Happy New Year!!!

So it has been quite a while since I've updated and SO much has happened! I got to see mostly everyone over the holidays, and it was great seeing everyone! I'll post some pictures of my visit home for Christmas. I thought I was going to have to work the day after Christmas so wasn't planning on coming to town until Friday, December 26th - that evening. But at last minute my boss said I could have that day off so I was able to come in on Christmas Eve. I took the Amtrak from Little Rock to Tyler last New Year's to see my friends which turned in a pretty eventful trip. I loved taking the train so when it came down to flying or riding, I chose flying. The thought of being at D/FW Airport on Christmas Eve made me sick to my stomach! So I got on the commuter rail by my apartment the afternoon of the December 24th and rode it to downtown Dallas. Right by Reunion Arena is Union Station, where I boarded the Amtrak for Little Rock. The guy that sat beside me also boarded in Dallas and was going to Little Rock. Like me, he moved from Arkansas to Dallas to take a job and in search of more opportunity. He even moved the same day I did, which was pretty bizarre, but cool too. He was on his way back to Southeast Arkansas to get his family and take them back to Texas with them. The train ride was smooth and very relaxing, I love just listening to music and staring out the window as we travel through several little cities through East Texas and SW Arkansas. It was a great trip!

Got to Little Rock about 11PM where mom and dad were waiting. It was a great few days in town. I got to see pretty much the whole family between several different Christmas parties. The best thing about the trip was my Christmas present from mom and dad - a moving truck! With the help of many (THANK YOU!!!) we loaded up my truck Saturday morning, ate at my favorite BBQ place, Whole Hog Cafe, where Aunt Karen introduced me to when I first moved to town, and then I headed back to Big D. The weather was awful that day, with storms, hail, and tornadoes, but I made it back! Here are several pictures.
















So I got back to Fort Worth that Saturday night after Christmas and the first thing I did was start unpacking my bed. I wanted to sleep on my bed for the first time in months! Then I spent all day Sunday unpacking everything else. My friend Daniel came over to help me get the big stuff. We were able to get everything by noon so I got my apartment arranged by that night. Here's what it looks like:











So that's the apartment w/ furniture!

I hope everyone had a really good New Year's. My friends and I, which that group has changed some over the years, have celebrated New Years for 9 years straight now. The location has varied - it started at our house in Tyler, then to my friend Amber's, then to my apartment in Arlington, then my friend Diana's apartment in Tyler, and now to her and Jeff's house. Here a few pictures from this year's celebration:









It's been a pretty exciting past few weeks. I have lots of friends coming in town over the next several weeks, should be lots of fun. I also a start a 2nd job this month. I'll be doing some part time work for a nationwide non profit organization, planning and leading service projects for urban high school students. We do one project a month for the next 5 months. I love planning service projects and working w/ youth so this is perfect for me! This will help keep me connected to the non profit world, be another resume builder, and it will be over in May, just in time for me to start back at school full time.

Oh - I have a new phone number - 817-879-1549.

I'm planning on being back in Little Rock for Brayden's birthday so I'll probably see others then! have a good and safe week.

Jonathan