2011 Year in Review – Part 1

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”
Henry Ford

I started a tradition quite a while ago of writing a recap of the year before the new one was to begin.  I did start this post before 2012 began, but I just wanted to enjoy visiting with family instead of writing about it.  As I begin this post, we currently are more than halfway on our 2 day drive back home to Dallas from Florida, so with the Cowboy’s game on in the background which is occupying my husband in our hotel room, now’s as good a time as any.

2011 was quite a year!!  It brought both some of the hardest and greatest times in my life.  Here are some of the more memorable moments:

Out of the gate of 2011, in January we had to gather all the courage, strength, and hope that comes through faith. My Mom’s Breast Cancer had come back in her bones with a vengeance. She spent her 64th birthday with her friends and family on January 21st, and then 2 days later departed this world.  She still managed to cross some important things off her “Bucket List” first, including seeing me try on my wedding dress from her hospice bed; and Skyping to see her newborn Grandson, Jacob Richard — Paul & Pilar’s youngest boy — born just a few days before her birthday.

1 of about 7 dresses I tried on before I found the one. Mary Catherine was the Angel who brought the dresses from her Ocala shop that day

In February, before returning to Dallas, Mike surprised me and Dad with a short trip to St. Augustine, Florida.  That’s a special place for me, and I hadn’t been back for many years.  It was a much-needed time away together, and we wanted to pray for all those who had prayed for us during our time of need.  We lit candles and prayed for you all when we visited Our Lady of La Leche at the Shrine, and walked the Sacred Acre where the 1st Mass was celebrated in the US.

A short trip to St. Augustine, Florida with 2 of my favorite fellas. Trying to start getting our heads out of the fog...

Meeting my newest nephew, Jacob Richard, upon our return to Dallas. Holding him was what my heart needed...

Then it was back to Dallas, commencing the journey to find a new “normal.” Of course, wedding plans began immediately in high gear, to plan it in just 5 months down where Mike grew up in San Benito, TX and South Padre Island.  I do not recommend grieving and destination wedding planning, but it’s just how things ended up… And so we rely on God’s grace, and those He’s given us to do what we need to.

I never even got thank you notes out to all the people who sent flowers, Mass cards, gifts, Edible Fruit displays, sympathy cards, books, and reached out in so many ways.  So please know that everything meant so much to us, and we are grateful for your friendship, love, prayers and support – truly.

In March, Mike’s Mom came to Dallas and spent Spring break with us.  We had fun crafting and she was our first passenger in the new vehicle that we bought.  God blessed us with a fantastic deal on fully loaded red Mercury Mariner, with less than 5,000 miles on it.  As hard as it was for Mike to let go of Ol’ Blue, this little crossover has served us well.

Our new Mercury Mariner - we love "Ruby"!

Mike's Mom with baby, Jacob. Can you tell she is ready for more little ones??

In April we went to Hollywood, Florida. I was Alyssa’s, my niece, Sponsor for her Confirmation.  We had a great visit with family, and are so proud of the beautiful young lady that Alyssa has become, inside and out.

Cracking up with my niece Alyssa at her Confirmation Party

On the last day of Spring Blooms at the Dallas Arboretum, we had our Engagement photos taken.  Our friends John Wehlage, and his wife Julie, did an amazing job on both our Engagement Photos and my Bridal Portraits. More photos (includes the events surrounding our wedding) are posted on our wedding site blog, the Martinez Lounge so I’ll only post a couple here:

Mike + Lisa - Engagement Photos at the Dallas Arboretum during Spring Blooms

Bridal Portraits & Engagement photos done by John Wehlage. Taken at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Holy Saturday, 2011

Wow, April was really busy.  We took a jam-packed wedding planning trip down to South Padre Island.  It felt like a contest – how many vendors can we book in one weekend? HA! The last weekend of the month we headed to Eunice, Louisiana where I used to live and work.  Our friends hosted a beautiful engagement Mass of Thanksgiving and Party, Cajun style, at Walnut Street’s Atrium of the dear Miller family — where I served at many events for others.  Again, more stories and photos are all on our Martinez Lounge site.

Celebrating with my Cajun Family - Cajun dancing with Garrett

Last year it was May Showers, Bridal Showers that is. A beautiful shower was hosted on Mother’s Day (aren’t my friends amazing??) by friends & CRHP (Christ Renews His Parish) sisters. The other was graciously hosted by St. Ann’s choir members after a Wednesday night practice. My Bachelorette Party was hosted by my Maid of Honor, Kelli, at my friend’s, Cynthia, home in Coppell. We also attended Engaged encounter, along with our NFP classes.  My oldest nephew, Daniel, graduated from High School. My Dad came to stay with us before the wedding, and so we began the big move of Mike into the Condo – and it was the three of us in close quarters until the wedding. Wedding planning pretty much consumed all the other moments – LOL.  Lots of photos of those great moments on our blog. I’ll leave you with a few.

Bridal Shower with friends & CRHP Sisters

Bachelorette Party - Hostesses, Cynthia & Kelli

My nephew, Daniel, graduated from High School.

That’s the first part of 2011.  More to come friends, but sleep most come first!

Setting Up the Martinez Command Center

It’s been a nice day here in a cooler version of DFW.  We took advantage of the holiday by beginning to put things up on the walls in our home office. Here’s what the progress is looking like in my corner of the home office, aka the Martinez Command Center:

My crafted French Twill Cork Storyboards that were featured in my post yesterday are hanging now, ready to fill up with writing notes.  Near the window is the beautiful personalized frame that my sister-in-law & crew gave us for our wedding — it has our names and our wedding date on it, and happens to match perfectly!  (It’s blank because it is waiting for our wedding photos to pop in there.)  The Paris sign was a house-warming gift from 4 years ago.  My crafted letter holder is sitting on the desk along with some of our framed engagement photos, some photo boxes holding supplies, a few personal items, a little pot for my push pins, and some cool tins from Ikea that I put my pens and things in.  Uhhh, don’t pay any attention to the stuff on the floor…still needing to finish setting up and cleaning up

A close up of the 3 French Twill Cork Storyboards that I made and are now hanging on the bright yellow home office wall.  My excitement inspired the message that I push-pinned up there:  ”I (heart) my home office!”

Mike’s desk received a decorative touch as well.  Artwork that I made in high school, my pen & ink stipple point Bulldog, “Poncho” now serves as his watchdog.

It was about 9:30 pm when Mike and I realized we were hungry, since we had been so embroiled in our set-up.  We took our fruit, cheese and cracker snack/dinner into our upgraded space to enjoy.

Mike gets a big “THANK YOU!”  He helped me attach picture hangers, ran out to Home Depot amidst the set-up to pick up more supplies, carefully measured everything off, drilled, etc, etc, and made it look “picture perfect.” He’s so handy, and I’m so blessed.

Looking forward to continuing to set-up the Martinez Command Center. We have some more work to do, but thankfully the bigger items are pretty much in place.  I hope you have enjoyed a brief glimpse into some of the space, my French Countryside corner office, in the Newlywed’s home!

Blog Overhaul – Letting in the Fresh Air

So, my husband helped me design this nifty new header image for my Blog – yay! In honor of the new look, there is also a new layout. I am letting in some fresh air on my blog.

I hope this will inspire me to have some more time and discipline to get back to recording some of my ponderings here.

Thanks for stopping by, and please keep doing so!

Getting some fresh air on the blog = Makeover

Embrace the Silence

Just a quick note to let you know why I have not been posting on here.  Besides working, planning a destination wedding in five months, and grieving the loss of my dear Mom, I have been blogging on our wedding site.

Click the link to that site, should you care to peruse the sights and thoughts that I managed to squeeze out amidst the craziness:  The Martinez Lounge. It does include pics from parts of the journey, the bridal portraits, wedding pics, and even a few *tasteful* honeymoon photos ;D Nevertheless, enjoy.

I’ve not written off this site, so don’t write off Closed Doors, Open Windows.  I’ll be back to blogging after we settle in a bit more!  I also want to do a site redesign — ohhhhh, yes!