2011-What a Year.

2011-Well 2011 is over now but it was a good year. So much happen and I do think I lived my year to the fullest after I’ve recapped on it. It was sad to see 2011 end but I’m really looking forward to 2012. Koz comes home and we finally get to start a life, together. Yeah I can’t wait to be in the same time zone again, ha. And many other adventure I'm sure are in store. So yeah I say bring on 2012 ;-)

January-A beginning of a new year, 2011. And who knew what a year it would be and what would happen all in this year. Koz was home on leave for Christmas a month before which he decided to ask me to marry him on a snowy cold day in Ludington. He made me the happiest girl when he got done on one knee a few days before Christmas. In the beginning of January he had to go back to Colorado and I started school again. However, the end of January marked Koz’s first whole year in the Army. I am so proud of the man he is and the man he is becoming with each new day and experiences. Yes, the year was starting off to a good start I think.

February-Hmm, February. Honestly, I can’t remember that much that happened in February, ha. I think I went up to Sarah and Dan’s and hung out there for a little while. Other than that, I think this is when Kelsey and I started becoming awesome friends :-) Who knew that a girl from JCS and LCS could be such good of friends. We’ve had some fun times together and good talks throughout the year.I love Kelsey and I’m very thankful for our friendship and I don’t know how I’d get through the year without her as one of my friends…hmm now that I think about it we might of become good friends in March, lol. Anyways, I also remember in February was when I realized I wanted to become a Elementary teacher :-) However, I’m not sure how long this will take because of life, but I feel like this what God wants me to do. I realized the summer before how much I loved working with kids, especially fourth grades. It just took me a while to realize that’s what I should do with my life. I can’t wait to start that journey.

March-My second nephew, Isaac Judah Haines was born on St. Patrick’s day! I love this little guy and It’s been fun seeing him grow up throughout the year. I was also able to take some pictures of Isaac when he was born that was a lot of fun. Asher was excited for a baby brother and Sarah was excited for a baby that looked a little more like her and still had her blue eyes when he got a little older, ha. Also, Koz surprised me in an email, which I thought was a video he made from him going to the X-games, he had bought me a plane ticket to Colorado to come see him during my Spring Break. I was little more excited that it was a ticket instead of a video. I loved going to see him for Spring Break because I hadn’t seen him since Christmas. We had a good time even though he had to work the week I was there kinda, but it was still great to see my fiancée. And spending some time in Colorado was pretty fun too and I think this is when I decided I really liked Colorado and couldn’t wait to move out there with Koz someday.

April-April came and of course fun on a road trip up north to hang out with the Miller house sounded like a good idea to me and Brit, to take a break from life. We had a lot of fun with Courtney that weekend, and Britany had a lot of fun taking pictures of Court and I. Also in April the third Bowman girl was born :-) Sophie Lael was born on Good Friday. We were happy to welcome Sophie into our family and our family keeps growing and growing. As well as Sophie, ha, she’s bigger then Isaac but she’s still such a cutie. Also, Kelsey, Britany, and I all had a fun slushie day in the park. It was a nice break from school and the business. And it was about time Kelsey and Bowman had some pictures together ;-) And at the end of April and beginning of May, Koz came home for a couple weeks before he was going to be leaving on his year long deployment to Afghanistan. It was nice to have him home for a couple weeks though and I felt blessed that I was able to see him a few times throughout the months before he had to leave.

May-So to start off the month, Koz and I had our engagement pictures take by Goon and Britany took some too. It was a fun couple of days hanging out with our friends. Also, in May I turned 21 :-) And I even got to spend it with Koz for once. I was a happy girl, ha. Also, on my birthday my dad had a retirement dinner. He’s finally out of the prison and we’re so happy for him ;-) Ha, he’s keeping busy a little with teach and such now a days. Also, the day after my birthday Koz and Dan ran in the Chelsea Heart and Sole race. Koz won the two mile over all and Dan even won for his age group, um so proud of those boys. Also that afternoon, Koz and I went to the zoo with his family which was a lot of fun. He even got me a penguin, yeah don’t get to excited it was only a stuffed animal one sadly, ha. Well before Koz had to go back to Colorado to get ready for his deployment at the end of the month and I headed up north for Chad and Bridgette’s wedding. However, told the end of May I decided to go see Koz in Colorado right before he left for his deployment, even though the ticket cost a ton because I decided the end before I was going to leave. I got to meet some people in Colorado which was fun. I’m so glad I got to go and see him before he left for Afghanistan. Plus he was even nice enough to took me up in the mountains for my first time and Sonic when I wanted, ha. The best part though was that we got to spend some time together, which I’m very thankful since he left soon for along time. And besides he needed my help when it came to packing ;-) Well, Koz left for Afghanistan and I flew back home. Brit and I also decided to take a trip to Chicago to celebrate the beginning of summer and change.

June-I went up northing to spend some time with Sarah, Dan, and the boys. However, Sarah had got gull stones while I was up there so I stayed a little longer than I expected to help out with the boys. Also, the summer begin and skypeing with Michael Kozma begin once in a while begin too. To keep busy I went camping with the whole family for a long weekend, which the little kiddos loved. It’s cute seeing all the cousins playing together.

July-Well July began, and I spent another three weeks this summer at the Dahlem Center’s day camp :-) Also when to the Ann Arbor Art fair with my parents, Abbey, and Brit. I worked with fourth graders that summer and worked with another awesome teacher. The kids were pretty good kids for the most part and lots of memories from those weeks. I also babysitting for Don and Nicky began. Which was a blast to be able to hang out with my future niece and nephews, I love those kids. Also, some big news from that month, Koz told me he was going to be home on leave in November. So we decided to get married when he was home on his leave mid deployment because then it meant when he would be done with his deployment we could just move all out stuff to Colorado and I could start school in the fall. So, a lot of planning began for the wedding well on my part, Koz had it pretty easy if you ask me ;-)

August-August came and I still had the pleasure of babysitting for Don and Nicky. Also lots of time spent with the lovely Britany Miller, ha. We were roommates for a couple summer months, and August was a blast. Awesome time spend in our summer hangout my grandma’s house old house in Vandercook. Late nights of Pirates on Koz’s PS3, lots of tennis, meals made together, crazy rocking to our music from our computers that would fill the house while drinking mtn dew of course, and fun lazy evening at the lake after along day. We had a great summer. We also spent some time in Fairview, trips up north to work at the Relief sale was one of our favorite weekends that summer up north I think. Brit and I also took a road trip to Illinois with Oliver. I met some of Brit’s friends from Durley and we had a fun long weekend. Also, on the way back to Michigan we stop made a stop in Indiana for Rachelle and Luke’s wedding :-) Wedding number two for the summer, and I’m so glad I got to go to it. Oh I also went to Jamin and Jodi’s wedding, which marked as wedding number three. Their wedding was very pretty and simple, and Scottie even came home for it.Speaking of weddings, I think in August was when I found my own wedding dress. It was right off the rack and the prefect size and color, and I would only have to get it bustled in the back too. It was exciting, things were starting to fall together.

September-I went up north again to see my favorite little Asher dude for a special day for him. He turned 3 this year! My nephew is a big three old now, I can’t believe my little guy is growing up so fast. I was also at Barakel for Labor day family camp. However this year it was extra fun because the Bowman’s and Barney’s families were together again, just like old time. I had a wonderful time with Abbey like I always do and it was fun making more memories with her at Barakel. I also had more dress fittings and November was coming soon, however I think I was more excited because it meant Koz was coming home. Also, I think I found our barn after much searching :-) They were very flexible and helpful, which I was thankful everyone was being so flexible. Because we found out that we didn’t know when exactly Koz would be home so it was a little difficult planning a wedding date, ha.

October-A month before the wedding which meant my wedding shower began. I had lots of showers and received many present when I was very thankful for all the people that loved Koz and I. Also, I think either end of September or early October our invitations go mailed out :-) They looked awesome, thanks to that Jacob Roman’s help. Also, my family did pumpkins at Matthew and Amanda’s house, which were some awesome pumpkins this year. Well, it was two weeks before my wedding and my Grandma fell and broke her hip, which sent her to the hospital. She had surgery which went fine but after it was when things suddenly got worse. I was heartbroken and hurt a lot, because I was pretty close to my grandma. However, I had to be strong because Koz was coming home and the wedding was coming up fast.

November-November was a world wind. The first week there was a lot of planning for my grandma’s funeral and helping with everything that dealt with that. I felt like I was helping plan her funeral and last minute wedding things at night. It was along week. However, I was so excited Koz was coming home at the beginning of the month and our wedding was actually happening on the day we picked. It was so wonderful having him home, I missed him. On November 12^th I married my best friend. Yeah I know it’s cheese when people say that but I really did. I love that man so much and the day prefect. No major mess ups and everything looked so beautiful. The barn was so pretty and things just seemed to fall into place with the help of my awesome friends and family. Koz and I also got to go on a short honeymoon to West Palm Beach which was a lot of fun. I loved being able to spend time just with my husband, and yes sleep next to him every night and knowing he was going to be right there next to me when I woke up and not in some country far far away. But yeah the weather was great and we had a week together before he had to leave for Afghanistan again. So yep, I’m Emily Kozma now, even though I think some of my friends will always call me Bowman, ha.

December-Well finally December came. My parents, myself, Sarah, and her little boys all flew to San Jose, California for my cousins wedding. Oh and before I went to Cali I got my hair cut kinda short which was a fun change. Anyways, back to California, their wedding was beautiful and kinda the typical city wedding, which was different then mine, ha. Asher was my date and he was quite the dancer, ha. We had a fun time in California though with trips to San Fansico during part of our vacation which was fun. I love visiting cities like that and definitely want to go back sometime again. Well, our trip ended just in time for Christmas. Christmas was interesting this year, Koz and my first Christmas as a married couple but ironically our first Christmas apart. We skyped while I opened my presents and he opened the ones I sent him in a box before I left for Cali. I spent Christmas morning after church with his and in the even had it with mine. Family is important to me and I’m so glad I got to spend it with both of mine, and I got some pretty awesome presents too ;-)