New Years

2011 ROCKED.

Last New Year's Eve, I decided to take a spontaneous trip.  I flew to Philadelphia for less than 24 hours to surprise my best friends.  The surprise worked perfectly, we had a fantastic time, and I was exactly where I wanted to be.

While I was in Philly, my sister and her best friend and their husbands were in Louisiana talking about their younger siblings who were both post-break up and had similar tastes in movies and political views and how great they would be together.  Within a couple weeks, Philip and I were talking on the phone daily.  By the end of January I was taking my second spontaneous trip of 2011 and flying to Oklahoma to meet him.  In June we were engaged and in 2 and a half months we'll be married.  And to think, this time last year, I barely even knew he existed.

Courtesy of Richardson Fry Photography

In May, I watched my roommate get married to the guy I watched her fall in love with when we were in college.  I got to see a bunch of college friends and cry at how beautiful and happy my awesome friend looked while marrying her best friend.

In June, as you all know, I had my first real surgery.  After 2 visits to Nashville for testing (not including the testing done in Louisiana), I was deemed healthy enough to donate my kidney to sweet Bobbette.  When I was going through the process of being tested, I think people thought I wasn't thinking too clearly about the huge decision I was making.  Now that I'm 6 months out of it, I think they were right.  I don't think I realized the gravity of how HUGE it is to donate an organ to a stranger.  Not that I regret any of it, because I ABSOLUTELY do not.  I just don't think I could have understood it, not having gone through it.  I feel this connection to someone who I've only met once that I could never explain to anyone else.  And I would do it all over again if I could.

In October I moved to Oklahoma, after 2 years in Louisiana.  I made some really awesome friends in Slidell, who I miss every day and I had a fantastic church family.  I'm really excited about my life in Oklahoma and all the things that will happen here, but I really look back on my time in Louisiana fondly.  I learned a lot and met a lot of amazing people.

In November, I walked another 60 miles towards a cure for breast cancer, and raised another $2,300.  This year I walked with one kidney, my sister walked pregnant, my dad walked for the first time, and my sister's sister-in-law walked for the first time.  We had an amazing experience.  And I will be walking again next year.  And I will be raising another $2,300.  And Philip will be walking for the first time.  Want to be a part of that part of 2012 for me by donating to this awesome cause?  Click here.

In December I celebrated Christmas with my soon-to-be in-laws.  The Boone's love Christmas, and as someone who usually spends the holiday wishing it was over, I actually enjoyed being with the family.  I'm marrying into a fantastic group of people and I love living near them and I look forward to spending more holidays with them.

The best part of this picture (in my opinion) is little Natalie peeking out from behind Philip's grandmother.  Natalie is not a part of the Boone family, but will be one of our flower girls in March!

2011 had a lot of changes.  A lot of scary things happened.  Big moves, job changes, surgery, car accidents, etc.  But a lot of awesome things happened.  New beginnings, engagements, successful surgeries, wedding plans, etc.

I have no idea what 2012 will hold.  As of right now, I know that I will be getting a new niece or nephew (any day now!), and I know that I will be getting married.  I hope to go back to school.  I hope to see lots of friends from out of state.  I hope to have a lot of awesome adventures as a newlywed.  I hope to spend a lot of time with a new baby.

Most of all, as awesome as 2011 was, I REALLY hope 2012 is a little calmer.