New Year!

I don't celebrate New Years Eve with a list of resolutions. Mostly because I know very few of us ever keep them. I recently read an encouraging article from ??? about a prayer list her family had when she was a child. Long story short they made a giant list and crossed them off one by one as God answered their prayers. I thought making a prayer list for 2011 and watching what God does with the year would be better than resolutions. Here are a few from the list:

1. That Luke and I may grow together in our relationship with God. Truly making it a chord of three strands (Eccl. 4:12)

2. That each of us (literally out there reading) would have the happiest and healthiest year of our lives thus far. 

Ok there are several more, but I don't think they are for public reading. I do sincerely hope that you all have a fantastic and blessed new year!!!

Moving on... Luke's aunt and uncle stopped by to visit this weekend. They are such wonderful people! Guess what Aunt Audrey brought to visit me? Her horse, Phantom. I love horses and Phantom is NO exception. Luke wasn't a huge fan of me kissing the horse, but we just won't tell him about how irresistible those little velvety muzzles are in the future!

Christmas Prep

It is almost Christmas time in my casa. Of course I haven't prepared at all... until today. Tomorrow is one of my favorite days of the entire year. It is the day the company I work for gives presents to the school we sponsor. The kids TOTALLY love it. Completely. This year I wanted to share the love, so I gave presents from Luke... so here you go, honey, these are the gifts you picked (the little boy requested puzzles, super heros, and/or a motorcycle).

and this is how pretty the turned out... I love wrapping:

Those are little reindeer with winter clothes... they're super cute and happy!

I also took this opportunity to throw a few decorations up. I wanted to put up my Christmas tree, but I haven't. Maybe I will this weekend. After all I live alone so I can leave it up as long as I want.

I think these little trees are the bees' knees:

This is the BEST Christmas present I've ever gotten. Seriously. Luke got for me in Europe last year. I've always wanted one and he didn't know it. BEST GIFT EVER....

I made this ornament for next year's Christmas tree. Exciting:

iLove

This is how I spent the last few hours of my evening... do you know why I love this? Obviously I love Coke, that's no secret. I haven't read a book for fun in ages and John Grisham is pretty much my favorite (half way through since I left for Cincinnati - yay!)... but the thing I love here that you can't really tell is...

iOS 4.2 for iPad... oh my goodness gracious. There are 2 things I really wanted for my iPad... the ability to connect to a 3G network (I have the WiFi only iPad) and multi-tasking... iOS 4.2 allows multi-tasking (in other words I can listen to Pandora AND play solitaire) and my new iPhone (a work upgrade) allows tethering (I can plug it into my iPad and use my 3G connection).

I can honestly say this is the most fun I've had without moving a muscle for 2.5 hours.

Life. Is. Good.

(Can't wait for Luke to come home, so it can go from Good to Great!)

So Exciting... Slumby!

A friend I made while at Baylor... well kinda, we were room mates on a study abroad program for part of the trip... just started a new business.

http://slumby.com/

She's an awesome Christian gal with great ideas and the cutest family. Check it out! You can also "like" Slumby on Facebook. =) 

Thankful

It's that time of year again. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It's what I call a "no pressure holiday"... no gifts to buy, just tons of food to eat and 4 straight days of work. It happens during Fall, or we as all know it, The Best Season of the Year. It's also a day where we focus on what we are most grateful for. What a fantastic idea....

• God
• His presence
• His peace
• When you can't articulate what you think or feel, He just gets it... soooo good
• Luke
• Particularly hearing from him everyday
• His sweet little soul - there isn't a square inch, inside or out, of him that isn't wonderful
• Getting to spend my life with my best friend, the person who has taught me so much
• Family
• Friends 
• You are the family God let me choose and I love you so much for it
• Running
• It is my "me time"
• Hot showers / baths / etc
• Really great Bible studies / books / movies
• Nicole C. Mullen CDs
• Coca-Cola 
• The volunteer organizations I've been a part of and the lives that have blessed me from there
• Bamboo Sheets
• super soft and it is an easily renewable resource
• Aprons from Anthropology
• Granola with Raspberry Kefir in the morning
• Cows
• Golden Retrievers
• The Clay Pot restaurant
• USPS Flat Rate Shipping 
• My Blackberry / MacBook / iPad / Shuffle
• mostly the fact that they have Off switches I've learned to use this year!
• New luggage
• Dried Cranberries 
• Sephora Body Wash
• Ojon Hair Care Products 

That's the greatest hits list anyway. There are a lot of other "things" and specific people I am grateful for, but I think "God, those I love and Coke" would pretty much be a good summary. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Animal du Jour

As most of you already know Luke and I went on a cruise in August. I'll post more about that later (lots of nifty pictures and of course dear friends... always a good story).

One of the interesting/fun things Carnival does is fold towels like a different animal every day and leave them in the guests' rooms. I made it my goal to be each animal and have my picture made with it. (You are all still in shock that he proposed aren't you? Maybe what you think is "weird" Luke sees as "lovable")

Enjoy!

Monkey See, Monkey Do

I Always Make My Family Proud

(God has a special place for anyone who claims me)

I don't know what I was doing... but please

note that I did not have the heart to remove the

monkey from the first day. 

THE Engagement Story, Part II

Okay, okay, the long awaited story...

Luke suggested we go to Lake Placid. I agreed. Did I mention we love it there? And this story only makes it that much more dear to me??

So we headed to Lake Placid and stopped at Lake Cranberry for lunch where we took a few photos...

When we got to Lake Placid we decided to go for a hike. We enjoy doing stuff like this, so I didn't think much of it still. First we hiked near a waterfall and took lots of pictures (all of which Luke is always patient for... even when I try to crawl between stairs to get pictures of mushrooms)...

I distinctly remember thinking "man

he is so patient to wait for me to take 

another stupid picture and pretend

to be interested in it when I'm done"

Next we went to some trails near Wilmington... we had a trail map... a color coded one. The kind that tells you the trails level of intensity... which we ignored. Which of course means the intensity level was "strenuous"...

So we set out to hike! We walked and walked and walked and chattered. Still, no clue on my part... then it started to get really steep... then steeper and steeeepppeeerrrrrr and then... I threw up. Seriously. Gross right? But I just have to say, any man who proposes after a girl throws up (twice) really loves her.

Anyway, I'm sure Luke will be thrilled I shared that part, but since when do I keep things from all of you???

So as I'm hoping for the top of the mountain to come soon... a very elderly couple strolls down and tells us "when you get to the .5 mile marker it just goes straight up, but the view is worth it!" While I appreciate their enthusiasm my gastrointestinal system felt a bit mocked. But we pressed on!

Once finally atop the mountain the views were incredible...

Even our feetsies are best buddies

Luke says "lets setup the camera and get a picture" to which I eagerly agree. This picture isn't great but it is the best non-sweaty one I have (or least sweaty perhaps). I look nervous because we are alarmingly close to the edge. ALARMINGLY close to the edge.

I call this one "Unsuspecting Haley"

After the picture was taken Luke gave me a great big hug and just kept hugging me. I thought he was being a little snugglier than usual and thought "awww, he's probably thinking about the deployment and just needs a few extra snuggles" (I am so clueless)

Then he says, wait for it ladies, this is smooth...

Luke "So what are you going to do with all your free time now"
Haley (because we all know she's never serious) "tehe - probably all those things I didn't do this year so I could see you!"
Luke "After that what are you going to do with your free time?"
Haley (furrowing brow) "I don't know - I'm always busy - I'm sure I'll come up with something..."
Luke "What about the free time for the rest of your life"
Haley (utterly confused and still terrified of falling) "uhh what?"
Luke "I want to ask you something"

:: super cute part of the story where Luke gets down on one knee and I shreek "don't make us fall!" ::

Luke "Will you spend the rest of your life with me? Will you marry me?"
Haley "Oh! Whaaaa... Seriousl..... YES! But wait, are you serious?"

:: then he gave me a snuggly hug around the middle and I was still scared of falling so I patted his head ::

Luke "Oh and I have something for you..."

:: Luke pulls a beautiful ring out of the side pocket of his cargo pants ::

Haley "Ohhhh! There's a ring too?"
Luke "Of course there's a ring! I'm not a hack."

(I am NOT making that up... he really said he wasn't a hack!!! I LOVE that part!)

We headed back down the mountain. Here a few snippits of some post-engagement conversations I think you'll enjoy...

Haley "Are you really sure about this? I mean I get that you're a prize but I can really be a pill" (he still said he was sure-- and I asked three times)

Haley "Oh I don't even remember... did I ever actually say 'yes'? Because I meant to"

As you can see this was a fun day for poor Luke. HAHAHAHA... that man really loves me... and I really love that man!