2007 in Review

It's the time to do that, right?

Cliff and I are sitting here on the couch, Cearra and Mom next to us on the loveseat, and Marcus is upstairs playing his new wrestling game on Playstation. We're watching "Men in Black II", which seems to be Fox's New Year's Eve movie of choice this year. We just finished eating the second course of our traditional New Year's eve fare which includes steamed shrimp, crab dip, and then a midnight meal of pork roast, brown sugar sauerkraut, and mashed potatoes with sparkling grape/apple juice to bring in the new year.

I started thinking about 2008, which of course gets you thinking about 2007. It has been one of those years that just goes by and leaves you bewildered that it's the last day of it, you know?

So what does our year in review look like? Let me give this a try:

January: We got engaged! Cliff started working with SIFE at Belmont. Aaron moved to Nashville and became Cliff's roommate. I got my wisdom teeth taken out (and was swollen for a week after). We passed off our Homecoming crowns and went to our first symphony.

February: We started going to our Nearly/Newlywed's Sunday school class and began premarital counseling. I successfully completed a high intensity round of VUcept recruitment, applications, and interviews. Cliff started getting the SIFE team ready for regionals. We celebrated Valentine's at the WONDERFUL Restaurant Zola. We took up climbing!

March: We bought our kayaks! Belmont SIFE won regionals in Nashville and started getting in gear for Nationals.

April: I went to Orlando for the NASPA/ACPA joint conference. We spent Easter in Cleveland. Cliff started working at Lampo! I finished my first year of grad school and started my summer nannying job. Zach and Jody shot our engagement photos.

May: I began spending a couple of days a week with a darling boy named Jake. Cliff went to Dallas with Belmont SIFE who came back a top ten team in the nation. I celebrated my 23rd birthday! Molly and I took off for my first shower in Maryland.

June: We had our shower in Cleveland. Natalie and Ryan, and then Zach and Jody came with us to the lake. Cliff turned 24! We ate at The Melting Pot! I had my bridal portrait taken. Cearra came in for a week and we started her trip off at the lake.

July: The ladies threw a bachelorette party for me! We moved our stuff into the new apartment in Franklin and Cliff took up residence there. We went to the FPU reshoot. All of our families came into town for the big day. We recited our written vows in a tiny chapel in Nashville in the presence of friends and family, said our "I do's," and were pronounced man and wife! We celebrated with an awesome reception and then took off for our honeymoon in an undisclosed location. St. Lucia was awesome and seems like a dream. I officially became a Neeley and a resident of Tennessee!

August: I started back up at Vanderbilt, but in Student Campus Events. I also started my practicum at Belmont working part-time with SIFE. We started our FPU class.

September: We took some people from our Sunday school class to the lake for the weekend. Cliff and I went ice skating for his first time, ever!

October: We went to a Preds game for Cliff's first NHL game (where we happened to meet ice-skating great Scott Hamilton). Kanye at Quake. Our Get-away weekend at the lake and the UT-USC game. Dave's show on Fox Business Network premiered. Cliff participated in a rousing Spirit Week at work! I learned to shoot a gun.

November: We went to Atlanta with Cliff's team. We celebrated our third "dating" anniversary! We went to a Titans game for Cliff's first NFL game (Montell Jordan sang the national anthem!). We went to New York and Maryland for Thanksgiving and Cliff met my (now his!) amazing 93 year-old Great Grandma McCarthy.

December: We finished our thank you cards! We sent out our first Christmas cards and did all those other things that couples do when getting ready to celebrate their first Christmas together. Lampo had their INCREDIBLE Christmas party and we got a camcorder. We celebrated our first Christmas in Cleveland! We packed up the car and drove here to Virginia Beach to bring in the new year with the fam!

And next year? Oh my. If anything, Lord willing, I can tell you that I will graduate and get a job, doing what exactly? Your guess is as good as mine. Besides that, we'll keep learning how to love and serve both God and each other better, as well as do our best to take care of our health, our finances, our family, and our friends. Who knows, once I actually don't have homework I might actually start working on my book again. 2007 has been good to us, and I can only pray for God's continued presence and blessings in 2008.

We're hoping for a great 2008, both for you and for us!