The Worst "End of 2009" Post You've Ever Read

(This is where I'm supposed to write something witty about what 2009 meant to me, and about how it changed me and what I'll remember most.)

(And here is where I'm supposed to write about my hopes and dreams for 2010, my potential resolutions and desires for the year).

(And here is where I tell you that I have a terrible cold and have been laying on the couch all day. I plan to stay here most of the night unless I can convince Aaron to take me out for Mexican food. I mean, if anything is going to clear these sinuses, it's jalepenos.)

Happy New Year. Be well.

I'll Be Home for Christmas

When we were little, my parents used to tell us that they convinced Santa to bring our presents early because we had to go to grandma's in the morning. When I was old enough to drive, I would take my brother and sister to the town nearby on Christmas Eve to purchase carrots* for Rudolph and his friends, and every.single.year. when we arrived home, Santa had already been to our house! On Christmas Eve! We always missed him!

Santa must have known we were going to be busy this year, because he already stopped by. And rumor has it, he told my mom I've been a very good girl this year.



My mom's Christmas tree is full of old ornaments and love. Yes, a Christmas tree can hold love. Love and memories and family.

"Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved." ~Augusta E. Rundel

For the year we put behind us, I am thankful. I've been happy, and I've been sad. I've been overwhelmed with love and kindness and the friendship of strangers. I've learned things about myself that I'm glad I know, and I've learned things about myself that require a bit of work in the coming year(s). We've loved and we've lost, but we've gained! We've gained Faith and Hope and Love and Trust!

For, we've always had Joy. The Joy that so many only reflect on at this time of year, when it is safe to proclaim that Jesus came to save the world! But I hope that we, that I, will never need a holiday or a season to proclaim that My Joy comes from knowing My Jesus.

Merry Christmas, friends.

xoxo,

Natalie (& Aaron)

{My mom did not buy a defective ornament, there really is an "h" there.}


*{Mom, did you use those carrots, or were they just a prop?}

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Christmas is missing something this year. A big round belly, presents to open for "the baby" - it's just not going to be what I thought it was. But it's not going to be terrible, because we have each other, and we have a family that loves and cares for us and hopes the best for us.

And we have our Angel.

Christmas is my favorite time of the year. My parents house is warm and always smells like cookies and Christmas and the smell of love. I wish I could bottle it up and keep it all year.

And on Christmas morning, our whole family gathers together in Grandma's little house and we all have to sit on top of each other and try not to dump our plates on each other and on the floor, because the house is so small when it's filled with all that love.

The tree is up and most of the presents are wrapped. The Jessica Simpson Christmas CD is in the CD player in the car, and soon, we will bake cookies.

Christmas is not a day, it is a season. A season that reminds me of Peace, Hope, and Love.

I pray that for you too.

Family Candids

I met with Ryan and Gina last Friday to capture some candid moments of them with their adorable children, Jase and Misha.




Oh My Gosh. She's precious!







Really? I can't stand the cuteness.



YUM.





Jase has the greatest smile!



This photography thing? I'm lovin' it.

How He Looks At Her

(I had a photo shoot today with this adorable family. I'll show more pictures later, but had to share this one now.)

Kori & Drew

Took advantage of the gorgeous weather in Northwest Indiana this weekend with a photoshoot!

Lots of things you never wanted to know about me!

I don't usually do these, but I was tagged by Jen, and I had a lot of iced tea today and I can't sleep. SO.

1. Name someone with the same birthday as you. Resourceful Mommy :)

2. Where was your first kiss? In a car.

3. Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else's property? Never, always afraid of getting caught.

4. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex? Never punched anyone of any sex! I'm a lover, not a fighter.

5. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people? Lots of times - high school musicals, high school show choir (including a performace at Walt Disney World), many weeks of worship
team at church, leading vocals for the praise band at Campus Crusade in college, and 9 weddings.

6. What's the first thing you notice about the preferred sex? I try not to look at other men except Gerard Butler, because HELLO? Whoa.

7. What really turns you off? Lying

8. What do you order at Starbucks? Venti Black Iced Tea, 2 Sweet-n-low, or Grande Hot Chocolate, 1 shot of Peppermint, Skinny, No-whip.

9. What is your biggest mistake? I don't make mistakes I try to think of everything in my life as a learning experience, and really, I don't regret a single thing or think that I made any mistakes.

10. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose? No, but once I did cut my own hair and it looked AWFUL.

11. Say something totally random about yourself. I am currently watching the Disney Channel.

12. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity? Heidi Klum. Or my mom, because she is the Mayor of the town I grew up in, and we totally look alike.

13. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows? OHHHH, see #11.

14. Did you have braces? Ugh, yes. And I hated every minute of those 2.5 years.

15. Are you comfortable with your height? What's not to like about being 5'10" and looking like Heidi Klum?!

16. What is the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you? Mr. Cline would be embarrassed if he knew I told you I think he is very romantic! He surprised me with an "at-home" spa for our anniversary this year because we didn't end up wanting to go out of town.

17. When do you know its love? I think love is a choice, and "knowing it's love" is different for everyone. But for the sake of answering the question - for Aaron, I knew it when we got in our first argument, and I knew I wanted to work it out instead of just walk away.

18. Do you speak any other languages? Happy to say that after 4 semesters of American Sign Language, I still remember my nam! And flower! And cookie! But that's about it.

19. Have you ever been to a tanning salon? Not only have I been to a tanning salon, I used to work at one. Woot.

20. What magazines do you read? Parents, Working Mother, Glamour.

21. Have you ever ridden in a limo? Yes, a few times. But the first time was in the 5th grade because I sold magazines for the fall fundraiser at school and got to ride in a limo to Pizza Hut. Fancy, 'cause that's how we roll.

23. Do you watch MTV? I haven't in a long time.

24. What's something that really annoys you? People who lie, and bad drivers.

25. What's something you really like? Mexican Food

26. Do you like Michael Jackson? I like Michael Jackson circa 1980's.

27. Can you dance? I can shake my groove thing, yes.

28. What's the latest you have ever stayed up? All night? All the time in High School and College. Not so much anymore. Lately, probably 2ish.

29. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room? No, only been to the ER 1 time and that's because I tripped over a parking block and cut my knee. Because I'm full of gracefullness.

30. Do you actually read these when other people fill them out? Of course! I love learning new things about people to use as blackmail deepen our friendship!