2012: One Crazy Year

2012 in Review

I got home from my Dad’s house late last night after celebrating Christmas with the family. He lives in Kentucky and it’s an almost 3 hour drive. While on the snow covered road home, my husband and I were talking about New Year’s goals (I am adamantly against calling them resolutions). Anyhow, that lead to what we may have “resolved” to do in 2012 that we didn’t do or did accomplish.

I set out in 2012 with a small list of goals. Top one was to take my photo business to the next level. The second goal, like it has been since I was about 22, get in shape. I also had things on that list like: get organized (epic fail), finally decide on a school for my masters and an area of study, and to run a 5K. I was focused, determined, and raring to go. Some of my drive was derailed mid January, when my Grandmother passed away. This was not something that was expected and was obviously trying for my very close family.

This is my Grandma and Grandpa Perry on their wedding day. 

The thing about death though is that it makes you realize how short life is and that taking risks and doing things out of your comfort zone are the only real way to really live. I started training for that 5k (I really dislike running), I made plans with people for upcoming photo shoots, and in February, I shot the first wedding of 2012 at the beautiful historic hotel in the town where I live, the General Denver.

The happy couple!

In March, my husband and I headed to Savannah, GA for a few days and then onto FL to spend some time with the family. We had a great trip!

Hubby and me at Forsyth Park in Savannah!

Spring came and with it a new purchase. My hubby and I happen to be fans of Jeeps and he is a fan of rebuilding old cars, while I just like old stuff. I was happy to find a college friend through Facebook and as a bonus she happened to be selling a 1971 Jeep CJ5. We had to have it. So, it now lives with us and plans are being made to restore it. It’s so much fun and we are so glad we bought it. J

May comes with all kinds of celebrations. My niece turned 3 (getting so big), I turned 29 (sigh) my hubby and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary (yay), and we always have a family reunion at my Dads house over Memorial Day weekend (super fun). One of my favorite events of the year as my family lives all over the country and we don’t get to see each other near enough.  

Also in May, I made the decision to return to school for my Master’s Degree. This was a big decision that I feel was the right one. I decided to pursue a Master’s in Business Administration and to do so online with Ashland University. I filled out the application and started school less than a week later. I still have a ways to go, but it will be worth it.

In June, I did my first ever pin-up photo shoot. It was a blast and one of my favorite photo sessions ever.

I haven’t mentioned much about the dreaded 5K that I had set out to the do in January. Well, that 5K turned into a 10K mudrun that I somehow became the co-captain of an 14 person team. The event was the MuckRuckus for MS and we ran in honor of a co-worked of mine. Our team actually did pretty well and we had a really fun time. We are planning to run again this year. Go Dirty Critters! J

About halfway through!

At this point, summer was upon us and so was senior photo shoots.

…but a girl can’t be all work and no play all the time and if it’s a “long hot summer” one simply must travel to Nashville, TN  with her best girl to see Keith Urban at the Grand Ole Opry. The bucket list got a whole slew of check marks that weekend and it was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken. I can’t wait to go back!

 Before the show!

Taking the tour!

Come August, my nephew had his first birthday! Here’s Cas! J

Oh how I love fall. It is my favorite time of the year. The smells, the colors, the food, the holidays, and deer hunting! I love it all! This year in September, I was asked by the Kentucky Houndsmen Association to be the photographer for the Kentucky State Youth Hunt and the Kentucky State Hunt. Both are great events that I have been to before, but not to take the photos. The photos were just published in the Coonhound Bloodlines magazine December 2012. Very exciting!

Also in September, my cousin and his wife had an adorable little boy, Levi Cole. He lives almost 1000 miles from me, but I got to meet him around his 2 month birthday! This is him and me.

October is just as busy as the spring time and this year was no exception. Photo shoots were in full swing, plus my cousin got married (gorgeous bride, gorgeous wedding), and I went on the annual gals trip with my moms side of the family. This year was the first without my grandmother. We went to Brown, Co Indiana and it was a nice relaxing weekend with a lot of shopping and a lot of memories being rehashed and new ones being made. Plus, the leaves there were the prettiest I have seen anywhere.

 One of the fall photo shoots!

My cousin Amy and her new husband, Jon

In November, Veterans Day to be exact, I got the call that my Grandfather had passed away. It was deer season, one of his favorite things. I like to think that since Grandpa wasn’t able to make it to the woods in the body that he had, that he decided to go hunting in heaven in his new body. All of our family (which is huge) gathered together to give him a very personal funeral and well deserved military burial.

My Grandparents over 65 years ago! 

Thanksgiving and all the December festivities came in a rush. After a long trip to FL to lay my grandpa to rest, it was time to get ready for the holidays. The trip, the stealing of my purse (this actually happened while I was in the funeral and 1000 miles from home - awful), a very difficult accounting class, and general work pressures were beginning to take their toll and I was more than ready for a break. My classes ended for the semester the same day as my husband’s 31^st birthday. My other niece turned 3 and I also started my Etsy shop. I had introduced antler letters to my alphabet art series and the orders were coming in for Christmas gifts. Of course we also had the end of the world madness (dodged that bullet, lol), and I was awarded Dispatcher of the Year at our Police Dept Christmas party and I was honored and humbled to have received this award as I work with some great dispatchers.

Over the weekend I was thrilled to have additional family in for Christmas, including my Grandmother who traveled with my Aunt from FL. We even visited the Mega Cavern in Louisville, KY, which has the only underground light display in the world. (check that off the bucket list ;) Pic to follow!)

I can say that 2012 was a big year for me as it was for many folks. Lots of ups and downs, but such is life. We had terrible tragedies in this world and great victories (the world didn’t end). I thank God daily for this life he has given me and that I get to wake up to it everyday.

So, what does 2013 hold? Who knows! I will make my list of goals and probably accomplish a few, but every now and then something happens that you simply don’t plan on. That’s the beauty of it all. Do something memorable, do something crazy, take a risk, take a leap of faith. I lost two people in my life this year that had a huge part in shaping who I am and when they passed away we told stories of those people. The moments of courage, the funny moments, and the moments that each of us shared with them one on one that we will always remember. I just shared some of my most memorable moments from the past year that will stick with me and I pray I have many more ahead of me. Go and make a memory today, there really isn’t a good reason not to.

Happy New Year Friends! :)