2013 word in review

thankful
that was my 2013 word of the year
instead of making resolutions
i pick a word and try to focus on that for the year

this year i had a lot to be thankful for
and had to remind myself how thankful i am multiple times

this year something happened in my life i never thought i would have to worry about
i got laid off
but
i'm thankful for a severance
and a husband with a good job
and unemployment
that gave me time to figure out what i wanted to do
and supportive friends that unfortunately went through the same thing
and other supportive friends that would just call to check on me
and professional friends i've met along the way
that led me to the perfect job at the perfect time
that still allows us to live in maine and Texas
and new professional friends i'm making

this year i also had a fairly serious atv accident
but
i'm thankful for a husband that was right behind me
and that duke wasn't hurt
and the people that pulled up right after it happened and helped us get my wheeler up over the hill
and medical insurance from my new job so i could get checked out
and friends and family that were concerned and checked in on me
and very little damage to my wheeler....and me!

i also got to get a few stitches recently
thanks to part of the christmas tree falling on my face from the attic
but
i'm thankful for insurance, yet again
and friends and family that were concerned
and only a small scar
and that it wasn't more serious, like a broken nose, or busted teeth or an eye
and that duke wasn't with me

we also got a flat tire while driving to see my family for christmas
but
i'm thankful for it not making us wreck off the road
and cell phones so we could call for help
and 911 that accepted my call at 11 pm
and a spare tire in the trunk
and the wrecker service that changed the tire for us
and a dealership that recognized they sold us awful tires
that had less than 20,000 miles on them
and worked us a deal

i also turned the dreaded 40 this year
but
i'm thankful for a husband that made it special
by secretly bringing my friends from afar to maine for the weekend
and secretly planning a wine dinner at my favorite spot
and amazing friends that would travel just for my birthday
and local friends that would join the festivities
(i'm getting choked up just thinking about it now)
and amazing neighbors that provided shelter for my birthday visitors
and that i lived to see 40!

we also lost grammy (sean's grandmother)
but
i'm thankful for the time we had with her
and how she took duke and me in
and how much she meant to sean
and took care of him growing up
and the amazing camp she created with her husband that we get to enjoy now
and that she had a long and wonderful life
and that she's in a better place now

duke also got spooked by the fireworks and we couldn't find him for nearly 24 hours
but
i'm thankful for finding him
and a husband and friends that love duke as much as i do
and would be part of the search party - day and night
two friends being at the same place at just the right time
and neighbors that actually talk to each other
and friends that live close, but not too close
so we could take duke to their house during our fireworks show

thankful for having time to put me first and improve my fitness
and gaining a new hobby while doing so
thankful for a friend that had a baby so i could learn and practice some newborn photography
(ok so maybe that's not really why she had him...)
thankful for the few visitors we had at camp this summer
thankful for the means to go on vacation with friends
thankful for a childhood friend making maine her new home so i can see her more
(again, maybe not the real reason...)

and probably most of all
i'm thankful for the strengthened bond that all these trials have given sean and me
i'm looking forward to what 2014 has in store for us!

great ice storm of 2013

texas had an ice storm
which is a big deal
cuz the whole state shuts down
and can't function
but guess what?
my camera can!
so I took the opportunity to get some pictures in remembrance
enjoy!
the birds sure enjoyed the plethora of food sean provided them
while all their other food was covered in ice

a beach thanksgiving

we spent thanksgiving on the beach
to celebrate 10 fabulous years of marriage bliss
for some very special friends
of course we went to our favorite island
st kitts
enjoy!

traditional thanksgiving dinner in an untraditional place

we spent thanksgiving this year in st kitts with some great friends

you can tell a country is americanized

or caters to americans

when they offer a traditional thanksgiving dinner at nearly every restaurant

so we partook!

the food was great

and even gave me inspiration for the appetizer for next year's anniversary wine dinner

but it wasn't my mom's thanksgiving dinner.....

fall in maine

i've never liked fall

it means the end of summer

and the segue into cold winter!

but maybe that's just because i never lived anywhere that really had a fall

until maine

and my whole outlook on fall has changed!

my wish for everyone is that they see maine in the fall in their life

it's truly a spectacular sight!

the BIG birthday month celebration - week 4

day 22 - spent the day trying to recover from the "excitement" of the 4-wheeling trip

day 23 - did some stuff around the house i had been putting off and snuggled on the couch with my honey (cuz he was finally home during the week!)

day 24 - i had something else planned for today but then the honey asked if i wanted to watch a movie and how could i turn down cuddling on the couch during a movie - especially during the week (he's been out of town quite a bit this summer)?!?!

day 25 - i pampered myself with a trip to the salon - it was LONG overdue!!!

day 26 -

day 27 -

day 28 - attended a benefit dinner/auction thing for a friend that was in an atv accident; we even won a sign that our friend made for the raffle!

day 29 -

day 30 -

So you may notice some holes here...
the reality that it's almost time to head back to texas hit
and life got in the way of the birthday month
i know - a total travesty
but instead some of it has spilled over into october

like just yesterday i had a bra party
there's a great home company that sells undergarments
and they're AWESOME
all my texas peeps be ready cuz i'm going to have another one with you guys!

and so concludes the 40th birthday month celebration!

pig roast

we have some friends that recently moved back to maine
from california - talk about a long haul!

we're glad they're closer now though!

apparently they used to have pig roasts every year (pre-me in sean's life)

now that they're back in maine
they decided to start up the tradition again

so we packed up duke (and his ball to play catch with) and headed to western maine
isn't this a gorgeous view?

that's from their bedroom
notice the tree on the right is just starting to turn
oh and there just happened to be a double rainbow one morning

that mountain on the left - mount washington - all the way in new hampshire
here's the pig all done and being served up

after that shot i had to walk away as i started to feel bad for him...
but not bad enough to not have any
he was TASTY!