i've been really bad about updating. however ... this post will include pictures and captions/descriptions to catch everyone up on what happened in december. :)

to start with ... i'll update y'all on my list. the twenty-five list.

5. run a 5K under 25:00

well ... back in october i ran 4 - 5K races back to back. each time shaving about one minute off my time. which is why i decided to add this to my list. well ... i took a little break and in early december decided to jump back on the 5K race circuit. i won 1ST in my age group ... however my time was 27:04 ... 26:27 is my best. boo! so needless to say i have not quite accomplished number 5 but plan to get back on track starting ... tomorrow. stay tuned.

20. enjoy a night at a dueling piano bar

i love dueling piano bars! love them! i just love the atmosphere and all the music! we went to rum runners for amber's birthday back in november and had the best time! so this has been crossed off the list ... however i plan to keep it on there because i would love to enjoy MORE nights at dueling piano bars!

okay ... now to december ... i already shared that i ran the 5K ... i've also been on christmas break from school which has been great! i've been able to relax and catch up on things and spend time with people i love!

news flash #1: one of my best friends ... brooke got ENGAGED! she will marry kelso in april 2012 and i absolutely can't wait to be part of their special day! enjoy the picture below of the happy couple!

the future hamiltons!

news flash #2: another one of my best friends got a job in england moved last friday! AH! i really hope to be able to visit her this summer. i was able to spend some really good quality time with amanda while she was home. she's truly one of those friends that will ALWAYS be there for me!manda ... i hope by the time you read this you are settled in and enjoying life back in europe! praying for you and love you!

amanda and i at rum runners while she was home!

news flash #3 (probably the most important!): my dad got a new job!!!!! AHH! we found out 2 days before christmas that dad got a really good job offer in ... ... ... LOUISIANA! random i know. but really exciting! i'm really excited for my parents and can't wait to experience some very cajun holidays! i won't lie it will be somewhat weird not having a "home base" in panama city but at the same time i know they will find their way back this way in a couple years! please pray for my family during this transition! dad moves next week and starts january 17TH ... mom will join him in may when the lease at the condo is up. what a journey this will be!

news flash #4: this past year i met my friend ana. she's from el salvador ... went to penn state ... ended up in panama city working for trane (she's an industrial engineer!) ... we met her at the rescue mission! we like to say we picked her up at the mission but really we were volunteering ... she was volunteering ... and a friendship bloomed! since then we have enjoyed many beach days ... movie nights ... nights out ... and yummy dinners! we LOVE when ana invites us over for dinner because she's an AWESOME cook! well ... i say all this to say that ... ANA GOT MARRIED like 2 days ago in el salvador! she got engaged over the summer and since then we have learned ALL about el salvadorian wedding traditions. you get two weddings ... how cool is that! the recent wedding was her civil wedding so she's legally married but not must wait until may for the religious wedding to be truly married! still hoping to maybe make it to the wedding in may. CONGRATS ANA!

ana & i this summer!

i think that's it for the updates. i spent new years in montgomery with brooke and amber! we had a really good time ... we watched AUBURN WIN their bowl game then headed out to this place called alleybar. we danced the night away ... and guess what? they had dueling pianos! great way to ring in the new year! happy 2012!

well to conclude this little update ... i'm looking forward to see what all god has in store for me this year! there's so many changes taking place around me ... so many opportunities ... plans ... and just dreams i have that i can't wait to see how it all unfolds. wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2o12!