Tracy's Favorites of 2011

I find myself every year saying "I can't believe how fast this year has gone by".  I really don't know if it's because I'm older now or what, but each year goes by faster than the one before.  This year in particular definitely flew by!  I always enjoy looking back on the year and reflecting on all that had happened, and all that I have learned.  It's no secret that this has been a very hard year for me, so in a way I'm not too sad to say goodbye to 2011.  But as I look back, I can't help but give thanks to the Lord for all that He has done.  I am especially grateful for my husband.  Our first full year of marriage and it was pretty amazing!  I can't praise the Lord enough for answering a specific prayer and bringing Justin and I together.  Now here are some of my other favorites of 2011:

Favorite Movie of 2011: Courageous

Justin and I both loved this movie.  Justin is very strict with the movies he watches and likes watching movies with good values, which is hard to come by these days.  I really respect this about him.  Christian movies have gotten a pretty bad rap with the acting and low budget, but I would have to say I didn't notice either one of those in this movie. I thought the acting was great and the movie was very well made.  Or maybe the story is so good that you just don't notice it at all.  If you haven't seen the movie, go rent it or buy it when it comes out.  It's funny, sad (have the tissues ready), and has a great story.  You won't be disappointed! 

Favorite Book of 2011:
This was really hard to pick a favorite since I've read many good books this year, though not as many as I have wanted.  I also started a few books that I just couldn't finish. Out of all the books I read, I think the one I learned the most from was:

I wrote a blog post about this a few months ago so I won't go into more detail.  To learn more about the book, you can go here to my previous post. 

Favorite Album of 2011:

I really can't say enough about this album. I.Love.It.  It's the Passion Album titled Here for You.  If you don't have it on your itunes already, get it!  I love every song on it and have it playing while I work out all the time.  That leads me to my next favorite:

Favorite Song of 2011:

My favorite song is of course on the album Here for You.  It's called Always.  I had this song on repeat the morning of my 1st miscarriage and the morning I went in to have my D&C procedure.  The song was repeating in my head the entire day.  Here are some of the lyrics:

Trouble surrounds me
Chaos abounding
My soul will rest in You
I will not fear the war
I will not fear the storm
My help is on the way
My help is on the way

Oh, my God
He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear
His promise is true
My God will come through always
Always
I lift my eyes up
My help comes from the Lord

Favorite Work Out Video of 2011:

I love this workout video.  I have 2 of her other videos that are also really good but are 45 minutes long.  I love this 30 day shred because the workouts are just 20 minutes and are perfect for a busy day.  I try to workout 4 to 5 days a week and when I don't have time, I just pop this video in and it definitely counts as my work out!  I also like it because it combines cardio, strength and abs so you are doing it all in 20 minutes.  And yes, you are sweating when you're finished.  And that leads me to my next favorite:

Favorite TV Show of 2011 (my guilty pleasure):

I actually just got into this show this year and dragged Justin down with me.  He loves it now too :)  I don't know why we like it so much but it's really the only show we keep up with now especially since Justin is busy with school.  It's definitely inspiring and I get attached to the people on there.  The producers also do a good job of adding the drama to it.  It starts up again on Tuesday and we can't wait! 

Favorite Famous Wedding of 2011:

Ever since planning my own wedding, I've been a little obsessed with watching wedding shows (I love Say Yes to the Dress and any type of wedding shows, it's ridiculous).  I just get so happy for others planning their weddings and think it is so fun.  I even think it would be fun to work at a bridal salon or be a wedding planner one day!  Okay, I digress.  I tried hard to not get all wrapped into the Royal Wedding, but I just couldn't help it.  The wedding was on a Friday morning airing at 4am.  Since Justin and I both had that Friday off, I decided to record it and watch it when I wake up.  Well, I just so happened to wake up around 4:30 and couldn't resist.  I crawled quietly out of bed, made some coffee and snuggled on the coach and watched the whole thing.  Justin woke up around 6:30 wondering where I was and ended up watching it with me!  What a good husband :) 

Favorite Article I read in 2011:

I love reading blogs and great articles online.  Sometimes I can spend a little too much time doing it :)  After my 1st miscarriage, I found myself surfing the web about miscarriages as it encouraged me to hear other women's stories.  I stumbled upon this article: Suffering a miscarriage in Silence
This article was my inspiration for wanting to write about my miscarriages on my blog.  I never would have thought about it before reading this.  I was heartbroken at the thought of so many women suffering in silence and not having the freedom to talk about their loss.  I also realized that I had no idea how deep the pain was until I suffered it myself.  I am so thankful the Lord led me to talk openly about it and pray that it will be an encouragement to women who face this pain in the future.

Favorite Getaway of 2011:

Bed and Breakfast in the Hill Country!!

Justin & I stayed at Biscuit Hill in Canyon Lake for our 1 year anniversary and loved it.  It was our first B&B and we really loved being outdoors and having a relaxing weekend together.  Justin was a little skeptical about going to a B&B ("what will we do??") but he even says how much he loved it!  If you're looking for a place to getaway, I highly recommend this place:  Biscuit Hill B&B

Favorite Milestone of 2011:

And last, but not least....our Favorite Milestone of 2011 is...drum roll please....

We bought a house!!  It's being built as we speak and we are scheduled to close around the beginning of February!  More details on the house coming soon!

Hope you all enjoy your last day of 2011...Happy New Year! 

 

Christmas 2011

It's hard to believe that Christmas has already come and gone!  Every year there is a huge build up and then it goes by so fast.  We spent this Christmas with my side of the family since we were in Austin with Justin's family last Christmas.  We had a great time! 

We had a yummy Mexican theme Christmas Eve dinner, played some cards, and opened up some gifts! 

Then on Christmas Day, my nephew came over and we opened up more gifts with him and had a wonderful Christmas lunch that my mom made.

Peyton loved his helicopter that his daddy gave him!



Peyton helping Uncle Justin open his gift



Justin and I gave Peyton one of those Hallmark recordable books, where you can record your voice reading the book to him.  We included a few personal things in there so it was hilarious recording it, what seemed like 100 times because we kept messing up.  I think we had more fun recording the book than Peyton did listening to it...he will appreciate it one day!  But how can a book compete with a remote control helicopter anyway?  :)  



The boys playing with the toys!



If you know Justin, you know he is a die hard Aggie and has been pretty consumed this season with the Aggies going to the SEC and the Aggies hiring a new coach.  He stayed on top of the sports media when rumors were starting with who the Aggies would hire as their new coach.  Justin thought about it so much, that he even had a dream that A&M made HIM the new head football coach...say what?!?!  I told him that this is definitely a sign that he has been thinking about this just a little too much.  Of course days later they hired Sumlin, who Justin was pleased with...thank goodness!  So here is a gift from my parents as a little joke to Justin:

A Texas A&M football visor with the words "Coach" that my mom put on there! 

Coach Cummings...has a nice ring to it...

And then we had a little Happy Birthday Jesus Party for Peyton.  Just a small way to teach Him the entire meaning of Christmas.

It was a great Christmas and I am so thankful for my husband, my family and my Savior, Jesus Christ!



God, Where Were You? Part 2

The Holidays really are such a fun time of year!  I have always loved Christmas.  I love the meaning of Christmas, the parties, the decorations, and I especially love coming home to our Christmas tree everyday.  I love the music, the food, the baking, and being with family.  I love traditions and making new traditions with my husband.  It really is such a special season.  But with all the fun and excitement, there are definitely people around us everywhere that Christmas is a hard time for them.  It might be that first Christmas without their loved one.  It might be another Christmas of being single and having your great aunt ask once again "why aren't your married yet?"  It might be your first Christmas overseas as a missionary away from all your family and friends.  Or it might be another Christmas that goes by that you have no children to buy gifts for.  This Christmas, I would have been almost 8 months pregnant.  It's hard to not think about it everyday.  I remember back in the summer thinking about the Christmas cards we could send out with some cute belly pictures.  I had already pictured what our lives would be like at this time of year, and it's now nothing what I thought it would be.  But through the sadness that comes during this time of year, the Lord has reminded me, "Never will I leave you, Never will I forsake you."

Going back to the story of Lazarus (see previous post for part 1), another very powerful verse that spoke to me was the shortest verse in the Bible.  John 11:35 says "Jesus wept."  I found this verse incredibly comforting to me for various reasons.  I don't believe that Jesus wept because Lazarus died....he knew Lazarus was going to die and He also knew that He would raise Lazarus from the dead.  Verse 33 says that when Jesus saw Mary weeping, he was deeply moved, and he wept.  I love that Jesus fully understands the grief that Mary and Martha are experiencing.  He knows when we hurt.  He understands why we hurt as he was fully flesh.  He doesn't just say "Don't you know this is for your good??  Just get over it!"  There were times during my grief that I would feel extremely guilty for feeling so sad.  I was believing the lie that because I'm sad, I'm not trusting God.  It brought me great comfort to know that the Lord truly has compassion on me.  He loves me, as he loved Mary and Martha.  He is deeply moved for me as He was with Mary and Martha.  This doesn't give me the excuse to complain and mope everyday, but it does bring me comfort to know that during this holiday season, when I'm reminded of where we would be if our babies had lived, He understands.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.

I am so thankful that over the past 5 months, the Lord has showed me not only that this trial is for His glory and my good, but also that He cares.  That He has compassion and gives me grace to walk through it.  That He is a God of truth.  That he hasn't abandoned me.  That He is near even when I don't sense it.  That He is my healer, and He wants to help me grow to know and trust Him more.  Even when I don't hear from Him in the way I desire, He is there--listening, caring, feeling my pain.  Thank you Lord!