A New Leaf

Hi friends,

I've turned over a new leaf, so to speak, in the blogging realm. You can find our new blog at hullenterprises.blogspot.com. I haven't decided for sure, but I think I'll keep the other blog more newsy and hold onto this blog for the more random things I like to share. Like this:

I am a connection junkie.

On Being Real...

To say that I endorse the following article is an incredible understatement. It's what I've been ranting about for months:  this connection, vulnerability, risk, being-real business. Asking real questions and giving real answers.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glennon-melton/the-questions-that-will-save-your-relationships_b_4618254.html

Take a few minutes and give it a read. Maybe you'll like it, too.

The 13 and 14

Wow! November 22nd was a very long time ago. And so much has happened.

Long story short, we've moved to Texas! Blake got a job with the railroad and we are loving it here so far. If you don't already know the story (I would think most of my readers do, but you never know who is reading the blog these days!) and would like to, leave a comment.

But I digress. I requested a repeat list of the 12 and 13 from my friend, Kate, and the reason I have broken the blog silence is because she agreed to post her list on the condition that I post my own. So my dear, this is for you! (And for any of my sad, post-deprived readers. You know who you are... Beth... :))

***

This has been a joy for me, even more than last year. It has really given me the chance to reflect on where I've been, how I've grown and changed, and where I'm going. Make your own lists, if you feel so inclined.

In no particular order...

13 Great Things from 2013

1. Giving birth. Feeling my water break, driving to the hospital... it really was/is such an exciting feeling. Yes, it certainly is a lot of work (labor), both during and for weeks after, but I wouldn't trade giving birth for anything.
2. Our family trip to Yellowstone.
3. Extensive growth personally and in our marriage. Life is sweet.
4. Overcoming challenges regarding parenting and breastfeeding.
5. Spending lots of meaningful time with the Briggs Family over the holiday season. One of the happiest seasons I can remember.
6. Eliza becoming interactive. Don't get me wrong--I've always loved her, but I feel like now I have a companion of sorts. Someone who listens to me, responds, laughs at my jokes, and smiles when I smile.
7. Spending many, many wonderful days with Beth in the Orem House. Some of the best days of my year were spent laughing with her in the kitchen.
8. {Bittersweet} Moving away from Orem and learning to really love Bluffdale.
9. Editing papers with Blake during the last semesters of his undergrad.
10. Blake's last intramural soccer season with the Awesome Possum Crew.
11. Being so proud of Blake as we watched the fruit of his hard work and dedication pay off with some big fly-outs and job offers in December. Also, experiencing all the craziness of this job falling into place so quickly.
12. Accomplishing some big goals.
13. Finding my way into my role as a mother. It's a journey that I will be on forever, because my life as a mother will always be changing. But I've come a long way since February and it feels good to have gained some ground and become more comfortable in the calling I've been given.

Honorable mention:

• Grandma and Grandpa Hull's 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration - learning from their wisdom and experience.
• Having G&G Hull home from the mission; some very wonderful Grandma Days for Eliza.
• My convocation/commencement. Blake finishing school!
• Education Week. Thank you, Mom, for that priceless gift!
• Grandpa Packard's wedding; Kyndal's play; Brynn's choir concert -- I love family events.
• Going to Temple Square with Blake this past December. 

14 Things I'm Looking Forward to in 2014:

1. A better relationship with my Heavenly Father. It's time.
2. Getting/building a house? This year we really will be setting down some roots. Could it really be time for hobbit holes?
3. Baby/Pregnancy #2? Not an announcement. Just being open to what the Lord has in mind for our family.
4. Getting to know Texas. The roads, the geography, the culture, the attractions, the people...
5. Missionary work like I've never experienced before. The other day I got asked if I was a Mormon. I think it may have been the first legitimate time in my life.
6. Watching Eliza continue to grow. Helping her experience that growth and learn to love the world.
7. Texas adventures.
8. New callings. Another chance to really make visiting something meaningful.
9. More personal growth and growth in our marriage. More moments laughing with Blake.
10. Visitors. :) If you're in the Dallas Fort-Worth area, let us know!
11. {Post facto, since this happened in 2014, so it can't go in the 2013 list?...} Having Blake's Dad make the 19-hour trek to Texas with us and having him stay with us for a few days.
12. Watching changes in our families from afar. I can foresee a lot of growth in our family members this year.
13. Getting to know the extended family we have out here in Texas.
14. Some ordinary things that have become extraordinary for me, like attending the temple, general conference, swimming, seeing Blake love the work that he does, picnics, getting a library card... 

Life is a splendid affair for us all, don't you think? Have a great day!

The Hardest Thing

Eliza is a passionate little soul who hates change. (I wonder where she got that from...)

I'll spare you the dramatic details, but long story short, Eliza did just fine with occasional bottles the first 9 months but attempting to make the permanent switch from nursing to bottles has thrown our little world topsy-turvy. So we're on a doctor-recommended battle of wills where the only dinner she gets is formula from a bottle. If she doesn't take the bottle, she can have an opportunity to take it later. But that's it.

(Dear Readers, this is where you don't judge me and just assume that I'm doing the very best that I can, because I am. Many thanks. Love, Eliza's Mom)

Needless to say, this is really tough on both of us, and we're only a few hours into it. Poor little dears... Sobbin' buckets of tears.  

Well, there can be humor even in the midst of a Jonah Day.  As I was holding Eliza and we were both crying, a little gem from my past came to my mind:

We both know that we shouldn't be here--this is wrong--and baby it's killin' me, it's killin' you, but both of us gotta be strong. . . . So you can get on with your life, I've got to be cruel to be kind.

I've made up my mind; there is no turning back. She's been good to me, and she deserves better than that!
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do to look you in the eye and tell you I [won't nurse] you. It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie to show no emotion when you start to cry. 

Et cetera, et cetera...

Now tell me that's not the most ridiculous thing you've seen/read all week! I hope you guys think it's funny--I sure got a laugh out of it. It's silly how well some love songs and break-up songs apply to the mother-child relationship.

Well, sounds like Eliza's calling me and asking if she can give the bottle another go. Wish me (us) luck!

Snow

25 of 1000

I wanted to share some of the things that have made it onto my list of things I'm genuinely grateful for. It's amazing just how many of the items on my list are people and specific experiences in my life.

I'm grateful...

• For the signs of the Second Coming
• For Lucy Maud Montgomery
• That I can counsel with both sets of parents
• For temple recommend interviews
• For the capacity to change
• That I can carry a tune
• That Blake can listen to books on tape to/from school and work
• For an analytical, thinking mind
• To have a new brother that's my age
• To have dated good men that prepared me to meet, marry, and love Blake
• That my father is an affectionate, meek man who never yelled
• For the gift of nurturing
• That Blake and I aren't the same
• For physical attraction, or "spark," if you will
• That I'm a girl
• That I am the first daughter-in-law in the Hull Family
• For Mr. Carter, Mr. Wojciechowski, Lisa Boswell, and Dr. Day--for believing in me and my writing
• For the things I've learned from Dr. Reber; he's the reason I needed to hang around in the Psych major for a while 
• For people who are smarter than I am
• When I see the answer to a prayer
• When I can be the answer to a prayer
• That Blake isn't a big spender
• For words of appreciation
• For Solitude
• For Companionship

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Emma

There's a line in Emma (with Gwyneth Paltrow) that I absolutely love. Actually, there are many lines that I absolutely love, but this particular one seems to resonate with me often. I tried to find a clip of it on youtube but came up short so you'll have to make do with just the quote:

"What is the point of me being almost twenty-two if there is still so much for me to learn?"

Yep. That's how I'm feeling tonight:  a day late and a dollar short. But we've got lots of days and lots of dollars and lots of chances to try, try again. So we keep moving forward, keep learning, and keep figuring things out a little bit at a time. Onward, ever onward.

In the name of positivity, here's a delicious and hilarious exchange from Emma. Man, this movie really is a keeper. Enjoy!