Highlights of 2012

Well I always do a post about our "highlights" of the year. I love to be able to look back and see all the fun things we did. So here it goes... Here are the top highlights from our 2012!

January

Mitch had his first interview for CRNA school in PA. It was so fun to travel there and we re actually talking about going back to visit soon. We loved it up there, but only for vacation- not to live ha. We both love being form the south and I don't know if you could get either one of us to move north ha!  Many of you are asking about his school process and he is just applying and we are both praying for God's timing. We know most CRNA's don't go to school for 5-7 years, so he is trying very "early" to get in and we are just waiting for the perfect time and place. We are very happy with where we are in life right now and when the time is right we will know. 

February

I accepted a new job at the University of Arkansas. I had worked in a doctors office for a year and in December I started the interview process for the U of A. It was a long process, but I officially accepted the job in February. I LOVED it and it was so hard to leave, but I am so happy teaching and couldn't imagine it any other way. Mitch and I are both big AR fans, so it was so fun during the 6 months I was at the U of A. We had so many "perks" from me working there and that is definitely something I will miss.

March

We continued the tradition of going to KC for my birthday. I love KC and seriously could live there one day. Mitch takes me every year for my b-day but this year he surprised me and is taking me over Valentines day weekend since we are going to be traveling over my birthday for spring break. 

April

April was a BUSY month for us. We celebrated Mitch's 24th birthday, I was matron of honor in my best friend, Elizabeth's wedding and our sweet Bella turned one! We spent lots of time in Dallas for wedding festivities which was so fun. We have so many close friends in Dallas, it was nice to see them all so much. 

May

May was an interesting month. I made the biggest/scariest decision of my life to quit my job and pursue teaching. We decided to both quit our jobs, sell our house and move to OK. It was a huge risk, especially not knowing if the outcome was even going to work, but we both had peace from God that we were following His plans. And it worked out even better than we ever could of imagined. 

June

June of 2012 was literally the busiest and most stressful month of my life! We followed through with all of our decisions we decided to make in May. As stressful as it was- all in the month of June, we sold our  house in Bentonville, both got jobs in OK and bought a new house in Jenks. Sounds simple, but if you try to go through what we did it is HARD, but we both knew it was what we were suppose to be doing and it brought us closer together. We also celebrated being married 2 years! We didn't get to celebrate properly because of everything going on,but we did find some time for golf and dinner :)

July

July was equally as busy as June. We officially moved to Tulsa and started flipping our house. We also had the privilege to attend youth camp with our church we went to in Bentonville and it was probably the best week of my entire year. I fell in love with some amazing girls and was able to spend a whole week loving on them. We were both blessed to witness God move in a wonderful group of students and already have the dates on our calendar for next summer. Mitch started his new job at St. Francis as a Trauma ICU nurse. He was offered 3 jobs and had the privilege too pick the one he wanted. This job was just what he needs for CRNA school

August

Although I accepted my teaching job in June, I started in August and quickly found out this is truly my calling. I couldn't imagine ever doing anything else and I am so happy. I love my school and feel so blessed to be a part of such an incredible place. 

September

This was defiantly a month to remember. Even though we had found the house and they accepted our bid, because it was a foreclosure we had to wait, and wait and wait to close on it. But we finally closed and were were so ready to move in. We also made our 2nd annual trip with Will and Michelle. Most of you know my passion for traveling and this trip we traveled to Antigua!! I cant begin to describe to you how amazing it was. It is a trip I will always remember and look forward to our trips in the future. 

October

We were officially done renovating our house and we finally we able to move in. We both are so happy with this house and looking back it makes the house hunting process so worth it. I also ran the Tulsa Run with my good friend Elizabeth. We were always running buddies in college and it was so fun to run with her again. In October we also joined our Life Group at FBC Tulsa and are so blessed with such a wonderful group.

November

I feel our lives finally started to slow down in November. We were both settled in our new house and new jobs. We are adjusting to Tulsa life as a married couple. We traveled to Breckenridge again together for a ski trip. We went over Thanksgiving and it was a blast. We love being in the mountains!

We also joined our new gym here in Tulsa, LifeTime Fitness and we are obsessed with it. It is wonderful and I might be slightly obsessed with Zumba ha! 

December

We celebrated our 3rd Christmas being married. We traveled to Branson to see the Christmas lights and it was so fun! We are finally settled and even though 2012 was a great year.. I am not sad to see it go. It was full of lots of changes and I am ready to see what God has in store for us in 2013. 

Christmas Break part 2

Well this first 10 days of my break has already flown by, and the crazy thing is I still have 8 days of my break to enjoy! I just love being a teacher ha! Since Christmas is over, and all the craziness that comes with it, I am actually starting to get a little bored ha. I think since mitch is working so much this weekend, I have been super lazy and not doing anything. Sometimes that makes me more tired if I don't do anything. But I will admit, it has been nice to have NO plans and just lay around the house. Sometimes I think everyone needs a few days like that.

Will and Michelle left on the 26th and Mitch and I took a 3 hour nap ha! We were both so tired form all the traveling and everything. It was so nice to catch up on some sleep. That evening we went to Dicks- they were suppose to be having really good sales, but they weren't... or at least we didn't find any. Mitch had 5 gift cards to Dicks, so he was in heaven and he got a new North Face jacket and some training clothes for his marathon.

We spent the next two days doing about the same thing. I think there was a day when we didn't leave the house all day so about 8pm we were both going crazy! So we decided to go to Sams and walk around. It is our go to place when we don't have anything to do or just want to get out. We did end up getting some food. Some of their deals are just too good to pass up.

Sounds exciting huh? We have been super lazy and it has been nice. We are starting to get back in the swing of things for this week. I am going to dinner with a good friend tonight and then tomorrow mitch and I are going to our traditional dinner at PF Changs for New Years Eve. This year it will just be on the EARLY side since he has to go into work.  After he goes into work I am hanging out with some good friends at our house.

This week we are going to make a trip to Stillwater. We love going there for the day. I got a gift card to my favorite store, The Rhinestone Cowgirl, and I am going to check it out and eat at Eskimo Joes! So I am looking forward to that!

We have so many things gong on in these next several months and I couldn't be more excited. Mitch is going on a guys trip skiing the beginning of February... I am trying to plan a girls trip for this summer sometime. I need ideas on places to go! We are also going to be spending 4 days in KC over Valentines day weekend. In March, for Spring Break I think we have decided on spending the week in Memphis. In April, Mitch is running his first full marathon and I am still trying to decide if I'm doing the half. I have only got about 3 weeks into training and right now it is just 3-4 miles so it hasn't been that bad. In the end of May-beginning of June we are going with Mitch's parents to New Orleans and in July we are going on our annual trip with Will and Michelle. We are going to take a different route this trip and spend some time in Colorado. We are thinking about going to Denver and also hiking and golf in the mountains!

Have a safe and happy new years!!

Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas!! I hope y'all had a wonderful time celebrating with family and friends. We have had a wonderful week and I have loved having this time off to travel and spend time with family we don't get to see often.

Christmas Eve!

I only had to work half a week last week and then we were off for Christmas break! I am really looking forward to this long break, but honestly I will miss my kids. I have nothing really planned and I am happy to just be hanging out at home relaxing. We have finished up visiting family and now we have off until the 7th.

Merry Christmas! 

Last week, we headed back to Bentonville to celebrate Christmas wit Mitch's family. We ate at Abuelo's the first night we got there and then just spent the next day relaxing. Mitch's grandma took him to get some new running shoes for his marathon and I went shopping with Michelle. We celebrated Christmas Saturday night at Mitch's parents house. We opened gifts and had a wonderful dinner. Sunday we all went to church and then went to Christmas lunch at Pinnacle. That may have been my favorite meal all weekend :)

Pinnacle- Love this place!

Sunday afternoon, we made the trip back to Jenks. We unpacked all our stuff, and headed to Wal-Mart. It was soooo packed, so we got it and out as fast as we could. We came home and stated making snacks for my parents christmas eve party. My parents always have a big thing at their house christmas eve and we have more food than you could ever imagine. We hung out with family and played games all nights. Unfortunately, Mitch had to work Christmas eve night, so he hung out with us all day and then went in at 6. He got home at 7 christmas morning and surprisingly stayed up for most of the day and celebrated with my family that morning and then we went to my grandmas for our last christmas another big lunch! We were back home by 6 and laid around watching christmas movies. Mitch was exhausted from staying up all night and all day so it was fun to just be home with each other for Christmas night.

We may or may not be obsessed with this movie

Will and Michelle came to our house Christmas night and stayed with us for a day. We hung out with them that evening and had lunch with them Wednesday before they went back to Texas. We enjoyed having them here with us for a day and we wish we lived closer!

We went to get ready and came out matching... is anyone really surprised? Haha

Bella also loved having her cousins here!

Allie, Peanut and Bella

I hope y'all had a very merry Christmas and are enjoying time with family!! We are blessed with two wonderful families and had a great holiday with them both!

Christmas Time!

I just love this time of year! We have had so much fun this season. We decorated our house very early- one reason was because we were going to be in CO for a week and I didn't want to have to do it when I got back and second because, well, I just love having the house decorated!! I did a new mantel this year. I loved my one I have done for the past 2 years, but I was ready for something different. And this goes with the theme of our house more. It is a more homey, rustic feel with all the distressed/vintage furniture and rock. You cant see the garland very well, but it is there along with pine cones and red sparkly leaves. I just love they way it turned out!

Bella helped put up lights

We took a trip to Branson to see all the lights and just have a weekend to ourselves. Its was a blast and I want to go back next year!!

Silver Dollar City

Our Hotel

We have also had Christmas parties with church, school and work and they have been a blast. My favorite was party with our life group. We had it at our house and we had 23 people there! We all brought a traditional Christmas dish and we had SO much food! We played our game I mentioned in a previous post and we have trash bags full of toys to donate. I was sad that we didn't take one picture from that night. We are so blessed by finding this group of couples and we are quickly becoming good friends. 

I had a work party and a Christmas lunch that was today and it was so fun. I also have started getting Christmas presents from my kids and they are so sweet. Here are just a few of my favorite ones..

I only have to work one more and and I'm off until the 7th! I am very excited about the break, but I am sad about not seeing my kids everyday. They always brighten up my day and I know I will enjoy the time off, but I will be ready to get back!

Also, I have had many people ask about my hair. My friend Natalie introduced me to this curing iron.

Thanks you Natalie! It is great, wonderful, awesome and I could go on forever. I love love love this thing and it creates such cute waves! It does take a while to do, well at least for me because of the thickness and length of my hair. It takes me about 45-50 minutes, and yes I know that seems like a long time, but it stays and I can wear it down for 2-3 days and then it looks way cute in a ponytail after that. So I don't have to do my hair for 5 days! I love it! I have gotten so many compliments when I wear it like that and I just thought I would pass on the secret. I just curl it layer by layer and then when it is all curled I gently run my fingers through and go. No hair spray or anything!

Tonight, Natalie and I were suppose to go out for our Christmas dinner, but she was in a wreck this morning. Please say a prayer for her. So, since I was already in the mood for it... Mitch went ahead and took me ha! It was fun and the food was delicious, as usual. Now we are back at home relaxing and watching Christmas movies! Tomorrow at school, it is Pajama day! I just got some new Christmas pj pants and also a new pair of Razorback pj pants.. so I am currently trying to decide which to wear tomorrow :) We are having donuts and watching The Polar Express- so I would say thats a pretty good day at work ha!

Have a great week! We are headed to Bentonville the end of the week to spend a few days there and have Christmas with Mitch's family! I am so excited!

Prayers

I know y'all have probably heard and read more than you want about this horrible tragedy, but I wanted to share a little bit about what's on my heart.

I know this was far away and I have no connection at all to what happened, but I do think being a teacher makes it hit a little closer to home- just as parents with kids this age probably does too. I know we use the words "cannot imagine" a lot when something happens, but I literally cannot imagine what these people are going through. I keep thinking this could of been my school just as easy as it was Sandy Hook. I could say many words to describe my feelings, but overall it is just plain scary. We have worked so hard to make our school a safe place. I know lots of my students don't have good home life's, etc and school is their favorite place to be. I promise you tomorrow when my precious little kids come in they are going to have a different view on school- not all of them, but some. It makes my heart break and when I get a million questions tomorrow, I don't know how I am going to explain something that I don't even understand. I love these kids like I would my own. I never knew the real job of a teacher until this year and I would do anything for my kids. I honesty believe being a teacher may be one of the most rewarding things, but it is also one of the hardest. I have come home crying, dealt with parents that I will never understand and literally told Mitch don't be surprised if one day I come home with kid ha! I know part of me is just being funny, but truly I would take in anyone of these kids. I know y'all are already praying for what happened, but also I would appreciate if you keep my class and I in your prayers. Tomorrow is going to be a hard day.

I have been complaining, in fact I clearly remember complaining to a fellow teacher Friday morning because we have SO many surprise intruder drills. I cannot believe I did that. I should be so thankful we have so many. I know schools that only have one a year and we have already had 3 since August. Yes they are a pain, but I look at them a lot differently now. I am so thankful for my school.

Every time I turn on the news, I hear something along the lines of "we need more laws" or "things need to change". In fact I was telling Mitch of things I think need to be changed, not government wise, but just in schools. And when I went to Sunday school this morning I got a new perspective. We have always has laws/rules, even in biblical times. But our God tells us we can't just live by laws, we have to have something with it. If we lived our lives just by rules and no relationship with Christ- the laws would be pointless. Our society doesn't need more laws in gun control, etc to try and fix our world. Our society needs to come to know Jesus and then it would be fixed. I don't disagree with people looking at this situation and trying to prevent it, but ultimately Jesus is the answer. 

I know this is a lot, but it's my heart right now. This weekend has been hard, especially when I think about my class, but I just pray I can be a light to them each day.

Branson Weekend

Hope y'all are having a great week so far. We literally have the busiest week... We have two Christmas parties (one at our house) and so many other things going on. We did take a little break and went to Branson last weekend before all this craziest started.

I only had to work until 1:30 on Friday and then we headed out and made the trip, first to Bentonville. I just love being back there and every time I go back I do miss living there. It's such a sweet little town. But anyways, we had dinner and then went up to the Bentonville square to see all the lights. Early Saturday morning, we made the trip to Branson. We got there, hit up the outlets and had lunch at our favorite Mexican place there. We always go there when we are in Branson. The outlet mall there isn't the best, it's pretty small for an outlet but they do have a few good stores with some really good deals! We ALWAYS hit up the Izod store. There have been times we make the drive up there just to go there ha! They have amazing deals and lets just say we stocked up! I got lots of fleece jackets, pullovers, golf shirts, running shirts and a pink golf skirt. I have been searching for a certain pink golf skirt for a year now and it is so hard to find golf stuff that doesn't look "old ladyish". But I found it and it was only $25! Mitch stocked up and got about 3x the stuff I did ha! We only go up there a few times a year so he likes to take advantage of it.

After lunch we headed to Silver Dollar City. We planned on being there earlier, but the traffic was so bad. If you have ever been to Branson over Christmas be prepared... it is super crazy and busy. It is one of the top 5 places in US to visit at Christmas. We got there around 2:30 and just spend the day there... eating, going to shows, etc. At 5:30 all the light shows, etc started and it was incredible!!! Mitch definitely knows me and knows that theres not much that will make me happier than Christmas stuff. We left late and had no idea where to go for dinner. There are so many places to eat and being Branson, you never can tell which restaurants are okay ha! So he ended up taking me to Shogun.  This was such a fun trip and we are looking forward to going back! Once again, I wish I had pics to share, but until I have some time to figure out all this blog stuff you can see pics from our trip on my
Facebook page here. I also post a lot of pics to my twitter, you can follow me @sarahbfrank, and my Instagram @ sarahbfrank.

We have our big LifeGroup party tomorrow and have been cooking, cleaning and finally finishing the last touches to our house. I feel like moving is a never ending process!

Have a wonderful Wednesday and only 13 more days until Christmas!!!

What we've been up too...

I'm sorry I have been MIA for the past few weeks! I really thought I did a Thanksgiving post, I must have dreamed it. But we had a wonderful time in Breckenridge skiing and enjoying family over the break! 

Now, I haven't blogged in a while for 2 reasons. One being it is a busy time of the year and we have had so much going on. Every time I turn around I feel like I am behind on getting something done. And my second reason is sort of... silly.. and maybe one of you can help me. When I was uploading some pictures to blogger the other day it said my limit of pictures was up and I could no longer download pictures to share on my blog. Well y'all know, I rarely do a post without pictures.. I may even be a little obsessed with pictures. So you can see how this made me upset, so therefore I haven't blogged ha! I am trying to work on it, so for a while there may be no pics on the blog. I apologize.

But on a different note... what we've ben up too.... we have fully decorated our house for Christmas and we are in the process of finishing the lights on the house. We got about half of them done last week and are trying to finish them before it gets cold. I would like to say I'll post a picture when there done, but I cant promise anything. 

We have been doing a lot of fun things with our life group and I couldn't be any happier with this group of friends we have found! We had a dinner/game night the other night and it was a blast. It is so nice to have friends that are all looking for the same thing. We are having our big Christmas party at our house and everyone is bringing a traditional christmas dish. Although white elephant is super fun, we came up with the idea to bring a wrapped toy, something that you liked as a child, and we will guess who's is who's and then donate them all to a shelter. We are also going to decorate sugar cookies! I am really looking forward to it!

This past weekend, Mitch worked all weekend, and I had a busy, but fun weekend! Friday at 3:00 as soon as I got out of school, I rode with my parents and brother to Stillwater for the Jenks game. Jenks was playing Norman North for the 6A State Championship game. We ate a Hideaway and made our way to the stadium to cheer on the trojans. It was the perfect night for football and Jenks won!! We had a blast and it was so fun to cheer on our team! 

Saturday, I got up early and went to Edmond for the day. Summer, a good friend of mine lives there and every couple months, we go to either tulsa or edmond just to catch up. Every time we meet in Edmond, we go to Inspirations. Its a cute little tea place with amazing food! We shopped all afternoon.. if I could upload pics, I would show you the 2 new Thunder shirts I got. I am in love and wear them all the time ha! They are a vintage style and are super soft! 

Sunday, Mitch worked again, so while he was sleeping all day... I went to church, Christmas shopping with my mom, to the gym(i'll talk about this in a minute) and hung out with natalie. It was a busy weekend, but fun! 

So more about our gym. I have always been kind of anti gym. Well I mean when I was in college, I utilized that gym to the max ha! On average I was probably in there 2-3 times a day.  Ever since I got out of college, I have had either bad experiences or just haven't used them. I think in college I just had a lot of time and I wold stay up a lot later ha! I joined a gym when we first moved to AR and lets just say it was a horrible experience. Then when I got the job at the U of A, I was able to use the Hypr and really like that. I used it, but since I did have to stay in Fayetteville after work was over, it was hard for me to use it except for my lunch break. Anyways, this summer I did Insanity and LOVED it!!! I cannot say a bad thing about this program! It worked for me and was such a great workout. So I thought maybe I would stick with it. Well Mitch loves gyms and with both of us running a long race this spring he kept telling me we need somewhere inside to run. I disagreed until we had our first cold day and there was nothing that was going to get me out in the cold to run. So we had heard a lot about this one gym and we decided to try it. We took a tour and ended up signing up last week. WE LOVE IT! I feel like I am at a resort and it is so welcoming. It is called LifeTime Fitness and it is huge. They have everything you could ever imagine and I have been taking some of their classes and LOVE them. If you are in the Tulsa area and want a good, reliable gym you should try LifeTime! Here's the link: Check it out!

Thats about all we have going on. We are leaving for Branson Friday afternoon! Mitch has booked a little weekend get-a-way and I cant wait to relax, eat yummy food and of course.... see all the LIGHTS! 

Hope y'all have a wonderful week!