Epilogue

I have a new blog. Here's the link if you're interested: She Learns As She Goes

365

Photo Challenge for December 31st: Celebrate!

Happy New Year! Goodbye, 2011! Goodbye, (365)TwentyEleven!

Hello, 2012! Hello, fresh start! Hello, big dreams!

2011 was a big year. It was our first full year of marriage, I quit my first-ever job that I'd had for almost six years, and I tackled this huge year-long project. Here we are at the end of the year, and I made it! 
You guys know that there have been ups and downs this year, in regards to my health. But I am so encouraged by how far I've come compared to the beginning of the year. I haven't felt this good since before I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease! Praise God for this restoration, and for His provision which allowed me to stay home to focus on my health! I'm so thankful for my husband too, as he helps me stay healthy. I think this is the biggest deal about this year to me. I still have a ways to go, but I feel like I'm finally beginning to figure this health stuff out. 

Not only has my body been restored in tangible and encouraging ways this year, but I've grown in other areas too. Through marriage, I've learned valuable lessons in patience, honesty, and generosity, to name a few. You guys, marriage is hard! True communication doesn't come naturally. But it's totally worth it, because the best thing in the world is to know and to be known by your best friend! I'm so glad that I get to walk through life with my Josh ♥

Through the commitment I made with this 365 blog, I've grown in discipline and creativity. I can't tell you how proud I am of myself that I stuck with this project! And my camera no longer scares the crap outta me - I feel so much more confident with my "fancy camera" and with taking photos in groups. I'm even going to help shoot a wedding in May! I also feel more confident in my writing - expressing myself is something I've always struggled a little bit with, so I've really appreciated having this blog as a safe place to express myself and hone my writing skills, even if only a little :) I would recommend a 365 project to anyone who's thinking about starting one. Just do it! You'll be glad you did :)

It seriously tickles me every time someone says something about this blog to me in real life :) You guys have no idea how encouraging it is that you all care about my pictures and the things I have to say! Thanks for keeping me accountable, and for putting up with having my camera shoved in your face at times ;) If any of you are interested, I've already got plans for a new blog and project and it's COMING SOON! I'll link to the new blog on here in a few days :)

I love that I'll always have this project to remember this sweet and full first year. It's been a wonderful year of healing and growth, and I look forward to all the things God has for us in this next year!

364

Holy crap. One more day. One more day?? This doesn't feel real.

Photo Challenge for December 30th: Silver 

I made a light box (like this one) this evening! That's why this picture is so well-lit, even though I took it at 10:00 PM inside our dim apartment. I think it looks like a stock photo - you be the judge of whether that's a good or bad thing, haha, but honestly I'm proud of my little light box. It's going to make things easier for me around here, that's for sure! I just wish I'd made one months ago. 

I spent most of today refining my 2012 Resolutions, working out a new budget, and learning more about meal planning/couponing. Why didn't I start this sooner? It's overwhelming, but it's also invigorating! Getting organized, making a plan, setting goals... I love that stuff. It's the following through part that I struggle with, haha. (That's actually one of my resolutions, to finish projects strong :p) 

Josh got a new two-player card game in the mail today! It's called Lost Cities and it is awesome. Josh gets an A in game-choosing. ;)

Yeah, wow, I just can't believe that tomorrow will be the end of this project. Holy cow.  

363

Photo Challenge for December 28th: Smile

We went over to the Turners' tonight for taco salad and games! I left my memory cards at home, silly me, but Mrs. Lesa saved the day with her iPad. The game they're playing in the picture is called "Got 'Em!" (Mr. David mopped the floor with the rest of 'em). We also played Settlers of Catan (the Turners had never played! Steven and Josh were close the whole game, but Josh pulled it out in the end). It was so fun! I love getting to go over to the Turners because they're all so friendly, and we get to play fun games with them. We missed Calista&Alex and Justin, but it was a good time anyway :)

Other than that, I spent most of the day organizing some of the cluttered corners in our house (and now the house is even messier than when I started, haha.. It always seems to work that way! But it'll be awesome once it's uncluttered and finished). Josh spent the afternoon helping Barry clear up the aftermath of the dead tree they took down the other day. Check out the video of the tree coming down that Josh put together here! 

What a good day :)

362

Photo Challenge for December 28th: Lights. 

Dude. Josh got me a bokeh kit with the Lensbaby lens for Christmas :) I hadn't played with it until tonight, but I think it's so fun! I cut out that starburst by hand :) It's nothing too fancy (next I want to try a snowflake!), but it's still pretty cool.

We just got done playing some Halo Firefight with Barry and EMILY! That was so fun! I'm glad she hopped on and they called us so we could all play. :)

Today I got some pretty good deals on Christmas stuff at HobLob, Goodwill, and Kroger! I also bought some paint and paintbrushes so I can start playing with the canvases the Taylors got me. Feels good. I look forward to learning how to use that stuff.

Josh is editing the tree-felling video. Lots of chainsaw noises and "woo!"s and "HOLY CRAP"s lol.

Hey, Benge is on! We're going to play some more Halo now. OKAY BYE

361

Photo Challenge for December 27th: Animal. 

I'm not saying Barry is an animal. That's awkward. I simply chose to forget the photo challenge today since we weren't around any animals today, and I wasn't going to go out of my way to get one. 

Scott went over to help Barry with taking down this tree. It was cool to get to hang with him on his last day in town :)

Honestly though, these pictures are cooler than a random picture of a random animal. I think these are pretty ballin' for iPod pics, but that's probably just because the subject matter is awesome on it's own. Josh was using the nice camera to get video footage of the event.. And I don't have any pics of the tree coming down because I was videoing too (from another angle). A video of the whole thing is forthcoming. 

Barry's been talking about bringing this tree down for months. The tree was huge, it was dead (completely hollow), and was likely to come down in the next big storm. it was actually pretty cool to watch. I didn't get any good pics of the chainsaw in action (I didn't want to get too close).

So that was exciting! They're going to use most of the tree to make a bonfire on New Year's. :) While we were over, I got to give Emily her Christmas present :) Then this evening we went to Brent and Angie's Christmas Open House Party, where we enjoyed their famed seafood chowder (yum!) before we took Scott to the airport. He's going to South Africa in a couple weeks! So we probably won't see him for at least a year... maybe two. Good ol' Scott. We'll miss seeing him every once in a while. 

360

Photo Challenge for December 26th: New.

I gave these Portal Bookends to Josh for Christmas! (Click the link for a side view of the two pieces. They're freakin' sweet!) We like them a lot :)

Wow, I was completely lethargic and unmotivated today. It makes sense, I guess, because of Christmas lunch and all the processed foods I've been eating lately.. I've got to be better about my smoothies and juices throughout the day! I've been lazy lately, thinking that if I had at least one veggie meal each day I'd be good. That's just foolish wishful thinking! :P I know it should really be the other way around... it should be about 90% fruits and veggies, and only 10% or less of processed foods and meats. I'm still learning, I guess.