New Year's Eve - A Year of Transformation

Today is the last day of 2011.   I can't believe that this year is over and that it has been a year since I started this blog.

I have spent the day putting away the Christmas decorations and rearranging the closets and garage to better organize everything.    I have also been cleaning in preparation of tonight's festivities.

But one thing that I also did today, was take time to look back over all that has happened this year.   I started by looking back over the dream map that I made back in February.  It is neat to see where my mind was a year ago and where it is now.  It is also amazing to see that many of my dreams did come true.  

My divorce was finalized, I celebrated with my girlfriends, I made new friends, I rekindled some old ones, I bought a townhouse, I drank lots of good wine, I volunteered over 40 hours, I traveled, I started teaching the kindergarten class at church, I became a much stronger women, I learned a lot, I laughed a lot, I actively dated and I even found a guy that I have fallen in love with.  

Tonight to celebrate the end of the year and the beginning of 2012, I am hosting (along with Donnie of course), a dinner party with both new and old friends.  It feels like such a natural thing to plan and host a party with the man that I love.   I am sure that this will be the first of many.   Donnie is cooking (as always) and I am setting out the china, chilling the wine, and supervising my personal chef.

I can't wait to ring in the New Year.   I wonder what will happen next!!!

The Tale of Four Christmas(es)

So my Christmas adventures started on December 23^rd with a visit from my parents.  We met D and K for lunch at Red Robin and then opened presents.

One of my gifts to K was Wii Dance 3.  Well, as you can tell, we had a lot of fun that afternoon:

Our time together also included a service at The Summit Church.  Summit hosted 5 services for Christmas, and it was nice to attend one on Friday night to avoid the rush on Christmas Eve.  The service was full of music, scripture and as always a great message from JD.  Feel free to watch the service in its entirety here:

Christmas at The Summit

Does it help you understand why I love my church so much?

After church, we sat and ate a wonderful meal of gravy, noodles, and bread that D had prepared for us.  I had been smelling the sauce all day as it cooked in the Crockpot.  And of course we then got to enjoy the cookies and other treats that my mom had baked and brought with her. 

On Christmas Eve, D made us breakfast for dinner and we spent the evening opening our gifts from each other.   We enjoyed the quiet and stillness of the evening that included watching a movie which helped prepare us for the next day.

I think the craziness of having house guest and watching all of the unwrapping and playing with paper had gotten to the boys too, because they were both wiped out. 

But I do know that Hobbes wil be sad when I take the Christmas tree down.  He loves to sleep under it.   

Then on Christmas morning, I awoke to a beautiful sunrise and a drive to K’s moms family house in Wendell. 

When we got there, we enjoyed coffee cake, biscuits, ham and sausage while watching K open her gifts from Santa and her mom’s family. 

Let’s just say, K must have been a VERY good girl this year.

Afterwards, we loaded up the SUV and headed to Kitty Hawk to enjoy Christmas with D’s parents, his sister and her husband.

While in Kitty Hawk, there was more of course more gift exchanging, some Wii playing, a very exciting and long game of Mexican Train, some shopping, movie watching, football watching and of course more eating.  Let’s just say, I love the fresh seafood that always seems to be around at the beach. 

We got to enjoy a few days of relaxation at the beach until we headed home on Tuesday.   At least it was raining when he left or I think I could have been convinced to stay longer.  Plus, we both had to go back to work this week and K had to be back at her mom’s.

Overall, it was a very nice Christmas.   It was such a switch from last year’s Christmas, there was also no snow this year.   I can’t wait until next year.  I wonder what Santa may bring me. 

For those of you who didn't get one in the mail.....

Believe In Christmas Religious

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Post #101

So I realized today, that this is post number 101.  When I started this blog in January, I wasn't real sure where it would take me or how I would use it.

As I look back over all of the posts from this year, I am amazed at the journey that I have been on this year.

I am gone from a women who is hurting and struggling with the end of my marriage, to a women who has found life in friends, work and service, to a women who can laugh, and to a women who has found love again.

Wow, what a year.   It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in my apartment in my favorite chair on a cold January morning starting a new year with a determined new outlook.   And I did it.  I never would have thought that on this day,  as I prepare for Christmas and the end of 2011 that I would be where I am today.

I would like to thank all of you who have been on this journey with me.   The tears, the good food, great wine, the laughter and the overflowing abundance of prayers and love.

2011 has been a year of transformation, a year of new beginnings and a year that has been much better then 2010.   I can't wait to see what will happen in 2012.  So with great enthusiasm, I say BRING IT!! This woman is ready.

The True Meaning of Christmas

It is so hard to get caught up in the commercialism and hustle and bustle of the Christmas season.   All the commercials, the sales, the traffic, the crowded parking lots, the impatience of those in line around you, the person on your list that you can't seem to figure out what to buy them, the parties, the feeling of lack of time to get it all done, the food and did I mention the food, particularly the sweet stuff.

There are all of these things... plus more.    I have been trying my best not to get sucked in, but I will admit that I haven't done a good job.

This year as my "family" changes and grows it has been hard to focus on the real meaning of this time of year and not the scheduling conflicts, the gifts lists, the who is getting what, who can travel when, when can I get off from work and attempts to make every one happy.

Christmas is about the birth of a Savior, the joy of salvation and the peace that is everlasting.

So as the countdown to Christmas ticks closer to zero, please take a moment and remember the reason for the season.  Take time to think about the tiny baby laying in a barn with nothing but his parents, some sheep, a few pigs and maybe a cow.   Take time to rejoice.   Take time to celebrate a birth.   Take time to say Merry Christmas.

Serving Others Again

So last week, I went with about 9 of my fellow Redwoods Group co-workers to the Ronald McDonald House in Durham to cook dinner.  Yeah, I know, I don't cook, hence why I was put in charge of the logistics for the evening.  It was my job to make sure that we all stayed on task, that dinner was prepared on time and that everything was set for the families.

However even though I was there to serve others, it was the families that I encountered that ended up serving me.

I learned that the Ronald McDonald house provides a place to stay, meals and the comforts of home for those that have children either in the hospital or seeking treatments at the hospital.  For the families there, the Ronald McDonald house in their home for extended periods of time.  Many of the families are far from "home" and other family members including spouses and other children.

For many of the families, the dinner that we served would be their only hot meal and probably most wholesome meal of the day.

We cooked chicken alfredo, garlic bread and salad.  And one of our other co-workers made a beautiful red velvet cake.

The stories and the heartfelt thanks that we encountered made me learn to think about my house and dinner a lot differently.

I know that I take for granted that I have a home to come home to everyday that includes my own space, my bed, and the other finer things in life like satelitte, DVR, pets, etc.

And even though I am not a big fan of cooking, I now appreciate the idea that I can come home, cook a meal (or watch Donnie cook a meal) and then relax on my couch with no one else around.

However, overall, I am so thankful that my friends and family are healthy and that none of us have to be far away from home or enduring long stays in a hospital.

So as Christmas fast approaches, take time to do something for someone else and I promise that this season will be much more meaningful.

Those three little words....

A girl always dreams about the moment when she hears those three little words from someone other then a relative.  Now don't get all excited, I said THREE little words, not FOUR little words.

So while enjoying a warm fire one night, I heard those three words come out of the mouth of the person who was right there with me.   It was three words that I wasn't expecting to hear and to be honest they caught me off guard.   Hearing them also brought tears to my eyes.   However,  my tears were not ones of sadness but ones of joy.  

For several minutes, I just let those three words sink it.   I think I was trying to make sure that I had heard him right.    I also wanted to savor the moment.

It has been a long time since I have heard those words.   Now don't get me wrong, I have some friends and most definetly some family members say them to me.  But to have a guy, someone that I am dating, someone that I enjoy spending time with, someone that I was curled up with, say them to me, meant something totally different.

I Love You.   I never knew how much I cherished those words until I heard them.  I Love You.   I never knew how much I craved them.   I Love You.   I never knew how much I wanted to hear them.

And now I know that I can say.......

I Love You Too.

I never knew how this journey that I have been on to learn how to live, laugh and love would bring me to realization that I have conquered my task.

I have learned how to live.  I have learned how to laugh.  And now I have learned how to love.

So lessons learned.   Now I am even more excited to see what life has in store for me next.  

You know when you are in a serious relationship when......

Top Ten Ways to Tell That You Are in a Serious Relationship

10. The other person cleans up YOUR cat's puke
9. You let him/her drive your car
8. The significant other is excited to attend your office Christmas Party
7. The guy wears a pink tie to said office party so that it matches your dress
6. You meet each other's parents
5. The non- UNC fan can sit through a basketball game watching the UNC fan yell at the T.V.
4. You have no problem beating the crap out of each other playing Words with Friends
3. You can sit through a sermon at church about submission in marriage and still want to continue to date.
2. You book a vacation together that is 40 days away and lasts a whole week

And the number one way that you can tell that you are in a serious relationship...

You change your Facebook relationship status!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

This will have to do until the big tree is up......

The boys checking out the tree.

Ahhhh, much better.

I have enjoyed decorating my new place for Christmas for the first time.  Thanks to all of my friends who came over this weekend to help.

Meeting the Parents

So the past two weekends have been full of trips to meet each other parents.

Last Saturday, we took a day trip to Charlotte to attend the Carolina Renaissance Festival.  Since the Festival is full of all kinds of games, good food and kid friendly activities, D and I took K along for the ride.  We all enjoyed the festival.

Trying out the archery range 

Mom even got in on the action

My dad doing his acts

And then over Thanksgiving weekend, I ventured to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on the lovely Outer Banks, to meet his parents.  While in Kitty Hawk, we went to see the Muppets movie, took a walk on the new pier, watched the sunset and caught a few football and basketball games on tv.

Meeting the parents...... That was a big step..... I wonder what is next.

Thanksgiving - What are you thankful for?

So as I sit back and think about all that has happened to me over the past year I realize how much I have to be thankful for.

Here is my list --- in no particular order.

My friends
My family
My new townhome
Calvin and Hobbes
D (the new infamous boyfriend)
Good Wine
Someone to cook for me (oh yeah - that's the boyfriend)
UNC basketball
The Summit Church
My kindergarten's at church
Chick-fil-a
Peanut Butter
Gravy - the restaurant - not the stuff that goes on biscuits or meat
Road Trips
The Beach
The Mountains (and The Valley)
My job and The Redwoods Group
My faith

I think I could go on and on....which is a good thing.

So on this Thanksgiving Day, pause, say thanks, and eat lots of food.

First Road Trip- Burke's Garden, Virginia

So two weekends ago,  D (aka Match #5, aka, so now all of you know his real name) and I took a road trip to his family's cabin in Burke's Garden, Virginia.

Burke's Garden is sometimes referred to as "God's Thumbprint" because of its view from the air.  The mountain ringed bowl is 10 miles in diameters and filled with some of the most fertile farmland in the state of Virginia.    The area, which is the highest mountain valley in Virginia was designated a National and Virginia Rural Historical District.   It was first first discovered in the 1740's by James Burke while hunting in the area.  The name "Burke's Garden" was given to the valley as a job in 1748 after Burke planted potato peelings by the campfire of a 1748 surveying party.  The next year, a fine crap of potatoes was found.

Our first night included watching it snow......

The scene we woke up to the following morning...

We then spent the day exploring the area and the land around the cabin.

Visited with the cows....

Did a little playing in the leaves and some laughing...

Watched the sunset over the mountain...

And I almost forgot, we did a lot of eating.   Which included me getting served breakfast in bed one morning, which included home made hash browns, an omelet, and bacon. 

Oh and hot cocoa with whipping cream.    He also made cookies, pasta, chicken in the crock pot, mashed potatoes, green beans, cinnamon rolls and other goodies.   

Overall, it was a great weekend of learning how to live, laugh and love all over again.

A little under the weather

So for about a week now, I have been a little under the weather. I have been congested, had a fever that comes and goes, experienced body aches, dealt with coughing and a sore throat, etc. There was even a day that I felt like my body had been hit by a truck.  I basically had a mild case of the flu.   So much for that flu shot that I got in October.  

But thanks to the boyfriend I am feeling much better. He pampered me with homemade chicken noodle soup, foot rubs and got me medicine. He even came over one afternoon and made me lunch and took care of me.

My illness has put a damper on my ability to feel like I am learning to live, laugh and love all over again. But don't you worry, I am feeling better and have a lot to catch everyone up on.  Go I will get to writing.   Until then.......

My Personal Chef and Handyman

Okay ladies, time to be jealous........here is proof that Match #5, aka "David" can cook and bake.  Well, especially bake.  Here he is making a apple strudel cheesecake.   And yes it was yummy.

He also does the dishes...

Oh and by the way, he is pretty handy around the house too.  Here he is installing a ceiling fan in my living room.

If you look closely, you can see Hobbes in the background supervising.  

I think I have scored myself a keeper.  What do you think?

Let's Go Canes!!!

So what does a nine year old, her dad and her dad's girlfriend do to get to know one another .... you go to a Carolina Hurricane's Hockey game!

I was offered tickets through work from one of the charities that I have volunteered for so I invited "David" and his daughter to join me.

We munched on chicken tenders and french fries and cheered the Hurricanes to a victory over Tampa Bay.  It was a great first outing for the three of us.

I am sure that there will be many more outings to come.  Not bad for a little living and laughing.

Cold Rainy Night

So there is nothing like a scented candle, a blanket, a cuddling cat and a laptop on your lap to help you feel warm on a cold rainy night.    Well, heat in the house works too.  But that's not the point.   It is also warming to the heart and soul to chat with friends that are far away on said laptop.    

What did we ever do before the Internet?  Oh, I know, we would sit and talk on the phone for hours and then mom and dad would yell at us for tying up the line or running up a huge phone bill.   I remember running up a huge phone bill in college one semester, because I would talk to a friend in Raleigh for extended periods of time.   That was during the pre-cell phone era and I had no idea it was considered a long distance call from Chapel Hill to Raleigh.  Let's just say that after that month, my parents made me start paying my own phone bill.  And I had to learn how to limit my phone calls.  But that was about the time that this thing called email was starting to take shape and I learned how to use it.

Well, with cell phones nowadays, there really isn't a need for long distance worries.   Most of us have nationwide calling plans and I don't even have a home phone line.   Plus with online chatting sites, Skype and other computer options, you don't even have to have a phone to communicate.  I guess, you don't even have to talk either.

As long as you can type, you can communicate.   Well, even if you can't type, you can still communicate. Maybe just not as well.

Which leads me to something that I have learned during this whole online dating thing.   Communication is key.   When a relationship starts out via email, instant messaging and text messaging, you tend to "talk" about a lot of different things and you can cover a lot of ground.  I think by communicating in multiple platforms, you have the ability to be more honest (or you can hide behind it too - which I learned from one match.)  But overall, I think that it allows yourself to be more up front and gives you the ability to cover a wide range of topics.

Plus true and real communication shows your personality and allows you to be yourself.  

That is what I was able to do with most of the guys that I "met" online.   And that is exactly the way my relationship with Match #5 started.

We started my exchanging emails, then text messages and then we met in person.  And the conversations have just flowed from there.   We still email each other every day, sometimes more then once and can sit and talk for extended periods of time.

We can talk about anything and everything.   And that has helped us build a solid base to our relationship.

So lesson learned.  One way to learn how to live, laugh and love all over again is to start by communicating.  You never know where the conversation may lead.

Our First Weekend Together

So this weekend started with a picture -- well actually our first picture together.  Thank you to the mom of my favorite four year old for taking it.  Can you tell that it was cold Saturday morning?

So the picture was taken while we were watching my favorite four year old play soccer.

One of these days, he is really going to hate that Miss Gwen took this video of him.  

Of course, his little sister had to get in on the attention too and insisted on playing with the two of us during the game.

After the game, we ventured over to the outlets in Mebane.  Yes, girls, I have found a guy that loves kids, cooks, bakes and likes to go shopping with me.  I am one LUCKY girl!   It probably helped that he needed some clothes for work so we did some shopping for him as well.   I forgot how much fun it was to pick out clothes for someone else.   He will definitely be the best dressed guy at work this week.

After our little shopping excursion, we then watched the end of the UNC football game on TV.

We ended our day with dinner with two of my dear friends at my favorite restaurant, Gravy, in downtown Raleigh.

So, I think this weekend was a great way to start a relationship and learn how to live, laugh and love all over again.

Well, it's official......

So, the field has been narrowed down to one.   Match #5 and I are officially dating.  Sorry to disappoint those who may have been pulling for Match #1 but it just isn't the right time for us.  Will and I are still going to stay in touch and will remain friends.   I'm actually dog sitting for him this weekend while he is out of town.    I look at it as not losing out but gaining a great guy who is and is going to be an awesome friend.  

As for David and I, our first weekend as a couple is going to be chopped full of fun, friends, and food.  Stay tuned for the details.

Thanks to all of you for your support during this fun time of reading profiles, exchanging emails and meeting new guys.   I have loved sharing my experiences with all of you and getting comments and feedback.   All of your opinions and thoughts have meant a lot.

It has been an adventure and now the real fun begins of getting to know more about the one and only guy in my life who is going to continue to help me learn how to live, laugh and love all over again.

Happy Birthday To Me!

So I have figured out the best way to spend a birthday....winery hopping with friends. On Saturday to celebrate my and a dear friend's birthday, I ventured to Elkin, NC via Winston-Salem, NC and went on a winery crawl with friends for the day.

We started out the day with a late breakfast of the home of my friend's parents. We then loaded up the car with a picnic lunch and water and headed out for our adventure.

We started the day at Elkin Creek Vineyard

Down by the creek

I think I could have sat out there all day

We then ventured to Grassy Creek Vineyard and Winery.

The Tasting Room

And then ended our day at McRitchie Winery and Ciderworks.

All Smiles After a Day of Drinking

No, the wine doesn't have bubbles, that is the CIDER!!!

After our wine adventure, we headed to downtown Winston Salem, met up with my parents and a few others and had dinner at a great new restaurant.

Overall, I will consider birthday number 35 a success and one that I won't forget in a very long time.

So cheers to great friends, family and wine! Here's to learning how to live, laugh and love all over again.