It's a New Year...

I read this amazing book this fall...

The author took a full year to explore things that make people happy and tried to incorporate attributes of happiness into her life. I love projects like this. She took one aspect of happiness (like love or friendship) and spent a month looking at how to use that virtue in a conscious way and see if in turn, that conscious act made her more happy. I liked the concept from the get go because I love focusing intently on something with the idea of bettering ones self. It is amazing what one can learn through an intense look at one's faults. This is why I love New Years; however, unlike New Years, where the drive behind resolutions starts to wane after a few weeks (days?), a new focus is created each month. This means she received a whole new list of resolutions in February (obviously carrying what she had learned in January over to the next month). LOVE! I decided back in September that I would be conducting my own happiness project as my New Year's resolution for 2011.

My January focus will be attitude (and by the way, I'm totally stealing Rubin's attributes for months - but Attitude was her November). I chose attitude for January because I think it'll set the right tone for the rest of the year. What I decided to concentrate my efforts on were the following things:

- Be less critical of others. It really is way more fun to be critical of people than just accept them as they are. Unfortunately, I find things that other people wear, say, do... hilarious, and find myself judging them... not cool. I've actually been very conscious of this bad habit the last year and feel like I'm getting much better and not jumping right into talking poorly about others. It's hard though - but another positive outcome of doing this is that I feel happier with myself. It feels temporarily really good to bring others down, but in the long run, I feel so guilty and mad at myself, which turns into negative self feelings. I've just made myself into a real lousy human being there - I wasn't constantly being critical of others, but just started noticing it as an area of weakness... better? :)

- Give more kind remarks. Stole this from Rubin again. This is another area that pops up every once and while for me, and I even hear myself doing it and think "MEGAN! STOOOOPPPP!" and sometimes I can't... but I need to start listening to that voice. It's the voice that handles the 'one upper' in me. The part of me that wants to prove that what someone has said is false (because I truly believe I'm right a lot of the time) or that I have a way better example to share. Why can't I just nod my head... even if the information is incorrect (and it really doesn't need to be corrected)? Why do I feel the compulsion to give unsolicited advice to others? I don't know. My goals here revolve around letting others have the stage for funny stories and comments, advice, and /gasp/ for being wrong and me letting it go.

- Laugh more often. I just need to. And laughing makes you happier.

- Have daily devotions. I'm currently reading through the Bible in a year... I'm actually getting close to finishing (in April), but tend to forget like 3 days in a row, and then spend the next 5 days reading 2 days worth at a time. I don't like doing this. I need a better routine and routines make me happier as does feeling in tune with the Lord.

- Memorize a verse a week. I've only identified this week's verse, and I love it. One of my good friends is currently going through a horrible time and I've been thinking a lot about her, so I think when I read this verse, I knew I had to memorize it. I find it so so comforting: "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17. Beautiful.

So that's January. I'll have to see how things go, but I find already that I am much more in tune with what I'm saying while I'm saying it, and I have repeated the Bible verse several times throughout the week. A good start.

Another good start was this awesome trip to Meijer - check out all my amazing finds and all for 37 dollars.

Yes, I laid everything out and took a picture of it. Be nice and don't judge me...

What a wonderful Christmas Ross and I had in Mi. We loved our time spent with family and friends, although we both received a horrible cold (flu for Ross) as a welcome home present. Ross felt terrible from Dec. 24-26. Such a bummer.

I didn't take any pictures, of which I'm terribly disappointed in myself, but had just such a good time going for multiple runs and walks with my family, going to many many parties, and getting coffee with a few friends.

Now I'm really looking forward to New Years. I don't know why, but there is something so cleansing about this date for me. I love what it symbolizes, and I love the recommitment to working on myself. I also really love this new year's questionnaire and find myself filling it out year after year... onward 2011!

1. What did you do this year that you've never done before?

- Ran a marathon

- Took classes for fun (cake decorating)

- Been turned down for jobs. I'm thankful for this; it opened my eyes a little bit.

- Created a working budget and KEY - Following it

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I had to go into my journal to check what my actual resolutions were - a pretty good sign that I probably did not fulfill them.

- Stop exaggerating: I don't know if I even consciously worked on this one, but I know I did work on watching what I said. I remember writing this because I had a nasty habit of doing this, and it really is a type of lie even though it does make for a much better story.

- Stop being critical of others: I did work on this one! I found that the less critical I was of others, the more happier I was with myself. I read a fantastic book this fall called "The Happiness Project" (more about this later as I will be creating my own happiness project this year) that really emphasizes that one way of being okay with yourself was being okay with others. Helped a lot in this area for me.

- One date a week: Nope, but we need to reinstate this, because dates are fun.

- Find a hobby/organization for 1 night a week: While in Grand Rapids, we were volunteering at Guiding Light Missions 1 Wednesday a month. We loved serving dinner there. I would love to find something like that in Cincinnati; so yes, we sorta did that resolution.

- Follow the Sonoma Diet: This lasted maybe 2 days.

- Exercise most days, including stretching: Yes, especially with that marathon this fall.

I will of course be making some resolutions for this year, but haven't really thought about them yet, other than creating my own happiness project. That will probably be enough, as this project covers multiple resolutions each month of the year. This is a completely different blog post though.

3. Any new births this year?
Yes. Many friends and cousins had children this year. It's hard to remember everyone because there was seriously that many.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandma died in April, but this was such a blessing. She was suffering.

5. What countries did you visit this year?
None :(

6. What would you like to have in the next year that you lacked this year?
This year was really developmental; we learned a ton. I'm thankful for the challenges, but wouldn't mind some stability. On top of that, perhaps a house? A dog? A kid? Possibilities are endless in 2011.

7. What dates from this year will remain etched upon your memory - and why?
Gosh, I have a certain love affair with dates, so there are many:

March 11: Ross got a call with a job offer

March 17: Ross left me for 13 weeks

Oct. 17: Marathon
Nov. 1: Started my new job

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting recognized as an educator. I was 1/15 finalist for the Excellence in Teaching Award in the middle school category from our company (67 schools worth)

9. What was your biggest failure of the year?

Moving to a new city and not being as outgoing as I had envisioned myself.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No. So thankful.

11. What was the best thing you bought this year?
Our new car. I didn't realize how important it really was until I got a job in Toledo and needed serious transportation reliability.

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Even if I could pinpoint a specific person, this would not be the place to disclose this.

13. Where did most of your money go this year?
Ross's student loans.

14. What did you get really, really, really excited about this year?
Moving to Cincinnati!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- happier or sadder? Happier
- richer or poorer? Richer
- thinner or fatter? Probably thinner

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
This is an ongoing battle with myself, but not being afraid to do things, meet people, be uncomfortable.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being afraid to do things, meet people, be uncomfortable

20. How did you spend the holidays?
In Grand Rapids, with our families

21. Did you fall in love this year?
I fall in love every year. I am a lucky woman.

22. How many one-night stands did you have this year?
15, er... I mean, none.

23. What was your favorite TV program for the year?
We had a brief love affair with "Curb your Enthusiasm", but my favorite was "The Tudors"

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a strong word; however, now that my circle of 'people I happen to know' has expanded, there are a select few I don't particularly care to spend time with.

25. What was the best book you read this year?
Best? I couldn't possibly choose, but here are my recommendations from 2010:

-A Walk in the Woods

-Help

-Breakfast at Tiffanys

-The Bonesetter's Daughter

-1,000 White Women

-The 13th Tale

-The Boleyn Inheritance

-The Constant Princess

-The Life of Pi

-The Happiness Project

-Born to Run

-A Reliable Wife

-The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

26. What was your favorite film of the year?
I'm not a huge "go to the movies" buff, but I suppose I dragged Ross out to see Eclipse

27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
Casual Office?

28. Whom did you miss this year?
I miss my parents every day, I miss a lot of my friends from Knapp, I miss Shelly, Kerin, my college girlfriends...

29. Who was the best new person you met this year?
I really love my small group at church - I get excited to see them on Sundays

30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned for this year.
God does not work in our timetables, but he does work for our good. He is faithful even when we feel faithless.

Last Saturday, Ross and I discovered yet another hidden treasure of Cincinnati: Trader's World.

We started out the day by going to Cincinnati's Premium Outlet for some good Christmas deals... and it certainly didn't disappoint. We cashed in with some dress shirts for Ross for only 15 dollars each (and of course he is a weird size - too skinny for "Big and Tall" so this was a real treat to find shirts that fit him), and 3 pairs of 110 dollar dress shoes for a grand total of 60 dollars. A-mazing. We also scored for other people - but I'm certainly not going to divulge about those purchases here.

THEN - we serendipitously came across Trader's World. Okay, let me back up by saying that I've known about this place for awhile. It's hard not to; I drive I-75 every week and this eye sore is right off the highway, complete with fake palm trees and 15 foot giraffes. I never knew any details about it though because I honestly never thought we'd go, but... like I said, we stumbled upon it on our way home taking the back roads.

Okay, we thought, why not. It's snowing, we're bored, let's go. So indeed, this is what we did. The picture is an example of what Trader's World would look like from an aerial view... Basically you are looking at 14+ storehouses of.... stuff. So we rolled in, not quite sure what we were getting into, paid our 2 dollars and entered.

Within 3 minutes of walking through building 1, Ross commented that this was like an alternate universe. Within those short moments, we realized that we were in a huge, antique, junk, knock off, and some useful items garage sale where one was free to eat ice cream, drink beer, and barter with salespeople. Rules simply did not apply in Trader's World; it was awesome.

Another successful road trip with an outcome that can only be described as, my dad's dream Saturday afternoon. We missed out, Dad, next time... next time.

The Day My Family Came to Town...

So my family graciously came down to Cincinnati (which was really nice of them because I am SICK of traveling!) for Thanksgiving weekend. We had a great time; ate a lot for Thanksgiving dinner, played some good games and explored Cincinnati a little bit. On Black Friday (of which we did not participate) we decided to go to Eden Park.

We started at the conservatory (seriously one of my favorite places). It was pretty cold out, so this was appreciated.

Derek and I in the orchid room. By the way, Derek, I think you took my scarf home...

Dad was missing his greenhouse days. I

really think he should create something like this... you'd be good at it, Dad! Huizinga Floral recreated.

This is at the overlook. As you can see, it was a gorgeous day, but I had some under prepared people on my hand because everyone was complaining about how cold it was. After a brief walk, we wandered into the Art Museum(also at Eden Park) and spent some time looking at...well, art.

Ross was working this day, in case you wondered where he was in these photos... We picked him up at lunch time and had some happy hours deals at McCormicks.

After dinner, we went to the Tree Lighting Ceremony downtown. It was suppose to start at 7, so by 7:20, my again - under prepared family, was complaining of the cold, so we decided to leave. Wouldn't you know it? The tree was lite by 7:24 and fireworks right after. Bummer!

Saturday, we began the day by going for a Christmas Walk in Bellevue, KY. They had a really cute little shopping area and we just had fun scanning the shops. We even met Santa and Mrs. Claus, although they were less than enthusiastic to take their picture with us.

Afterwards, we picked up some lunch and headed to the zoo. I was really excited because I've been wanting to go for awhile now, but just never had a good reason to go. It was pretty neat, but a lot of exhibits were down, which was disappointing. I usually love going to the zoo when it's cold because the animals are much more active then (example - the tigers were hilarious; stalking every other and such) but apparently this means that Cincinnati Zoo closes some animal viewings. Oh well.

PNC was hosting a Festival of Lights there, so once it got dark, there was thousands of lights all over the zoo. It was really beautiful.

Ross tried to high five this gingerbread lady, and she missed, so insisted on getting a picture with Ross. Ross was concerned about her eagerness to be with him... He claims she is patting his rear here, but I don't believe him...

Overall, it was a really fun weekend and I'm thankful that they took the time off of work to come down and hang out with us. We really enjoyed having you, Mom, Dad, and Derek!

Thanksgiving

I cannot believe it's December 1 and it's snowing... I love the seasons, I'm just shocked at how quickly they change!

Ross and I really enjoyed having my family down to Cincinnati over the long weekend. We ate a lot and did a lot of activities that we wouldn't necessarily do (the tourist spots and whatnot). I have some pictures to share from that weekend, but not the time to do so, so here is just a shot of something I love: food!

Remember that day we went camping? It was fun...

Ross conned me into backpacking. Let me backup by saying - I really love hiking. I love it. I love being outdoors, I love feeling my blood pump through my veins, I love thinking about how vast and beautiful creation is - but, I do not like hiking in the dark and I do not like being lost. So when Ross commented that he wanted to go backpacking the following weekend, as it would be sunny and 70s, I said, "Sure! But I want to camp in a campground (even if it's a backpacking one) and I don't want to hike in the dark." I thought those 2 stipulations were pretty clear - so we planned our trip. It started out great - just the perfect day. Ross had found a state park lovingly referred to as 'The Little Smokey Mountains'.

Here's my hubby. He is just so cute here! Totally in his element - he loves backpacking.

I'm still feeling good here. However, I am starting to realize why this park had its little nickname - the trail is either going up or going down. It's a constant mountain climb. Which is fun for the most part - but difficult packing.

Then came the meltdown. I admit it; after hiking for 3 hours and the sun totally down and no campsite near, I was freaking out. In retrospect, it's not the worse thing in the world to just camp where ever, but due to it being dark out (as we set up our tent with a flashlight), we didn't have a fire, therefore no dinner = Not a happy Megan. Once we got in the tent though, things looked up.

Cool things during the night. 1) I slept most of the night. I usually wake up at like 2 in the morning and then listen to the noises outside my tent and visualize being torn a part by a bear (have seen way too many 'When Nature Attacks" shows). 2) When I did wake up, it was 5:45 and I heard a pretty big trotting sound coming through the forest. I'm pretty sure it had to be a fox or coyote by the way it was running, but anyways - it ran right up to our tent and sniffed around the perimeter twice. Look at our tent... I could feel his nose on my feet! It was crazy!

In the morning, I felt so much better and was so happy that we had gone hiking.

Ross making coffee with our stove.

We decided to bypass the way we had come (too many hills) and took the horse trail for a couple of miles. It was so beautiful at 8 in the morning.

So we really did have a great trip.

I learned that I need to relax a little bit and be more spontaneous, and Ross learned to schedule our hikes better so that we're not walking in the dark. :)

God is Good

Lately I've been feeling a little overwhelmed with how good God is. How good he is with the little things that come up in day to day life - beauty and contentment, but even more amazed at the way that God universally 'holds the world in his palm' and how good the ultimate plan is.

I've been thinking of this on the small and grand scale of things.

In small terms, my immediate life. If I could turn back time to last year at this point, I could have never imagined we'd be where we're at. A year ago we were tired, and we were really scared. Law school loans started cashing in at 1,000 dollars a month and there was still no job in sight for Ross. He had driven out to several states at this point for interviews, just to be told months later (sometimes never) that they'd gone with another candidate. Ross was getting depressed and deeply rethinking his decision to go back to school, even when at the time, he felt confident that it was what God wanted him to do. I was tired of teaching. My third year was a mess - I was burned out and checked out. Even though my fourth year was better, that 3rd year still loomed in my mind and I felt just plain - negative. I felt like I was constantly living in future thoughts, upset that Ross wasn't working ("just get ANY job!"), and starting to give up on things. So we were a pretty pitiful couple - our marriage was never in jeopardy, if anything we clung to each other more - but we were sad and starting to lose interest in hope. When you lose hope, you just start to lose everything that might drive you to keep going.

BUT - I feel so blessed that when we started to give up, God didn't. I remember telling people that we just kept trusting in God for a job, but in the back of my mind, I was really questioning God - "I think I still trust in you - but it's getting harder to keep doing so!" When we got that call on March 11 about Ross's job, I felt like this huge hole had opened up in a dark sky and light was finally shining in. It was weird - I actually felt optimistic for the first time in a long, long time. Since March, we've moved into another state - which has been amazing. I didn't know how the whole move would go, but God has placed such comfort in our hearts that this is where we're suppose to be. Cincinnati feels like home. We've finally found a church family - 4 years of looking in Grand Rapids and the first Sunday we're down in Ohio we find the perfect church? What are the chances? Last month, I was looking for a job. I wasn't too upset about not finding one, although I had been close on several interviews and had even been offered one at a bank, but didn't feel it was right. I got a call from a former co-worker about a position in Toledo for an instructional coach/assessment writer for the same company I had worked for before. I didn't seek this position out, I didn't prepare rigorously for the interview - I just felt like this was right. Again - God goes opening up a door. This honestly is my perfect teaching job for this period in my life. Thanks, God, for giving Ross and I the perfect jobs! I am amazed that He has brought us here to do this work, and that he even cares about our everyday occupations.

On the larger scale, I've been reading Jeremiah for my devotions. Jeremiah is really scattered because a lot of the chapters aren't in chronological order, but since I've read Kings and Chronicles and the books leading up to Jeremiah, it's easier to see the chapters in context, but basically - Israel and Judah split up. God chosen people split, and although they each have okay kings at different times in the text, overall - they've completly forgotten the Exodus and how God delivered them from slavery and strife. Even if they do remember, and sometimes they do, they just don't care. As long as life is good - seemingly - they rely on themselves and what they want to do. We give Israel a lot of crap for this, but I see this in myself. When life is easy - I tend to not rely on God as much. Right now in my reading, Babylon is taking over the empire and taking the people into exile; the people have gone a 360 from slavery, freedom and power; back into slavery. At this point - Israel will never possess Jerusalem again. This is it. Jews today are still waiting, fighting, what have you about the holy land and emphasize that they should have possession of it. Their Messiah can't come until they do (which is why they don't accept Jesus as Christ. Literally - Jesus was suppose to be their King and take back Jerusalem for them).

What I guess I'm thinking about is THE story... and how when I look at it as a whole, it flows, it's alive, and God is the director of the movement. Israel was split up, conquered - time and time again until, under Roman rule, Jesus was born and fulfilled the prophesies that God had breathed into normal humans hundreds of years before. Jesus started a new development and Gentiles were accepted into God's plan for his people. Because of the emphasis put on evangelism, Christianity spread - into Europe. Like Israel, Christians split in the 1500s, leading the way for another diaspora into the new world, where people could live without persecution of faith. Which down the line, is where my relatives, coming from the Netherlands could pratice their reformed faith.... So through the hardships - which I shudder when I think about what ancient Israel, Jesus, early Christians, and reformers went through for their beliefs - God had a working plan and the coolest thing is that we are apart of that plan. We exist in that history.

So - I'm amazed. I'm amazed at what God does for me everyday; how he shows me that he has a plan for my life BUT I'm amazed even more at how he has a plan for this world and how I get to be apart of that plan. It's just very humbling to understand how mighty, how majestic, how good God really is.