Memories!! Happy New Year 2010!!

Well, New Years Eve is approaching FAST!! We seriously have a little under a day and a half left of the DECADE!! 2010 is going to be here in NO TIME!! I can not believe how FAST this year has flown by.

I have almost been married 2 years. I have a 17 month old child. Its been 10 years since the Y2K scare. I thought I would go down the past years of 2000 and share all my memories!!

2000: I turned 15 that year... 15!! I was so young!! I was in 9th grade at Trinity. It was such a fun time for me. At the time, I thought it was horrible, but now as I look back, I am thanful for the upbringing and the education that I recieved there. You know how your parents always say "I know you hate it now, but you are going to thank me one day." Well, they were RIGHT. I find myself saying "you know, my mom/dad was right" a LOT lately. Maybe that comes with having kids of your own?

2001: this was my 2nd half of 10th grade/first half of 11th. I guess the main thing I remember from 01 is sitting in Mr. McRee's Humanities class and having Mrs. Skinner run in to tell him about the 9/11 terrorist attack. I will never remember that day. He told us he would give us a 100 test grade if we could guess the headline of the news tomorrow. Michael had jokingly said "We are going to WAR". Mr. McRee looked down and said "You know, you may be right." I have never been more frightened then I was that day. There I was, 16 years old and so fearful of what our future may be, or if we would have a future at all. America has gone through so much, and everyday it makes me all the more Thankful to live in a country where I am free. So many people do not have that.

2002: I turned 17 that year. I thought I was a "grown adult" yet I was still very immature. I had NO IDEA of how the world worked, nor did I care. I was happy in my little bubble. I was very sheltered. I am not saying that in a bad way, a good way. I am thankful that my parents when to all lengths to shelter me from some of the things that were going on around me. I am naive, and I am not ashamed to say that. I guess the most significant thing that happend in 2002 was, I had my license for only a month or so... and I had my very first car. My yellow SLK 230 mercedes kompressor. That car was my dream. I loved having it. Little did I know, it would give me lots of trouble 5 years down the line, and I would have to sell it. A part of me still wish I could have that car... even if I couldnt drive it! One day, I will own another one... maybe when Emma is driving lol... if not, there wont be room for her!! LOL... maybe I will buy Emma one for her first car.. hmm...

2003: This was a BIG year!!I was a SENIOR in High School and had JUST turned 18, and was accepted to the school of my dreams... UNC-Wilmington!! Ill leave out how I almost had to promise my first born child to them to let me in.. lol I am glad I really didnt have to, I would have missed Emma, and I dont think UNCW would be a good fit for her, she is a redhead.. she would burn! lol... anyways... the world was at my fingertips.. I was enjoying college, and met tons of friends. This seriously could be called "the time of my life"... I know everyone says "College is the most fun you will ever have" You know, they were right too.

2004: Things took a bad turn at the beginning of my 3rd semester at UNCW. I had to withdrawl from the University after exams in December and not go back for the next semester. My grandmother had been given 6 months to live... and my mom needed my help with getting Katie to school and taking my grandmother to her chemo treatments. Little did we know, grandma wouldnt even make it 3 weeks. She passed away January 23rd of that year. I miss her still everyday, especially around Christmas time. 2004 I turned 19... and I was out of school. I was so depressed about this, but it was also the yaer that I met Anthony. I was so happy I had found him, at the time... little did I know, that would take me down a 3 yeard downspiral that I really should have never gotten on in the first place... but August of 04, I went back to UNCW, had a boyfriend, thought I was in love... and everything couldnt be more perfect for me... lol

2005: After 2 very long semesters at UNCW... I decided "you know, this just ISNT for me". I know you may think that is sad, and that I am pathetic, but I just couldnt hold on anymore. My dad offered me a wonderful job... and I started making more money then some of my friends were making after 5 years of college. I couldnt complain. I made a lot of mistakes that year, most that I dont want to go into detail about. I dont regret them, because they made me the person I am today!

2006: 2006 was full of fun and excitement!! I turned 21 that year. I entered 21 with a bang, which ended in throwing up, passing out, and having Chris and Trey spend the night at my house!! lol I also traveled a LOT that year..We went to Vegas, Florida... I was so excited to be out of school, working for my father and able to travel whenever I wanted to... I broke up with Anthony that year... but little did I know, I would still torture myself by talking to him well into the next year...

2007: This probably was one of the BEST years of my life... it started out with a BANG... I had JUST turned 22 and entered the year with going on a rd trip to Kentucky with my friend Sandy to see Rascal Flatts. I had a new "love interest" named Brandon.. This "interest" went on from January to May... like I say it was an "interest"... it faded quickly and I got over it pretty fast. lol Just as I was about to swear men off forever because all they do is hurt me... that was the time July rolled upon me. I had just gotten back from the lake, and I had told myself at the lake... I wasnt going to chase men anymore, I didnt care anymore. I was happy being single and I was going to leave it at that. I think God must have said "Courtney, finally you are going to concentrate and love yourself. Now I will hand your soul mate." Maybe God was waiting for me to love myself unconditionally, so he could send me someone else to love. You have to love yourself before you can love another. I believe that now. I got home and rushed to my "myspace" and "facebook" mainly because I had been without it for almost a week (this was the time before blackberry had a facebook/myspace app lmao), and there it was, a friend request. It was from a guy named "Aaron" his profile was private, so obviously I had to add him to see him. We had friends in common, and he looked cute from his pic, so I thought what they hell. I added him... and he told me how he knew my friends and sent me the cheesiest pick up like "your eyes are beautiful and they have a best friend, your great smile" Cheesy, I know... but it worked! We began talking on the phone.. and we Met in person 2 weeks later. Had a first date to a "Rascal Flatts" concert... and you know how the say "The rest is history"? Well, it was. We went on a cruise for New Years, and I KNEW without a doubt, I was in love with him. That year I also bought a HOUSE... I ended 2007 with everything I ever wanted, a great boyfriend and a home of my very own that I bought myself. Little did I know, 2008 would be much better!!

2008: What started out as one of the best years of my life... turned bitter sweet. I can tell you this was the most AMAZING year of my life, and at the same time, the hardest and saddest year of my life. January began with a bang. The man of my dreams got me a 2 carat diamond, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, making my 23rd birthday the most amazing one of all! We had set the day for May 3, 2008. That was going to be out big day. I spent the next 5 months planning my little heart out, and I believe I planned one of the most beautiful weddings to ever take place. It was amazing. If you havent seen my pictures, you should. I love planning weddings, I have even convinced some of my friends to let me be their "Wedding planner" haha. We got married, took a 2 week honeymoon... which was AMAZING. A few months later I went into early labor... its a LONG story, if you wanna hear it.... ask me!! lol... Delivered a beautiful 7lb 9oz baby girl at 36 wks on July 28,2008 at 12:51pm! She is the light of my world, the apple of my eye and I love her more each day! I spent the rest of that year raising our little girl... being Mrs. Aaron Bryson... with our daughter Emma Mackenzie Bryson... well it doesnt end there. What should have been the most amazing year of my life turned tragic. On Caitlin's bday (my sisters) September 23rd we got a phone call that my grandma was sick (she was perfectly healthy) so she went to the doctor. We passed it off as nothing... then nothing short of 2 hours later... we got the worst phone call I have ever recieved. She had blacked out, and we were told "its on God's hands now". My mother called me in a panic. I was rushing home to get Emma's things so we could drive to Fayetteville and see my grandmother. It was too late. She had passed. Walking into that hospital room and seeing my poor grandmother laying on a hospital bed in the emergency room, with a tube coming out of her mouth just lifeless was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I couldnt breath. I couldnt think. All I could do is cry. It wasnt even 2 months befrore that she was in a hospital room with me, being the 2nd person to hold Emma! So full of life and happy. 2 weeks before she died, we took a "5 generations" picture. She was scared my 95 year old grandma would die soon, and we wouldnt have that picture. Little did we know, she would go first. That scene in the hospital that day was so horrible when my great grandma saw her daugher on that hospital bed. It was horrible. I will never forget it. I still remember the pain I felt that day, and I probably always will. I miss her so much... then as the pain of that was still alive, on Halloween we got a phone call that my dad was at the hospital with a stroke. I thought my whole world was ending. He turned out to be perfect fine. I no longer take my family for granted. Emma's first Christmas was wonderful that year, but also sad. I think Emma saved all of us. Giving everyone in my family a reason to live and be happy and to celebrate. I had asked God "Why" so many times that year when I had gotten pregnant. I know now God sent Aaron to me so my grandmother could see a grandchild get married and have a great grandchild before she died. She always said she wanted to see a great grandchild before she passed. I love knowing I gave that to her. I also think Emma game my family a reason to smile through all of the hardships. She is such a blessing. A true miracle from God.

2009: YAY... this brings us to this year!! Let me tell you, it has been a stressful one!! I started the year out with a 5 month old... and now I have a 17 month old! Life sure is different with a toddler!! I love it though, being a mommy is the most wonderful thing in the entire world!! This year has had its ups and downs... but Aaron and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary in may. Emma turned 1 in July... and now here we are, Emma's 2nd Christmas was a success. She is getting more and more beautiful every day. Now here we are 2010 is a day away!! Isnt that crazy?! After the year we have had.. I am very excited to say goodbye to2009, and HELLO 2010... I dont know about the rest of yall, but I tend to like even years better then odd. Well, aside from the bad stuff in 08!

Sorry such a long post, just wanted to reflect on the past 9/10 year... my how things have changed! I began the decade as a 15 year old in 9th grade... and now I begin the new decade turning 25, married, with an 18 month old!! Crazy huh?? and I love it!! I cant wait to see what the next 10 years hold for Aaron and I!! I cant wait to have another baby (in the future!!)... I just cant wait to see what the future has in store for us!!

On a shorter note, Aaron and I wll be Mexico bound a week from today!! SOOOOO excited!!

Love you all, and I wish you a Happy 2010 and I hope all of your dreams come true! :)

Love,
Courtney, Aaron and Emma!!