>I know I am among millions of people who will be blogging about the events of the past year and hopes and fears for the new year. I write to you this morning somewhat drugged on a dose of Sudafed for this head cold that’s coming back to me from a couple weeks ago. However, I am confident that today and the next couple of days to come will be wonderful. Today we have plans to do pretty much nothing at home and then we will be going over to our friend Megan’s house for New Year’s Eve festivities. Friday and Saturday our only plans are to eat at our favorite restaurant in Peoria, Double A’s, and take down the Christmas decorations. Our tree is starting to shed its needles with the help of our kitten Odin.

This break has been full but fulfilling. We’ve spent a lot of time with family and friends alike, and eaten way too much food. ‘Tis the season, right? We’ve also been to the gym a few times and enjoyed working out together. Aaron’s parents gave us heart-rate monitor watches for Christmas. They come with a chest strap that you put on before you go to the gym. Then as you work out, the watch tracks your heart rate (and you’ve already entered weight and height) and your calories. A Body Pump class for me burned about 450 calories; for Aaron, 550. My watch showed that I burned more on the treadmill than what the treadmill said. It’s been rewarding, working out together. Aaron burns probably twice as many calories doing cardio than I do. Of course, he does it every day whether he wants to or not. I need to get back into the swing of it. We feel great, though.

Something else rewarding about this break has been closing out the fifth of six credit card accounts. We had a zero balance on it for a few months but I actually called and closed it a couple days ago. The service rep tried to get me to not close it and even offered special offers and rewards. We were not convinced or persuaded! She even tried to guilt us by telling us that our credit score will go down and that we would not be able to get credit. Shortly after that call we checked our credit score and it was 100 points MORE than it was about a year or year and a half ago, even after closing five credit card accounts. How is that worse credit?! Even so, we will not really need credit over the next few years. We won’t have to buy a house, and if we have to buy a car, we hope to have the savings for the down payment at least. We will NOT be buying a new car until we can pay cash in full.

A funny thing is that I received email notification today that our credit line went up significantly on the one card we have open. Interesting how all these people talk to each other… it’s not even tempting. Just makes us look better because now our debt-to-credit ratio is lower. Haha. They’re kicking themselves in the butt. I love it.

I will post some pictures toward the end of this post. I will be planning my trip to Arizona for Easter/spring break soon. I am excited to meet Aaron’s buddies and to, of course, enjoy the warm weather. We have no idea where we’re going yet; we will keep you updated!

We’ve spent some time reading over break.. here are our current interests:

Aaron’s reading this book:

and I am currently reading the new Dan Brown:

I know the work of Dan Brown is extremely controversial in the Christian world; however, I read it purely as a work of fiction. He’s an amazing writer and keeps the pages turning. This new one is set in Washington, D.C. and since I’ve been to most of the places in the book it’s especially intriguing.

Now, for some pictures: (These can all be found on my Photobucket, listed under My Website on my profile)

Me, Aaron, my sister Emily and her boyfriend Chris, my sister Leah and her boyfriend Nick (they will probably be my brothers-in-law someday!)

Aaron carrying the tree… I absolutely love this picture

I love this picture of us.. we’re so tall, haha

My gorgeous sisters and myself. We’re getting matching tattoos for Leah’s birthday next month!

Oh, so, what about the title? What are our hopes for 2010? I hope we can continue to be healthy, happy blessed, together or not.