perspective

I could tell you that the past two weeks have been so hard.  I could tell you that we have been dealing with a lot around here. I could say that I have barely had any time to actually focus on our new house and make it feel like a home because work has been such a burden.  I could tell you we didn't have water for two weeks and we had to bum off of other people's showers and toilets.  I could tell you that the minute the city finally did turn on our water that the valves that go to the laundry upstairs were not turned off and that water spewed out gallons per second flooding our upstairs hallway.  It leaked down in to our living room and dripped on to the floor.  I could tell you that Evaleigh has completely been off of her nap schedule and I am exhausted. I could tell you that John and I have been sick and have felt yucky for the past few days. I could tell you that lately I have felt a little bit like a failure. 

OR

I could tell you that being in our new home feels like we are newlyweds again.  I could tell you that we are giddy with excitement that we have a new place of our own and that we are proud of it even with all of its bumps and bruises and leaks.  I could tell you that I have wonderful jobs and I am so thankful to have work.  I could tell you that since moving back to Atlanta we have gotten to see so much more of the people we love (thanks for letting us use your shower and toilets Dad and Lisa!)  I could tell you that an incredible thing happened and I am so blessed that I listened to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  I was moments from taking Evaleigh on a walk and we would have been gone an hour.  Instead I had a feeling I should linger around the house a few more minutes.  In that time I heard a loud gushing sound coming from upstairs...I found water EVERYWHERE.  Thank GOD I caught it and turned it off in time, I feel so much gratitude for that.  I could tell you that i have been getting to play with Evaleigh a lot more lately because she has been awake more than usual. I could tell you that because of John's sickness I have gotten to snuggle him more and take care of him, and that makes me feel good.  I could tell you that I am grateful for experiences that reaffirm to me my self worth.

I prefer to look at my life the second way.

I am blessed, I am happy, and I am positive.

Dear 2011, you've got a lot to live up to.

2010 was quite possibly the best year so far.  

It brought me a husband and college graduation.  

It proved to be a year of growth and learning about so many new things.  I'm sad to see it go.  

A tear rolled down my face a few minutes after 2011 came as I said to John, "That was the last time we could say we got married this year."  

I am still looking forward to 2011 and it's surprises.

We spent New Years Eve all by our selves in our little apartment.  

We sipped on Sparkling Apple Cider, Italian Pomegranate Soda from the World Market, and Sparkling White Grape Juice.  

It got a little crazy.

We watched Netflix the whole night and snuggled on our day bed in the living room.  We had piles of pillows and blankets and wallowed in them and watched The Office til we couldn't take anymore of the awkwardness that it displays.

We ordered in chicken habenero sandwiches and chocolate lava cakes.

Dear 2010,

You were oh-so-good to us and our favorite year so far.  It was a pleasure to be married during your year and go on a glorious honeymoon and bask in our love. 

We loved the discoveries that we made about each other and learning to serve one another.

We loved making dinners together.

We loved doing the dishes toegther.

We loved late night talks and cuddling in the most comfortable bed in the world.

We loved laughing endlessly at things only the two of us could ever understand.

We loved having friends over in our little apartment and sharing a piece of our world with others.

We loved playing new music together.

We loved being students together (even for just one semester). 

We loved playing "1-2-3 come and jump on me" and breaking our bed.

We loved stopping at the rest stop in Arkansas coming home from Colorado for Thanksgiving and having a spitting contest. (Even though I ended up spitting on myself)

We loved staying up til 2am almost every night just because we couldn't ever get enough time with one another.

We loved sharing our first holidays together and building a home and a life together.

We loved becoming a family.

We sure hope that 2011 can live up to you.

Lovingly,

Rachel and John

Dear 2011,

Bring it.

The Murphys