Hello, 2014!

First orders of business for 2014? Lunch with JAY!
I ran down to pick Sydni up from Dawne's, and then it was off to Applebees to catch up with Jay. We had much to catch up on, and I'm so glad we got to sit down over lunch to spill the updates.

not a bad start to 2014!

Of course, with it being the new year, there's a million "resolutions" I could be making... I think it was last year though that I decided to start refining the definition of resolution, or at least steer away from those annoyingly cliché ones like "go to the gymmmmmm," etc.

This year, I decided I would do some reflecting on where I stood this time last year versus where I am today. I thought that'd be more at least a more realistic metric on which I can base some goals for '14.

So, here we go:

2013

Age: 28
Kid(s): Sydni
Pet(s): Stella
Better Half: Rob... "official" Jan 1!! (:
Where I lived: Belleville, IL
Where I worked: Glen Carbon, IL
What I drove: Nissan Altima
Book I was reading: Hunger Games, Catching Fire
Favorite Song: Rye Whiskey, by the Punch Brothers

What I did NYE 2012/2013: Dinner at Red Lobster with Rob, Tawny & Ryan, Taryn & Kenny, Mike & Kelly and Gary, followed by a relaxing night at Ryan & Tawny's to ring in the new year!

{My} Top 3 Monumental Milestones of 2012:
1. Relationships: The controversial decision to step back from the one and at the time biggest relationship in my life and liberate myself from its crippling effects on both people involved. In 2013, I committed myself to a new, healthy relationship with the man who is now moving to Ohio for me.. for us.
2. Transitions at work, including everything from internal restructuring, a promotion & raise, physical building expansion and redefinition of our goals as a team.
3. My self-collapse. I'm not proud of it, but it happened in 2012 and I spent most of 2013 rebuilding and healing from the implosion that finally overcame me as a result of the things I postponed, the denial I had and the debilitating pride that kept me from asking for the help I needed, when I needed it.

Pop Culture Things I loved about 2012: The Hunger Games theater release, Instagram, Felix Baumgartner's Space Jump, The Fierce Five USA Women's Olympic Gymnastics team, "The Walking Dead,"
Pop Culture Things I'd rather FORGET about 2012: Honey Boo Boo, "YOLO", Gangnam Style and of course that whole Mayan apocolypse that was scheduled for 12/31/12.

{My} Best Accomplishment of 2012: Liberation. It came at a steep cost, a lot of social backlash and an overwhelming amount of stress throughout, but it was entirely. worth. the fight.
Worst Regret of 2012: There were a few select individuals that, during my personal struggles in 2012, I neglected, pushed away and essentially cut out of my life in what I believed at the time to be in their best interest. We are still in the repair process now...
Strongest Resolve for 2013: M E N D. At the end of 2012, I was hanging on by a very thin string to the me that I knew was still in there somewhere. I laid out an action plan that was more general than it was a detailed step-by-step: get back to happy. And I did. BAM.  
Biggest Anticipations of 2013: I had no idea how I'd let my life get so out of control, but I made a resolve to upright my sailboat and get back on the right course. I then had no idea how I would accomplish that, but I decided I would take it day by day, prayer by prayer in faith, and I would somehow make it. I was relocating back to Ohio, switching jobs, and residing within 20 minutes of the one person I wanted to avoid the most at that point. One thing at a time.....

2014

Age: 29
Kid(s): Sydni
Pet(s): Stella & Sasha
Better Half: Rob♥
Where I live: Cincinnati, OH
Where I work: Norwood, OH
What I drive: Subaru Impreza
Book I was reading: Allegiant
Favorite Song: Let Them See You, by the JJ Weeks Band

What I did NYE 2013/2014: Dinner at River's Edge with Rob, Mike & Kelly, Jesse & Anna, then off to STL to the Lumiere to celebrate the final minutes of 2013.

{My} Top 3 Monumental Milestones of 2013:
1. I moved back to Ohio. It wasn't easy, but it served not only to strengthen me in areas I never imagined I could brave, and reminded me that the people in my life are nothing short of extraordinary.
2. Work: I transferred Express offices as part of relocating back to Ohio. With a gap of only the two weekend days, I moved from Edwardsville to Norwood almost seamlessly.
3. My daughter turned 4; now that both her parents are within 20 minutes each other, I know there is now the stability she deserves and the balance of time she deserves is hers. I grew closer once again with my parents and sister, and started healing some of the other relationships that had been damaged in 2012.

Pop Culture Things I loved about 2013: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire theater release,
Pop Culture Things I'd rather FORGET about 2013: Twerking [& Miley Cyrus in general], The Harlem Shake

{My} Best Accomplishment of 2013: Transitioning back to Ohio and all the surviving all that came with it.
Worst Regret of 2013: Not having the facetime I wish I could've consistently throughout the year to see my friends back in Illinois, and to be there to help mend some of the relationships I'd damaged during my self-collapse of 2012.
Strongest Resolve for 2014: Realize my true potential as a mother, a coworker, a Christian and a contributor to the various walks of my life, knowing now that I am strong, confident and always... always learning.
Biggest Anticipations of 2014: Moving [again], this time with the best thing Illinois had to offer - I can't begin to explain how excited I am for my little blended family to be together and start building some stability again! ♥♥♥

*****************************************

^^ That's a small scratch of the surface to the list of ways I've "evolved" in just a year's time. I sometimes like to see that stuff in writing, side by side, because it makes me realize that while it all seemed to blur together for a period of time, it's actually a collection of pretty drastic changes that have catalyzed me from the inside out over the past 12 months. I have regrets, of course, but I'm pleased and proud that they do not outweigh the blessings.

Since I'm not setting fire to the 2014 me with a list of tasks to complete by the time the calendar changes again, I'm content to dedicate this year to improving the quality of the elements I already have. By proxy, I'm hoping that will introduce some new things, people, places and experiences into the mix, but I think I've got it made pretty good right now, and if I can add layers of beauty to what is already present, I'd call that a successful year.

Here's to you, yours and your 2014.
Happy New Year!!

xo | cmd

Happy Birthday, Dad!



my dad. ♥

She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you

There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone, she will be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
- "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman
^That was the song to which I danced with my father at my wedding. I love it because it is my dad and me, and reminds me just how quickly my childhood flew by. Moreso it reminds me of the fact that my father is a remarkable man with a heart of gold and fierce passion to love his family and his friends. I love him so dearly and hope that today is the best birthday yet. Happy birthday, dad! ♥

----
Our pastor is back from vacation, and made with it to bring us a solid message on the parallel between olympian dedication to running the race and our plight to prevail in our own race of life. Very inspiring. Following closely behind the service was lunch at Applebee's with Becky, the kids, and Becky's mom before she headed back out of town. Jimmy, Mo, Jarod, and Julie made for great company, and we had some inevitable moments of laughing fits before we parted ways and I headed home to rest up before volleyball.

Volleyball proved to be more food than play at first; we were celebrating all of the August birthdays and Irene's farewell as she returns to college in a week or so. The perk behind having a barbeque before volleyball: getting home two hours earlier than I would have on a typical vball night when we make our stop at BDubbs after play is over. The weather was beautiful, the friends were awesome, and for a break in the INSANITY routine, it wasn't bad at all.

Not too shabby for a Sunday. Let's see what Monday has in store :)

xo | cmd

Mr. & Mrs. Epperson!

Have I ever told you I love weddings? Well, I do. It's not a secret. Today was one of the many we'll attend this year. It was a blast!

mr. & mrs. dills | purpled

I took off out of work early to head home and get ready; with as many weddings as I've attended, only one other time have I been to one scheduled for a Friday afternoon. I know there are absolute perks to claiming a Friday, so more power to the Eppersons for taking that road.

Oh, and I finally decided to go with the plum-toned Essie polish, for those of you just dying over my final verdict [what? that's none of you? lol.. shocking ;)]. I've gotta hand it to Mr. Dills for doing such a fine job suiting up to complete a matching pair.

We ran into the Lopez clan as soon as we got to the church - complete with little 2-month-old Ava [so daggone cute!!]. Stephanie looks fabulous for being two months out from childbirth, and Ryan as always was his ragged, hilarious self.

steph & cori | mamas!

The ceremony itself commenced promptly at 3pm, and was completed by 3:30. It took us about 20 minutes to decide on Applebee's as our temporary home for the next two and a half hours until the reception began at 6pm. It's been a long time since I had that much fun with a group of folks dressed up for a wedding at an Applebee's on Friday afternoon... oh wait. Haha. Good times; YOLO, right?

a wowing candid of mr. & mrs. epperson!
[[even crying, she looks amazing!!!]]

*Thank you for allowing us to share in this special day with you. We're so excited and wish you the absolute world as you start this next step of your lives... together! ♥

Congratulations to the wonderful couple!

Mr. & Mrs. Brandon Epperson!! 

xo | cmd

Praise Band & Black Lights?

Our senior pastor [well, he is not an actual senior, ha] returns to his dutiful post in the pulpit this upcoming Sunday, so tonight was round 2 of Joe leading us in Wednesday night Bible study. Pretty interesting stuff, focused primarily on answering a wide scope of some of those tough questions:

What does it even mean to really be a Christian? What do I have to do? Why does a so-called loving God send people to hell? In terms of sexual immorality, how far is too far?

It was a pretty good discussion time; I really enjoy the variety of opinion and insight offered tonight by everyone attending. My favorite studies are the ones in which the entire group voices concerns, thoughts, Biblical references, and challenges. Nice topic, pogi :)

Plus, after church, Trish [leader of our praise team] approached me about joining them this Sunday to sing. I'm honored. It's perfect timing; my parents will be in town for my dad's birthday [happy early, dad!], and I know that even though I'm no professional, moms and dads always like to see their kids performing. So, I spent some time after our study catching up on rehearsal tidbits to be prepared for Sunday.

And then, Joe and I joined Jarod for dinner, which was an entirely aberrant experience, for Applebees. Apparently, once a month, the Applebees here hosts a blacklight party, complete with an overdressed linebacker bouncer in sunglasses guarding the front door as if it were the entrance to the White House. Against what was probably our better judgment, we decided to stay. Our table was accompanied by a neon plastic cup filled with those little crackable blacklight glow sticks - you know the ones: they sell them at fireworks and parents reluctantly shell out $3-$6 each for those.

So ha, these buddies were free of charge. 

glow bracelets

Anyway, fast forward to when we're halfway through our dinner: Sydni has torn down two of the neon foam stars hanging from the lamp over the table. She's also activated all the glowsticks and is wearing them on her arms. It's now dark in the room with blacklights glowing all over, which means every stray piece of lint on everyone's clothes is gleaming white, and our server's incandescent attire now makes her look like a highlighter advertisement. To make matters a little more awkward, there's also now a b-list DJ on the 1's-and-2's, making it impossible to hear each other.

I laugh looking back at it:
1. We thought Applebees of all places would be a suitable family environment. Fail.
2. We were officially those people: too old for the crowd, with a baby, hanging out with a bunch of college kids and middle-aged bachelors at a late-night blacklight party at Applebees.
3. It was a blacklight party at Applebees, complete with 1/2-priced jello shots, and we were there specifically for fellowship purposes. *Awkward.

Funny stuff.
So we decided to head back to the house, put Sydni to bed, and introduce Jarod to Monopoly Deal. As it turns out, Jarod too is a recipient of that crappy beginner's luck. Nicely done, Jarod.

Interesting evening, for sure.
Tomorrow I head out or the first time to an auto auction for a check-in with my employees that are driving for it tomorrow. We'll see how that goes. xx.

xo  | cmd