WEverb Catch Up

With our vacation, Christmas and other things going on, I've slacked in the WEverb11 posts, so I'm gonna play a little catch up today.  Ready for a marathon of reflection?  Let's go!

WEverb #9: Appreciate
In which moment did you find yourself flooded with gratitude? How will you rally around gratitude in 2012?

Ted was in a car accident in October.  He was fine, but his car was not.  For a few days, we didn't know if his car would actually work again, and we are in no position to buy another new car this year.  I really had no idea what the hell we were going to do.  I was pouring my heart out to my dear friend Jessica, and she says, "Mer, you can have my mom's car.  I'm never going to drive it, and she would have wanted it to be used to help someone.  If Ted's car is officially scrap metal, let me know and we'll get it to you."  Yall, I cried.  That offer meant the world to me, and I love that I have a friend who would do that for me, especially when 9 times out of 10 I don't feel like I deserve such beautiful friendship.  Jess, you are amazing and I love you!!  The gratitude I felt in that moment was truly monumental.  Hopefully I can remember that feeling and bring it to someone in 2012.

WEverb #10: Create
Share a creative project you undertook this year (art, writing, DIY, cooking, home decoration, crafts, photography … whatever comes to mind). How do you use your creativity to express yourself?

For Christmas this year, Blair and I decided to make a calendar for Mom.  It wasn't just any old calendar: it was a calendar full of pictures from our childhood that we then reenacted as adults.  It is the funniest thing ever!  We had so much fun putting it together and coming up with ways to redo the photos as adults.  I love that Mom may love it more than any other present she got this year.

WEver #11: Try
What 12 things do you want to do/accomplish in 2012?

1. Finish my thesis.
2. Celebrate my friends and their new additions
3. Create a built in desk in the breakfast nook
4. Buy the bookcases for our living room
5. Accomplish at least 10 items on my 101 in 1,001 list
6. Lose weight
7. Redo our front landscaping
8. Go on another trip (Europe perhaps?)
9. Be a better employee
10. Make a new friend
11. Go to more cultural events
12. Spend more time with my Grandma

WEverb #19: Laugh
Tell us about your biggest belly laugh in 2011.

I had a few belly laughs in 2011, but the most recent that sticks out in my mind is from last week.  I took my Grandma and Mom over to my Great Aunt's house to pick up a strudel for my Dad.  Well, after we left I wasn't sure where we were going: Mom's house or Grandma's house.  So I ask, "Where are we going ladies?"  And my Grandma, without missing a beat, replies, "Straight" in the most smart-ass tone I've ever heard her use.  I started to laugh and told her to stop being such a smart ass and to tell me the location she wanted to go, not the direction.  Mom started to laugh, and then Grandma started to laugh.  I think we laughed until we pulled into Mom's driveway.  It was a beautiful moment.

WEver #20: Plug In / Unplug
How has technology affected your life (positively or negatively) in 2011?  Do you want this to continue for 2012?

Ted and I are constantly on our computers or our phones.  I love that we have something to entertain us, but I always worry it is going to eventually negatively impact our relationship because there are some nights we are in the same room but we don't actually talk to each other because we are too engrossed in our laptops.  I'd like for us to tone it down in 2012.