reflections of 2010

Well, it is that time of year again, isn’t it? I can’t believe that we are quickly approaching the end of 2010. It seems like just yesterday I was writing my reflections of 2009, looking ahead to the promising year of 2010. Now, here I am, once again, looking back on a year’s past and looking ahead to the future, wondering just what it holds for me and my family.

2010 was indeed a big year for the Rafferty family. Indeed. As seems to be a usual pattern for us, some moments in 2010 were the absolute best of our lifetime, while others, were the absolute most tragic we’ve experienced yet.

As usual, we have learned a lot in 2010, about ourselves, our friends, our families, and our strength--together. We’ve learned that while we may not always agree (or even like one another), friendships and family are an absolute, and we should never let a disagreement or quarrel get in the way of our love for these people. We must never assume we’ll get to make up, for we never know when our words may be our very last. We’ve learned that things do not go as planned, as much as you try to make them. We’ve learned that good things come from dark places and bad things come from happy times.

I must be honest, writing this particular entry is stirring up some incredible emotions—some that I have tried and tried to repress and others I wish I could relive over and over.

This will be interesting for me, my heart is already feeling heavy, but, without further ado, here are some key moments (some glorious, some not) of 2010:

Engagement Party and Wedding Showers!

Engagement Photos!

Saints are NFC Champs—head to the Superbowl…

Hell has frozen over—the Saints WIN the Superbowl!!!

Ice…ice…ice…SNOW!!!

Veronica and Nick are ENGAGED!!

Monsignor Thomas leaves our church.

Tim and Shay GET MARRIED!

Oil spill in the gulf…

Tim takes his first trip out of the country (Jamaica Mon)—we don’t count Mexico.

Leah Jane gets hitched to Ross!

A Rhema sighting! A Rhema sighting!

Jamie and Shay hang out (and NOT for a wedding!!!)

Tim goes to the World Series!!

Squirrels Gone Wild (Laid Back League Kickball Team) make it to the Finals their
Rookie Year!

RAZORBACKS winning season secures a spot in a BCS GAME and heads to the SUGAR BOWL!

TCU finishes season as #3—and heads to the ROSE BOWL!

Steve goes to Oklahoma for Office Basic training (yes, he REJOINS the Guard at 38!)

Saints Clench a spot in the PLAYOFFS as returning Champs! Who Dat!

A TEACHER’S LICENSE!!!!



While it breaks my heart to write the following--they are moments from '10 that made profound impacts on our lives-- may they forever rest in peace.

James “Jimmy” Daly Rafferty (1936-2010), great uncle of Tim.

Richard Stephen “Steve” Johnston, Jr. (1980-2010), family friend.

Amber Casey Graves (1983-2010), family friend.

Wendy Whiner Paulson (1995-2010) –cherished Paulson family pup.

go charging wildcats!!

So...it's FINALLY happened!! I officially got offered at teaching position on Monday and OF COURSE I accepted. I will be the Stagecraft teacher and Auditorium Manager at North Little Rock High East campus.

I am so unbelievably excited about this next stage in my life, I can hardly stand it! It is going to be so much fun, with a little bit of challenge and I am just thrilled. (AND A SUMMER VACATION!!!!!)

I will be super crazy busy in the months of January and February and probably won't be seeing my sweet husband very much during those months, but once March rolls around, we'll be back to a somewhat normal schedule.

I'm jumping right into my first musical at the school: Crazy for You.

SO EXCITED.

SO EXCITED.

SO EXCITED.

how you like DEM apples, sugar?

OUR SEATS FOR THE SUGAR BOWL!!

Thanks Daddy-in-Law!! :)

12.14.10

The Rafferty Family's First "Official" Christmas Card! :)

12.12.10

Well, Christmas season is here. Full swinging. What a busy, beautiful time of year! We're enjoying the moments with our family and friends and looking forward to what 2011 holds for us all.

Here are some pictures from the past couple of weekends.

On December 4th we had a get together to honor the memory of our friend, Steve, who's 30th birthday was on November 29.

Steve's Cake

The boys

Tim tried Tyson's doggie treats...

This past weekend we had our annual baking day. Unfortunately, two of the five of us couldn't make it, but we still had fun and made lots of yummy treats! Here are some pics I got:

Mrs. G was feeling ill so didn't make it. We held up her apron to show her we missed her. :)

V and I decided to play dress up with the pups. They didn't love it so much. :)

Ty loves his Aunt V. :)

So does Pippi.

sugar sugar sugar

Well, us here in RAZORBACK nation are just thrilled...we're headed to the Big Easy to play in the Sugar Bowl. Mama is thrilled because both her daughters (sans boys) are headed that way after New Year's Day to partake in a little bit of Razorback revelry.

WOO PIG SOOIE!!!

thanksgiving weekend

Tim and I headed to Dallas to spend Thanksgiving with his parents. It was such a FABULOUS trip. We really both had so much fun! We got to spend QT with the parental people AND see one of Tim's greatest friends (he was our best man) also! It was so relaxing (minus me having to do homework each morning). My mom and dad came and stayed at our house and kept our babies entertained and fed.

So...of course, I only thought to take the majority of my pictures on ONE night of our trip to Dallas, but at least they're great pictures! :) I did manage to get one of me and my FIL on the "dreaded" day. I was one happy gal on Saturday! :)

On Thanksgiving Day, Tim, me, Mike and Linda headed to Dallas Stadium to watch the Saints beat the Cowboys. That stadium is absolutely AMAZING! I hope I get to visit it twice a year more often. ;) These are the only pictures I took all weekend:

Serious Conversation between a father and his son. ;) ....or a son is talking AT his father, LOL!!

This Jumbotron is UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Here's our family Thanksgiving photo. Couldn't ask for a better one! :)

It's a terrible picture because we took it on my phone...but you get the idea of what it was like at the Rafferty house on Saturday:

bad vacuum cleaner!!

We got one of those little robot thingys to vacuum the tv room. Tyson is NOT a fan. Silly boy.

be still my heart. :)

Hey there. Double posting tonight, so if you are MOOGIE, make sure to scroll down so you can catch the first post of the evening. :)

I am IN LOVE with my tv room now. Tim and I decided it was time to get RID of the carpet that our oh so sweet boxer decided to destroy over the years and replace it with hardwood flooring. I am IN LOVE. Seriuosly. It is a brand new room. Tim is in love, because surely it will "keep me satisfied" with our house for at least another two years. ;)

BEFORE:

...drumroll....

AFTER:



There's still a lot to do...but isn't this an AMAZING checkmark off the list??? I certainly think so.

11.17.10

On November 9 my brother headed out to Ft. Sill to partake in BOLC--which is some Army talk for some kind of school??? I don't know. (I know, I'm a great sis, aren't I?). Anywho, he'll be there til April doing Army things (he gets to come home for holidays and such--and will be back in plenty of time for Miss V's wedding, so no worries...well, except SIL is at home-by herself-with three little ones...). On the Sunday night before he left, the Pickle people threw him a little going away party. Here are some pics I got:

Me, my brudder and Miss V.

Steve's Mom, Steve and V...


Mimi (Steve's grandmother) and Moogie


Brooke, Brudder and Christopher

SIL and Lindsey

Action Shot...

On October 31, our good friends, Brad and Jill, welcomed precious little Olive into the world. We went to meet her last week. Look at Timmy with that baby...he's going to make such a wonderful daddy someday!!

Daddy figuring out his precious baby daughter. :)

halloween weekend

Halloween weekend was SO MUCH FUN!! It went by way too fast. Tim found out on Friday that he got a ticket to go to the MLB World Series in Dallas with his dad, so he hopped on a plane early Saturday morning. Me, V, Nick and my bro went to a party at Mr. and Mrs. G's house on Saturday night, then on Sunday, my kickball team played in the league championship. Fun times!! Pictures below.

Tim never takes pics. So, here's the logo of this year's series, to represent Tim's weekend. :)

I made cupcakes (or attempted to) that looked like bugs (those are spiders and worms):

We went as the Jersey Shore (along with the rest of America). Nick is getting his hair on:

V-Wow, Mrs. G and Snooki

V-Wow and Pauly D

V-Wow, Pauly D and Snooki (Vinny decided to go to the World Series and the Situation hadn't made it to the party just yet)...

A beekeeper and his bumble bee (Bella and James)

The Witches of Tally-Ho: Vicki, Cindy and Mrs. G

Mrs. G. Long Story. :)

Sunday--Squirrels Gone Wild in the Laidback League Championship.

We were at the "Squirrelys" (think Grammys) and dressed as entertainers

Kickball Field
Our AWESOME team banner

The Kardashian Sisters