It's time for another reflection on the previous year. I'm kind of proud of myself because I just looked at the years that I've written these for and I've only missed 2012 since 2008. There are probably ones from earlier years on myspace, too, but I haven't looked there in forever. Onward to the list!
January: We went out to dinner with friends on New Year's Eve, then came home to watch a HIMYM marathon before midnight. When we got home, I couldn't find my purse in Andrew's car. I had left it under a coat in his car while we were out because he had everything that we needed. We soon realized that it was nowhere to be found and that someone had stolen it, which meant canceling checks and credit cards. Plus, we were completely paranoid that night because someone had the keys to our house and my car. We were able to replace most of the stuff in it, but it was a huge hassle. Elisha took his first steps on his 9 monthiversary on January 26th. I continued going to physical therapy because my back wasn't completely better after having herniated discs that were pinching the nerve. We also had a lot of snow and ice!
February: We continued with the snow and ice. Andrew, Elisha, and I got sick with the stomach flu during the same week, so that was gross. Tom, Andrew's dad, had a stroke at the beginning of the month and ended up in the hospital. We were able to say goodbye to him on February 17th and tell him that we loved him. It was incredibly difficult to get out the words, knowing that this was going to be the last time I saw him on this earth. He passed away on Tuesday, February 18th, and a Celebration Service was held that Saturday. It truly was a celebration of his life with people telling stories about the funny things that he did and family members (Andrew included) singing songs that he had requested for the service.
March: I was discharged from physical therapy because my back was finally all better. I also went back to the gym and started some interval workouts on the treadmill. We finally had some sunshine again, so Elisha and I spent some time outside and I enjoyed the fact that I wasn't in pain anymore.
April: I don't really know what happened in April, so I'm guessing that it was more working and spending time outside.
May: I studied not hard enough and took the BCaBA at the end of the month.
June: Andrew went to John Brown University in Arkansas for a training for his school. He's technically a college professor now because some of his students are taking history for college credit through that school. Elisha and I met him in California because we were going to visit my family and meet Margot. My main goal for that trip was to snuggle a ton with Margot, so I think that goal was accomplished.
July: We went to visit our friends Bess, Russell, and their daughter/our future daughter-in-law, Mary Carol, in Atlanta. We were having "Supper Club" with them when they lived in Virginia and we would basically do a potluck at their house once per month. We ate, played games, and ate some more while we were visiting them.
August: I spent a lot of time studying for the BCBA exam and I worked. That was pretty much the gist of August.
September: Elisha and I took a road trip to Bemus Point, NY, for Paul and Jordan's wedding. We shared a hotel room with Kim and Jenny, so it was fun to have a slumber party with that crew and catch up on life. Elisha contributed the words, "Oh, I seeee," "key," and "hi" to our conversations many, many, many times. It was also FREAKIN' COLD in upstate New York, which weather.com had lied about, so I bought a sweater dress and leggings from the local consignment shop. I found out at the end of the month that I had failed the BCBA exam. :(
October: We went to Jessie Overton's wedding and Andrew sang for it. I made a Halloween costume for Elisha (this was the first and probably only time that will happen). I dressed our E.G.G. up as an egg for "Trunk or Treat" at my mother-in-law's church, then we went to dinner at the Broken Egg. He crashed on the way home from dinner, so I took advantage of the opportunity to snuggle with him when we got home. I also ate most of his Halloween candy while he was asleep on me.
November: I turned *gasp* 35. I studied (A LOT) for the BCBA exam and took it on 11/25. We were going to stay home on Thanksgiving because I was recovering from all of that studying, but ended up going to the Overton's house (a family from Andrew's school) for dinner and the Wall's house (Andrew's best friend's) for pie.
December: We all got sick at various times during the beginning of the month. On one of those days, I ended up with the stomach flu and puked 9 times in 8 hours. I don't think I've ever been that sick in my life. The day after that, when I was able to move around a tiny bit more, we went to a little Winter Wonderland in Downtown Portsmouth called Coleman's Nursery. Elisha was fine with sitting on Santa's lap and basically just wanted to pull on his beard. He also liked watching the trains and the toys in the Christmas exhibits. While we were there, they told us that there was chocolate dipping in the gift shop, so we went downstairs and got to make chocolate things for free! THEN, they told us that there was a place with pretend snow at the end of the street and that it was going to be starting in a few minutes. We went down there and Elisha did some dancing as the fake snow came down. My point is- we ended up having this magical winter night on accident.
We also went to California for Christmas and had a blast hanging out with my family. And the best Christmas present of all was finding out on Christmas night that I PASSED THE BCBA EXAM!!! I don't think I've ever been more relieved about something in my life. About 15 minutes after finding out I passed, there were Christmas carolers at my parents' door. I don't know why they were there at 9:30pm, but they added to the magic of finally being done with that test for good.
That's all for 2014. It started out pretty bad and ended up fantastic. I'm looking forward to what the New Year will bring!
