I can't believe it's 2011 already. Where has the time gone???
Before I get started with this blog, absent minded me just realized that I left out two large events that I participated in during December 2010: Stuffed Stocking Gala & Auction and the SLV Food & Accessory Drive.
I had a blast working the Stuffed Stocking Gala & Auction for the Del Norte Chamber of Commerce and other non-profits. The funds from the event go towards maintaining the Ruth Marie Center (a community building/center in Del Norte), the Del Norte Chamber of Commerce train car, and the Headwaters of the Upper Rio Grande. I helped out by modeling the items that were being auctioned off. It was so much fun working with this group of amazing people to raise over $10,000, which was split between the three organizations. One of the largest amounts of money brought in by one item was that of "Cake/Pie of the Month". I can't remember who the baker was, but this item brought over $400.00. That better be some good cake/pie. Everyone who knew her raved about her baking, so I'm sure it was well worth the price.
I also assisted "Mrs. Claus" (Peggy Hall) in collecting non-perishable food items and winter accessories during the Town of South Fork's 2010 Christmas Open House. We collected an absurd amount of food and clothing for families in the San Luis Valley who could not afford to have a nice Christmas dinner. I was amazed by everyone's generosity and support of this event. The food and accessories were divided among 10 families from Creede to Alamosa. Thank you to all who donated to this worthy cause and made Christmas a little better for those in need.
On another note...my husband and I worked a booth at the Denver International Sportsman Expo January 6-9 (well, he worked the 6-9, I worked 8-9). We had a great time seeing all the people who attended the four day expo and visiting with our good friend, Jarrett Edwards of Jarrett Edwards Outdoors. He has a fishing show on World Fishing Network and he has a great cause this year, in which he is donating his brand new fishing boat to a center for Vetrens and their families. On top of that, he's having people from all these expos who have served in the military sign the boat. What a great cause! We also got to watch the Cotton Bowl with another good friend who lives in Denver. It was great to get to hang out with Michael, who we hadn't seen since our wedding. I got a great deal of exercise over the weekend, walking from my hotel to the rail line and then downtown Denver. I have to say, I LOVE the 16th Street Mall area, especially when there is snow on the ground. The Monday following the expo, we flew out to spend a week in Texas. Thanks to the snow storm that came through over the weekend, our flight out of DIA was delayed, which caused us to miss our connecting flight in Salt Lake City. Four hours after arriving in Salt Lake City, we were able to get on a standby flight and finally arrived in Houston just in time to catch the National Championship Game. For Christmas, I purchased my husband, who is a Texas A&M graduate, basketball tickets to the A&M/Oklahoma State game this past Wednesday in College Station. We spent the majority of our trip in Magnolia with our friends, Chris & Kimberly (also A&M graduates). It always seems like we're always on the road when we are in Texas. On Tuesday, we drove from Magnolia to Angleton to visit my husband's grandfather and aunt, followed by a drive to Katy, where we spent the night with my husband's sister, husband, and their three kids. I have to say, my sister-in-law Heather and her husband Chandler are my heroes. They adopted newborn twin girls about 2 1/2 years ago, then adopted their newborn brother in June. Immediately after adopting the little boy, she found out she was pregnant and she is due next month. They are going to have four children under the age of 2 1/2. They are champs!!!!! Wednesday consisted of me dropping my husband back off in Magnolia and heading to Huntsville to grab lunch with one of my childhood girlfriends and then to my hometown of Teague, where I met up with another childhood girlfriend and spent the night with my grandparents; while my husband and Chris attended the basketball game in College Station and then had to make a visit to "The Chicken". Those of you who know about College Station and A&M understand how "important" visiting the chicken is. LOL. Thursday my husband hung out with Chris, I drove back to Magnolia from Teague and did some shopping. Friday we met up with Chris' parents, who are amazing people, for dinner and got to see their gorgeous home. I soooo want a "theater room" in my next home. :-) Saturday was our last full day in Texas and I wasn't leaving until I had some Baskin Robbins. Living in South Fork, I don't get it often enough.....love me some Daquari Ice. So after driving all over the Woodlands looking for Baskin Robbins and a way to keep some Antelope we had sausages made out of cold, we headed to Spring where we met my aunt, uncle, and cousins for dinner at HB Japanese Steakhouse. It was delicious. Being in the city makes me miss good food and entertainment that we don't have in South Fork. We were up at 4 a.m. Sunday morning (after me not getting any sleep the night before between my husband's snoring and the neighbor's barking dog) and headed to the airport. I was very relieved when we made it to South Fork and I was able to pick up my baby girl from my parents. 10 days was the longest I've ever been without her and I think we were both going through withdrawals. LOL
All in all, we had a great trip; but it is good to be back home, in our own bed, and back into a routine.
Some other things to note:
I gave up my position as the Chamber President during our January board meeting. I took over the position of Vice-President, but didn't feel that I could put the time into the position of President with everything I have going on this year. I start my second year of grad school this coming Monday and am looking forward to what this semester holds. I'm working on getting into the schools during the month of February to promote Domestic Violence Awareness. February is National Dating Violence Awareness Month and since domestic violence tends to begin during the dating stages, I think it is important to speak to high school students on the topic.
One last thing.....
The sweetest things I've heard from my daughter in 2011:
"Mommy, I'm almost in first grade. I'm growing up." I responded, "I know, but I don't want you to grow up. I want you to be my little girl forever." She replies, "Mommy, I'll always be your little girl."
Regarding Martin Luther King Day - She had school on MLK Day, but her teacher chose to discuss with her class who he was and what he did. During this discussion, she asked her class what they were most thankful for, to which my daughter responded, "God and Jesus". She then asked them what positive changes they would like to see in the world, to which my daughter said she would like to see all the orphans in the world have a home.
It's hard to believe she's only 6 years old. She has such a loving, caring, and generous heart. I'm so proud of her and love her so much!!!!
