2009 in review...
What a year its been. A lot of "I'll never do..." has actually occured. I never thought I'd end up where I'm at, doing what I"m doing, but life has turned out better than I could have ever picked for myself. It's been a pretty good year.

2010 promises to be an even better year.
I'm going to continue to get a handle on our financial picture and keep paying off debt. I'm happy to report that the end of 2009 found me writing 2 checks (or actually online paying) to completely pay off almost $1500 in debt at one time. WooHoo! I'm going to be more transparent in our debt recovery process. I'm going to actually post more often, especially to have better accountability with our debt recovery efforts. We've both pledged to become more active in our church here, not just going every Sunday (except when I'm on call - it doesn't work out for me) but do more to be involved and study deeper. We want to live more simply and not be so rushed (that's mostly me, crazy job I have). Play more games together and watch less TV.

What about you? What are you going to do with 2010?

Its been a month since I last posted. Oops! December has been over the top-absolutely overwhelming-exhausting-full of guests-tons of fun! A quick synopsis of everything.

- LAS VEGAS! But only for 5 days (6 nights), but there was Cowboy Christmas shopping, NFR rodeo, AAEP Convention, the boyfriend, my friends, his friends, piano bars, cowboys, "slushies", Ricky and the RedStripes, fancy dinners by a pharmaceutical company, and very little sleep. My work had an office pool if we were going to get married while we were out there or not. For the record, it was a not (my parents couldn't make it and I won't get married without my family)

- Came back in time to be on call and get the stomach flu/bug/virus/projective vomiting mess that's going around central Texas. (Sorry if that's TMI).

- My parents came to help put up my Christmas tree and last minute decorating/cleaning/cooking (the week before Christmas - Thanks mom and dad!)

-Christmas with me, mom, dad, brother, brother's girlfriend, grandma, boyfriends brother, his wife and their son. So much fun, family, food, presents, love, card games and dominos.

- My family left and his stayed for a week. They left this morning :(. Lots of staying up late playing card games and cooking and talking and laughing. I wish they didn't live so far away in Idaho, or we could visit more than twice yearly. Boyfriend misses his family terribly.

- Off today, on call tomorrow for New Years.

-December has been a whirlwind and I'm kind of ready for it to end and ready to begin fresh with 2010 tomorrow. Today's agenda is running errands, cleaning and relaxing before tomorrow.

Coming Next: A reflection of 2009 and a look forward to 2010 (I promise before 2010 actually occurs)

Really Houston Intercontinental airport? Really? Houston gets 1/2 an inch of snow in an 8 hour period of time and you aren't "prepared" so you have to cancel flights for 2 days!??! Really?

My flight from AUSTIN tomorrow was cancelled due to HOUSTON getting snow today. ahem Continental ahem. I now have to buy another ticket for $100 more on an airline that isn't afraid to fly out of a different city the day after it snows.

Got to get to Vegas. Got to get to Vegas.

This pup, my 9 month old Australian Shepherd dog, "Eli" was hit by a car on Monday. Or rather, more correctly he was hit by 3 cars before someone stopped to help him. A nice man from a local plumbing company stopped his van to block traffic so he could run get me neighbor and move him off the road. They called me at work and I ran home and got him, to bring him back to check him over. Other than banging his head/nose up pretty severely and whole body soreness, he is ok. Today, he's back to normal. I thank God for small miracles.




My boyfriend takes me on a biweekly date to Nami's, a hibachi grill and steakhouse. We've taken my parents twice, my brother and his girlfriend and some recently visiting friends. A recent picture of the 2 of us...



We went to my parents house for Thanksgiving. Lots of food and relaxing.. Plus my mom helped me make some basket testers for my Scentsy since I haven't had much time. Several parties open right now, hopefully a good first month before Christmas. (Sorry no pics)

Finally the boy left this morning driving to Las Vegas. I will fly in on Saturday morning at 8:30 am, just in time for a full day of shopping at Cowboy Christmas. Also on the agenda is the Finals, AAEP Convention, more Finals, lots of good friends in town, Cowboy Christmas, Las Vegas, a John Wayne chaplain?, Trade show and fun! Pictures to come next week!

The cold snap has finally hit Central Texas. It was in the 40's this morning when I left the house to go to work at 7:45. It feels like November, finally. The next few weeks are going to be a whirlwind (I hope!) Some upcoming events...

~ First Scentsy party this weekend... several parties coming up and plans for several basket parties, all before Christmas, you know, for presents. Scentsy is my newest business adventure, besides my regular work.
~ Thanksgiving in Houston at my parents house :) I love all the food and cooking. Did I mention the food?
~ On call the weekend after Thanksgiving :(
~ The Pioneer Woman cookbook signing in Austin. Have I mentioned I totally want to be like her when I grow up. Red hair and all.
~ December 5th - Las Vegas baby.. The AAEP meeting happens to coincide with NFR. I'm flying up at a super early time a day eary for shopping at Cowboy Christmas.
~ Did I mention Las Vegas?? for a whole week?? During the finals???
~ A few more Scentsy parties.
~ Christmas - the boy's family is coming and my family is coming all to my little home here in Central Texas. We'll have a house full and I'm so excited. More.Food!
~ On call New Year's Eve :(

Whew! Going to be busy around here for the next few weeks with all the cooking and cleaning and packing (VEGAS!) and bed-rearranging.
~

I am now a Scentsy Consultant and am very excited for the new possibilities this presents. If you are interested in getting a monthly email from me, hosting a party or a basket party or have any questions, please let me know.

www.jenngrimes.scentsy.us

Thanks Gem for helping me get signed up!

Pretty perfect weekend...

- No work on Saturday (1st day off in 3 weeks)
- Mom & Dad came up so we could all go meet Grandma in Comache for lunch
- Grandma loved the boy - lots of fun pictures
- Clean house
- Almost completed laundry
- Critical patient (that was my 1st time all by myself small intestine anastamosis) - surviving and doing really well (back on food & water & going home tomorrow)
- cloudy/rainy weather
- hot chai tea + pumpkin cake + movie time
- Tex-Mex/Fajita roast in the crock pot
- Yeast rolls rising on the counter
- dogs laying at my feet (quietly!)