting to start being a part of so many fun family things!

September low: Our departure from the Air Force was definitely bittersweet. I had some major sad moments about the Air Force perks we were leaving and thinking about all we had been through because of the Air Force.

October high:Visiting Emma in Fayetteville// Watching sweet Susanna get married and being reunited with best friends// Getting a 2nd opinion on my food allergies and having my list of 10 foods to avoid whittled down to 3!

October low: The government shutdown and the major inconveniences and stress it caused as we were trying to transition out of the military. Thanks for nothing, Obama.

November high: Both Karl & I started working here in Arlington- me at a job I reluctantly left in 2012 when we moved and Karl at a job he was so excited to start and has since grown a love for!// Also Karl got to start growing out his beard (which we both love, however, someone likes it longer than someone else thinks is socially acceptable...)// My dad went and picked up our new family member- Stanley the goldendoodle!// I hosted a party for Karl to celebrate his military service! It was such a joy to be surrounded by friends and family and get to all love on Karl and celebrate him!// We got to be home for Thanksgiving!

November low: Karl cutting his finger BIG time on hedge clippers the day of his party// Losing our military insurance. Real life insurance stinks and our bank accounts are sad about the loss of free healthcare.

December high: Praying through the advent of Christ// Celebrating Christmas with a deeper understanding of His coming// Getting to celebrate Lucy Mae's 1st birthday// getting my first manicure and pedicure in like, 6 months.

December low: My favorite local lunch spot in Arlington closing its doors- Boo Boo's- I'm going to miss you.

I feel SO glad that my lows aren't really very low at all. I'm thankful for a year that really hasn't had many trials, that has been full of health and wellness and life!

Some of my goals for 2014:
-I am excited to keep learning and growing in Christ! I love BSF and praise God for the hunger and thirst He sustains in me for Him!
-I am excited to grow in my work and job at The Arlington Pregn@ncy Center with new job opportunities!
-I hope for Karl & I to be homeowners this year and we look forward to a BIG fat renovation in our near future :) Although if this doesn't happen until 2015, I totally trust God's timing and am willing to be patient.
-I want to be intentional about making new friends and maintaining the wonderful friendships I already have
-I want to be intentional about making things happen that are important to me! This year I want to learn modern calligraphy and try out watercoloring!
-I want us to plant our feet in a church home and develop community for the first time since we have been married.
-I'm looking forward to watching Karl succeed in school and do things he enjoys like sports and woodworking and grilling- all things that have been hard to do the past few years and in an apartment!

A trip or vacation would be an excellent addition to our year but mostly we are full speed ahead on saving for a house, spending time with family, and trying to prioritize in life what matters most!

I have been loving this passage lately from Matthew-
"Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and in me, your souls will find rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
So this is what I'm praying is at the forefront of my mind this coming year- just coming to Jesus and allowing Him to shoulder my burdens and worries!

Happy New Year!
Hannah K.C. Burton

After a couple-day blogging dry spell while the stomach flu destroyed me, I'm back to post about happy things while taking a few breaks to tend to Karl who is currently being eaten alive by said flu. Awesome. Just trying to strengthen our immune systems before Lucy comes :)

Here is a picture heavy post for you :) ... University of Arkansas Family Weekend is a maj Cuppett Family tradition! It obviously began my freshman year with all 5 of my family members making the trek in the 'burban up to Fayetteville, eventually adding Karl to the mix my Sophomore/Junior/Senior years.

This year is Emma's freshman year and we had all been looking forward to Family Weekend literally since she decided to go to UofA last spring! We always all have such a blast!!! This year instead of having 7 peeps there would be almost 12, you know, the 'almost' being Lucy. Obviously. The real family weekend happened on a weekend with a major scheduling conflict, so we created our own and it happened to coincide with Karl coming home from Korea and Homecoming- win!

Unfortunately Jeremy had to leave early for work so we really missed him for half of the weekend but we tried to soak it up for the time he was there. It was so crazy how different {yet equally fun} it was this year and will continue to be while Emma is a student. Having babies and husbands up there was different than years prior- we went from 1 hotel suite to 4, 1 car to 3, packed a stroller, picked activities with nap time in mind... the weekend was an absolute blast despite the change!! We went to the game, had every meal together, shopped and ate locally, went to a corn maze and saw tiny little piglets, and just had so much fun all together. Having everyone together is really rare with Karl's deployment/Emma at school/me & Karl here now. I am so thankful for this weekend and feel blessed by it! Praise God for these sweet times!!