Happy New Year: She's (Finally) In

Although you have probably already been notified via Twitter, Facebook, or some other social networking site, I wanted to share with you the following wonderful news from my personal blog: my brother is engaged! After four or five years of on again, off again dating bliss, Hunter Swanzy and Kelsey Duren decided to tie the knot, to go at life as a wedded pair. He proposed yesterday on New Year's Eve. What a fantastic way to begin not only the New Year but a new life together!

I am excited beyond words to be receiving a new sister, running partner, shopping buddy, and gossip gal. Just the other day (on Christmas Day as a matter of fact), I was exclaiming, "You guys need to move past this phase you're in; y'all need to start getting married!" I'm not sure what brought this on. It's not that being married is easy, because it's far from that. They, whoever they are, say that the first year of marriage is the most difficult, most hellacious; and they would be right; it is. But, I also have to say that the struggle within a marriage makes you realize how hard you have to fight for it. Fighting for a marriage is what brings the two people in that marriage closer; they begin to work as a team despite their differences. Learning how to develop a marital partnership is tough, but the result is worth it. What doesn't kill you does in fact make you stronger; it makes you more wise as well. Being married makes you realize how flawed you are; and this realization breeds a spirit of gratitude: How could someone love me in spite of my moodiness, my tendency for being a bit too high maintenance, my propensity for collecting pets when they themselves are not an animal lover, my pickiness when it comes to food, and my overall contrary disposition? How in the world? I cannot comprehend it sometimes, but I am grateful (thank you, JT). What's more, I am blessed; and I desire the same for Hunter and Kelsey.

Kelsey, I have a saying about the people in my family: "We are easy to like but tough to love" (which is especially true of Hunter). You know us. We like to be right; we like to argue; we like to talk over each other; we like to laugh (sometimes at the expense of others); and Lord knows we like to eat. But, most of all, we like to love. You're in now, so we get to love on you too. Thanks for sticking around. It's going to be fun.

- W:)