A Much-Needed Update

Hello, folks! So much has happened since the last time I updated. I'm hoping to have the time to keep this up more regularly now. But before that, I have to tell you what's been going on with the Cook Clan.

July 2011:

Took a trip to Galveston, Tx with Cody's family and it was wonderful and relaxing. Games were played, sun was soaked, fun was had. I'm already ready to go back.

As soon as we got back from Galveston, my sister had her second baby. Eli Reid Berry.

And I got a lot of cuddle-time with that sweet angel.

December 16, 2011:

I FINALLY GRADUATED COLLEGE!

This was something I have been working on for 6 1/2 years. When Cody and I chose to get married before I graduated, we encountered many naysayers who said I would never finish school. Well, here you go, Naysayers! I graduated Summa Cum Laude, with a final GPA of 3.961, and I worked hard for it. I sacrificed a lot for it. Were the first 2 years of our marriage hard because of school? Yes. We couldn't do whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted, because I was always studying or doing school work. I worked part-time, which meant we were on a significantly tighter budget for things. It also meant we have had to wait longer for a house, a family, and our "future."

But we did it. It was our life, and I firmly believe it was what God chose for us. We learned so much about each other, the importance of quality time, and our finances during this time. Things I truly don't think we would have learned otherwise. So thank you God, for your unfailing love and grace! And thank you Cody, for your love and support!

Christmas 2011 was wonderful as always. Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year (as if I even have to say that, everyone knows this about me)... It was even more celebratory because of the relief and peace I felt after graduating. We spent many days baking, shopping, and spending time together leading up to a fun Christmas day.

The day after Christmas Cody and I made the drive from Dallas to Houston to meet up with Cody's family. Then we caught a plane from Houston to Dallas to go to...

DISNEY WORLD!

I had never been to Disney World. Cody and I wanted to go after we got married, but work and school interfered. It was as wonderful and magical as I had imagined. We had a blast and brought in the New Year with fun and style. Well, sort of.

We spent New Years Eve at Universal Studios, dancing madly in the street to a cover band, while hoards of people looked at us like we were crazy. And we had a blast.

We weren't ready to leave.

And now? Now we're waiting. Enjoying each other, enjoying the new extra-time we're getting to spend together. God is moving in our lives, and we are being still, waiting to see where he leads us. But that is for another post...