2009 Comes to an End

Can you believe its New Years Eve, already? 2009 seems to have flown by with the blink of an eye. There have been so many events and milestones over the past 365 days it would be hard to try and re-cap. Lucky for us, I've somehow managed to keep this blog alive for the majority of it, so browsing through the archives will take care of any reminiscing that needs to be done.

I would, however, like to reflect on the month of December. What a crazy and glorious month! Between getting engaged to the love of my life and best friend and all the family visits and gatherings for Christmas, I barely had time to breathe. But, it is the best kind of stress because it's filled with loving people who mean the world to me. We even got one of the biggest snow storms I can remember this December! Nothing is better than a white Christmas (even if it does melt away entirely by the 26th).

I am looking forward to the New Year. It's always refreshing to start over and set goals for yourself. Most people, myself included, have a hard time sticking to their New Year Resolutions, but not this year. This year I'm going to push myself to keep with my resolution, simply because I never have before and you've got to start somewhere, right?

They give me hope

Now that Point Breeze Palaver is decked out and ready for winter, there is something I want the blogging world to know:

One of the best things about living in Colton's Point is most certainly my neighbors. They give me hope that America is not all bad, and are living proof that there are genuinely GOOD people left in the world. Now this could be because they are an older couple and are from a different era than most folks today, but regardless they posses the qualities that everyone should strive and wish to have.

You may be wondering what brought on this sudden surge of affection for my sweet neighbors. The fact that I was greeted with a smiling face and friendly wave as I crossed the yard on my way in yesterday is just the beginning. About an hour later I answered the front door, only to find my neighbors standing there with a bouquet of flowers and a tray of Oysters Rockefeller (on the half shell and all)! "I heard that a congratulations is in order," she said with a sly grin on her face as she handed me the cheery red, white and yellow boquet. "You both like Oysters, right? 15 minutes at 375 and 2 minutes in the broiler and your done," he instructed me as he handed me a full tray.

They had heard about our engagement (or possibly saw the act) and wanted to wish us the best and congratulate us. If we had more people in this world who were like these two in the way of caring, thoughtfulness and hospitality, maybe, just maybe it would be a better place. Maybe the human race itself wouldn't be so bitter and thinking the world owes them something 24-7.

There aren't many people left out there like my beautiful neighbors, and to be lucky enough to live next door to them makes us two very blessed souls.

Let it Snow!

I love snow, even though here in Southern Maryland we don't tend to see too much of it. Today, however, our luck has changed! A certified 'blizzard' has hit the east coast and for once we are seeing its effects. We typically see a mix of snow and rain leaving a slippery, dangerous mess that is gone after 2 days. But this...this is REAL SNOW. Beautiful big flakes of crisp white snow.

Playing in the snow, sledding, making snow angles, you name it, I did it and this year I hoped wouldn't be any different. So how majorly disappointed was I when I found out I have 'Sinusitis' yesterday...Basically I have a sinus infection, but this one is unusually annoying and debilitating for me. So no playing in the snow this weekend. (Although I did make it out for about 5 minutes to try and clean my car off) At least we've gotten so much though it looks like it's going to stick around for a while. Dare I even say we might have a white Christmas? I can only pray, because nothing is more perfect than a White Christmas with the ones you love.

Speaking of ones you love, I saw something I didn't love today. I guess he was out enjoying the snow too...Either that or was terrified and freezing! Regardless, as Bubba and I were braving the storm to make it to our local country store for seudafed, candy and tissues, I saw quite the sight...One of our stinky little friends making his way up the road in the small grooves from the other trucks with 4-wheel drive that had been out already. I couldn't believe it! Well, I could, considering the Point has had a faint smell of SKUNK for the past few months, I'm thinking they are plotting to take over here shortly. And there he went, scurrying up the road...I was just crossing my fingers he didn't get scared and spray us or our house...how miserable would it be to have to smell skunk all day while being snowed in?! At least I can't breathe out of my nose and am having a hard time smelling anything at all...

Hill Family Photos

So I want to tell you about a new friend of mine, Melissa Barrick! She is a co-worker and also an expert photographer. She started up her own business (MB Photography) and takes a lot of beautiful pictures.

In fact, we were lucky enough to be the subjects of one of her photoshoots. You see, back in June when Bubba's nephew, Jakey, turned 1 year-old we gave his parents a gift certificate for a 2 hour shoot with Melissa. Well life moves quickly and before we knew it, December was here and still no pictures. So Sarah (Jake's mom and my future sister-in-law) set up a date with Melissa and decided she wanted the whole Hill clan in the photos, not just she, her husband Adam and little Jake.

So we all bundled up and headed to Greenwell State Park for our photoshoot. I personally was a little nervous about the photos since technically I wasn't a real part of the Hill family, but little did I know, just a week later I'd be engaged and the soon-to-be Mrs. Mindy Hill!

So anyway, back to my point, check out a "sneak peek" of the Hill Family Photo's on Melissa's Website. And if you're looking for a photographer, give Melissa a call or an email because she is a true professional and has a natural talent for photography!

The Story

So here it is, the story of our engagement. Or should I say, the story of the day he proposed? Either way, here it is...

I am a Communications Liaison, which entails me writing and publishing newsletters, coordinating events, fundraisers, parties and doing pretty much every other task people can think of that A) They don't want to do, and B) Involves communicating to the masses. Our biggest work function/event? The annual "Holiday Party" held every year around Christmas. To me this is a big deal because this is the one chance my company has to give back to its employees and I would like it to a memorable event that they thoroughly enjoy. Needless to say, around this time of year I'm fairly stressed out. Not awful stress, I enjoy planning parties, but it still takes its toll on you.

It's Friday, December 11, 2009 - the date of the big holiday party. Also the date that Bubba and I have designated as our "Anniversary". We never officially said, 'this is official', we just kind of happened and we knew it was around the 11th, so there you have it. 2 years of dating joy...and I say that in all seriousness. There has not been a moment with Bubba that I haven't been happy. He is truly a diamond in the rough and really knows how to make me laugh.

Back to the story...So we're at the holiday party, and as the one in charge of planning I have to stay around to make sure all the drunks leave and that the caterer and DJ make it out ok, which also means Bubba has to stick around as well. He was a little antsy, but we finally made it out around 11:45pm or so.

We make it home (Lexington Park to Colton's Point isn't exactly a quick ride) and I'm exhausted. I hadn't been sleeping well all week, and with the music that had been blasting my head was pounding. So I instantly change into my pajama's in one fell swoop and head to the bathroom to wash my face. All the while Bubba yells, "Crap! I left my phone in the car". I noticed it took a while for him to come back in and I was just hoping he hadn't slipped and hit his head or something ( I always think the worst). So he comes back in and has a bottle of champagne on ice, a vase of roses, candles and 2 glasses...My heart dropped and I thought I knew what was coming. But he read my face and said, 'No no, you did a great job tonight on the party and I thought we'd celebrate!' So I'm sitting on the couch (in my PJ's) and brimming with excitement he tells me that he has an early "Christmas Thing" to show me, and that I needed to put my coat on. 'Is anyone going to see me? I am already in my pajamas. Do I need real shoes?' He told me he didn't think anyone would see me, but he wasn't sure...So I throw on a sweatshirt AND a coat, socks and slippers and he guides me outside.

Go stand by the fence and look at the house, I want to show you something. YES! He put more lights up on the house and we won't look so ghetto!! Ready Mindy? Here it goes...

And then nothing, I felt awful! How does it look? he yelled. I had to answer, Aww babe I think you blew a fuse or something, nothing happened! Well, that is because you're looking the wrong way...and he turns me around to our pier completely lit up in white lights...and then the shaking set in. I knew what was happening. We walked out to the end of the pier and had the most beautiful moment I could imagine!

And that is the story of our engagement! Simple and sweet, and every bit as romantic as I'd hoped it would be. Bubba is truly the love of my life, and I can't imagine spending it with anyone else. I know it's mushy, but come on, if you're lucky you only get engaged the right way once!

I'm a pretty lucky girl:

The Big Apple

December is going to be pretty jam packed for me this year and it's already started out with a BANG! And a good BANG at that. The 3rd - 5th, three generations traveled up the East Coast to the great city that is New York. Marci, my grandmother, Nan, my mom and myself boarded a train at BWI and made our way to Penn Station, where our journey began.

This is not my first time traveling to New York, in fact, I've done just about every winter "touristy" attraction possible. I've been to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and watched the ball drop in Time Square on New Years. It's just something about New York in December that keeps me coming back for more. Maybe it's the lights, or possibly the unbelievably creative window displays donning every store window. Perhaps it's the scarves and peacoats that line the streets, or just the simple excitement and joy that exudes off of every person you pass.

This trip we explored the town, watched the AMAZING Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, ate a superb dinner at The View on the 47th floor that slowly rotates to give you a view of the entire city, bargained on Canal Street, remembered at the site of the World Trade Center, and did some shopping in the beautiful Bryant Park which was filled with unique vendors.

Overall I love New York and will always continue to go back and visit!

It's that time of year...

Maybe I'm feeling mushy because it's the first day of December and I know that the Christmas season is in full swing, but I really am thankful today. I know what you're thinking, "Thanksgiving was last week, you're a little late..." It's true though, I'm really feeling blessed with the people I have in my life at the moment. I'm lucky to have some outstanding friends, both near and far, who are genuine and truly caring people. People who have been my friend through thick and thin and are each unique and special to me.

I'm glad to say that all of my friends are so very different from one another, but yet all have one common characteristic. They are good friends. What is a good friend? Someone who will text you just to say, "Hey, I'm stalking your life online and am crying because I miss being in SMC-we need to get together" or someone who can play phone tag with me for WEEKS before we actually get to catch up and not care because she knows I suck with phones, or someone I can randomly text about drunken nights/parties that were years ago, and still laugh when she reads the text because she knows exactly what I'm talking about, someone who I can call after not having seen or spoken to them in a few months due to our distance and busy schedules, but be able to pick right back up where we left off, someone who can send me forwards that make me laugh EVERY time and complain that she missed "National Ginger Day" last week or finally someone who can tolerate playing rock band with me and listen to me cheer and perform like we're a real band or something...

To all my friends, thank you so much for being there for me, I love you all very much!!