New Year, New Blog, New Life

So this is the beginning, okay technically the middle of my life... but it seems NEW. Being married at the beginning of a new year is like starting over.  I decided that's okay.  It means I can do some things differently this year.  So I guess you could say I'm making a few resolutions promises pacts "goals".  I know that most people don't keep their resolutions, but that's why I'm calling them "goals".  I really don't want to feel defeated if I don't accomplish each and every one of them every day.  But I want them to be overall themes, projects, attitudes for the next year. So here we go:

• Make church and Christian fellowship a priority
• William and I started the new year out right by starting our search for a new church home.  Since we would like to stay in Dallas, we obviously won't be able to go to Tallowood much.  This mean we have to find somewhere that fits us in Dallas.  Our requirements are close to home, good pastor, newlywed sunday school class, and places to give back (think youth group, volunteer and mission opportunities). We visited Wilshire Baptist Church this morning.  We liked it for the most part but we will see how it compares later in the process. 
• Cooking
• Most people know I don't really know how to cook.  And what I do cook I generally excel at fail miserably at. So basically I'm going to start trying to learn.  I'm planning on cooking something new around 2 to 3 nights a week.  Hopefully William will appreciate my attempts... even if they lead to a few burnt meals small fires. 
• Make healthy decisions
• I know, I know... it's a lame "goal".  It's everyone's goal right? But I guess I really need to start taking this seriously.  I feel like everyday my clock starts ticking a little faster.  I've learned that each visit to my doctor tends to bring bad news. Most recently I was told I have beta 1 glycoprotein 2 antibodies in my blood.  These are related to your bloods coagulating agents.  I'm apparently quite susceptible to blood clots. Anyways, long story short, I need to get in shape. You never know what could happen tomorrow... and if I got a blood clot, I can bet recovery (if I got that chance) would be way worse if I was overweight. 
• Give back
• This goes right with the church thing.  I've been blessed my entire life by mentors in my church families that really affected who I am today. I really hope that I can have that affect on someone else. So I'm going to get plugged in. I refuse to be a bottom in a pew each week.  I have more to give than that. 
• Try to control my temper and impatience Be nice
• It has been pointed out to me by my husband (directly) and by some friends (indirectly) that I can be mean.  It's funny because I don't think I'm a mean person. I do however have very high expectations for other people.  Which I guess leads me to be a little grouchy when they don't meet up with them. So I'm going to practice some patience and compassion.  I mean if I can do it with my clients, then why not with my peers, friends, husband and strangers?
• Last but not least.... Blog!
• I LIKE blogging. I just forget to. That or I think my life is too lame to read about. Which it probably is. So anyways, even if only my mom and dad ever read this (and it gets emailed to them) I'm going to try to blog every day. If you stop by, leave a comment! Please! I'm begging you! Moral support is fabulous! Maybe Mom and Dad can even make it to my REAL site and see my beautiful new layout! 

So did you make any "goals" this new year?  I'd love to hear about them... maybe we can keep each other accountable!

2009: In a nutshell!

Well 2009 was a very eventful year! Here is a recap!

In January I started graduate school at UTDallas. I began my first practicum experience in the Early CLASS program where I worked one on one with a child with autism. My first week of school in Dallas it snowed... then froze. Two day of school were canceled but oh well!

I hung out a TON with my cousin Megan and her family... Look at how tiny Colin was when I first moved up to Dallas.

In February Megan's son Hayden turned 4 and Colton (my younger brother) and I helped Megan run his rodeo birthday party. It was quite exciting.

I also drove to Waco for Big Sister Reveal for my sorority. My little got TWINS! I love these girls and while I don't talk to them a ton... I think about them often!

In March, William and I were lucky enough to have the same spring break. We did some heavy duty wedding planning and also went to the Rodeo TWICE! We LOVE the RODEO! Hopefully in the future we can be on Rodeo committees and help my dad with the Rodeo cook-off!

William also turned 22 on March 25. We had to celebrate his birthday apart this year, but I called and ordered a bunch of pizza for the ChemE's to eat for lunch at school that day.

In April, William dunked his Aggie Ring! It was a great few days celebrating with friends!

I also finished up final for my first semester of graduate school!

May was a GREAT month! William finished his last semester in the Corps. He moved out of the dorms and had his FINAL review! It was bitter sweet watching his last pass across the review field, but it was kinda of exciting to not have to stay for the second pass (in which the corps marched with only 3 classes of cadets). After 4 LONG years in the corps we were ready for it to be over.

I also celebrated my birthday on May 19. My dad threw me a party on the 19th with lots of friends and family. Then, we went out for Fondue a few days later with my mom, brother, grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins! It was delicious.

My best friend Jonna got married on May 30. We had a ton of fun with them that weekend!

Commissioning

Tonight William commissioned as an officer into the United States Army. He is officially a Second Lieutenant and I'm officially an Army wife. To be honest, this is probably more important to both of us than his graduation, although one cannot exist without the other! We both take very seriously "our" calling to the military. William made this decision when he was a freshman in college and even then we knew it would affect both of us for a good majority of our lives. I take seriously the honor of being a military wife and more specifically an officer's wife. I hope that my education and devotion to my "position" will help me help others who I meet during our time in the military. I love William and I am so proud of everything that he is today. He is a wonderful man and is willing to step in harm's way for our country. Here are a few pictures from the ceremony:

Finally a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army!

The Wedding

So William and I are married. I already have one form of ID that says Peyton Stephens. We got everything moved into our apartment and storage unit in Dallas. It's a little "cozy" as William calls it, but it will be great until we have more definitive plans for our future. So the wedding week was crazy. Tuesday we picked up my dress, Johanna flew in and we had the bachelorette party. Wednesday we picked up William's surprise cake, went to the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, and then went to Armadillo Palace to hang out with some friends. Thursday was more "low key". We had Thanksgiving dinner with my mom and grandparents and then went to hang out with William's family. We went to watch the Uptown tree lighting that night. Friday was a whirlwind. We started at 10am at Sensia and then everything went from there. Here are my favorite pictures!

New Blog Address

We have a new blog address.... I'm not sure how streamline the changing process is, but it is wandpstephens.blogspot.com. I hope everyone is getting excited about Christmas! I'm going to start updating everyone on our married lives. There are lots of exciting things happening right now! William is graduating on Saturday and commissioning into the Army on Friday. Hopefully soon we will hear about his training dates.  He is also still looking for a job and is finally starting to get some interest from some people! Anyways more updates soon!