1. Beth's Bridal Shower
Beth and I have had this unexplainable ability to do everything in our lives at the exact same time. Getting married was no exception. In late February/Early March, I made the trip to PA to celebrate with her at her bridal shower. I had the opportunity to meet Candace (now) Fish and Alli Potter, and I must say they are some very special people that I was honored to share this time in Beth's life with. And I got to spend some time with one of my dearest and very best friends, Lydia.
2. Graduating from Regent
After 4 crazy, painful, amazing, memory filled years of college, I finally did it. I graduated from college with a BA in Theatre into a great big grown up world. I will always miss those people and the times that we shared. All the growing up that we did together. We were more than friends, we were a family, and family never really leaves your heart or your mind. They are a part of you forever.
3. Bethany became a Franz
Beth getting married was one of the most special, emotional amazing moments of life thus far. We have been through so much together, and seeing her that happy was a truly incredible moment. I dont think any of us kept from crying as she walked down the aisle that day. She was a beautiful bride to say the least. Being the shortest bridesmaid, what else is new haha, I had the honor of walking with Cody, the shortest of the groomsmen. We had a blast joking around and laughing through the day. It was truly a highlight of my year.
4. My Bridal Shower
A day full of more love than I know what to do with. The people who came and were a part of this were so generous and blessed us so deeply. My family is truly an incredible group of people with more heart and more genuine love for me than I ever thought possible. It was a day to celebrate us. To celebrate me. And all the good that the future would hold.
5. I became a Morris
Well this is a top 12 for obvious reasons. The day that I married my best friend. And I got to share it with some of my favorite people in the entire world. That day was full of love, joy and becoming a family that only God himself could have designed. I never fully comprehended how many emotions could be crammed into one day. But it was one intense ride. Filled with joy, tears, smiles and laughter. It was the perfect wedding, give or take the fainting bridesmaid and peeing jr. groomsman.
6. Our Honeymoon
Disney was an amazing trip. It was the perfect honeymoon blend. We got to take a breath and realize that we actually got married and began a family while also getting to be big kids for a week. It made the experience that much sweeter knowing that we completely in love, living a fairy tale, in the most magical place on earth. It was an amazing week.
7. My dance with my mom
Our actual wedding day came and went so fast, and I feel like there is so much that I missed out on that day. It was perfect, dont get me wrong, but there are a few things I would love the opportunity to go back and do again. Getting the opportunity to dance with my mom at the reception is one of them. And my mom knew that. So at our casual reception in PA, my mom made it happen. We got the opportunity to dance together, with roses in our lapels (all you Gilmore Girls fans out there will get that reference) and it is a moment I will treasure for the rest of my life.
8. Driving to Memphis to surprise the Morris'
Being so far away from both sides of the family is particularly hard, but for this occasion, we made the distance work. Nic's Grandma Vernita was turning 87 this year and they were throwing her a huge surprise party at Uncle Mike and Aunt Vickie's house in Germantown, TN. Nic had one vacation day left for this year, and we knew thats where it needed to be spent. So we packed up the car and drove the 15 hours through the night to spend the special birthday with some very special people. The looks on everyone's faces as we surprised them all was priceless. It is a memory held so near and dear to our hearts.
9. The Marine Corps Birthday Ball
Last year the ball was nothing more than an overpriced, bad date. So I didnt go into it with too high of expectations this year. But to our pleasant surprise, it was a pretty amazing night. The presentation was beautiful, and it was extra special because this year I had the honor of standing with the military spouses when they were recognized for their service as well. That was a pretty sweet moment for me. Aside from that, the food was better, the cake was good, and seeing 4 pretty drunk Marines doing the Gangam style dance made for an amazing evening.
10. Going home for Thanksgiving
This year going home was especially sweet because it was the first time we had seen my family since our causal reception in August and was the longest I had gone without seeing my family, well, ever. So it was more than just excitement about going home for the holidays, it was seeing the people I love more than anyone else in the world. We ate more than we should have, loved on one another, decorated my parents house for Christmas, and just had an all around amazing holiday.
11. Our first married Christmas
Our first married Christmas was pretty special. From the decorating (our first married tree was pretty epic, if I do say so myself), to the shopping, to the actual holiday, it was just all so very special to us. We spent the holiday with my parents this year, and it was so special to me to get to include Nic in all of our holiday traditions. Christmas Eve at Pap's house, reading the Christmas story next to the tree before we go to bed, jumping on my parents to wake them up, opening gifts, watching the parade. It was just as perfect as it could have been getting to share this with him this year.
12. New Year's with the Morris'
This year we spent the new year with the Morris' in Bluffton, SC. It was a lovely trip filled with lots of laughter, sight seeing and new memories. We toured Old Town Bluffton, Palmeto Bluff where the rich and famous live, and we toured Savannah, GA on New Year's Eve. We rang in the new year with Sparkling Cider, kisses with our significant others, Facetime with my family (which made my first year separated from them so much easier, so thank you God for technology) and board games into the wee hours of the morning. It was a great trip. It was so good to not be there for any particular reason other than to see them. It really meant a lot to all of us to have those cherished memories together.
And that was the gist of our 2012. There are so many more memories that I could talk for days about, but these are the ones that stick out the biggest in my mind. This was the best year I have ever had and I honestly cannot think of one that will top it, but I know that 2013 holds big things for our family. We do not know exactly what that will look like or how this year will pan out, but I know that the first week of January in 2014 will tell the same story. It will be a year of new beginnings looking back on our biggest and best year yet.
So thank you to all of you who are a part of our story, and have helped to shape this year into what it was for us. We cherish each and every one of you and we are looking forward to what the new year holds. We love you all.
Here's to the best one yet.
Until next time...
