A year drawing to an close...

2011 has been a great year. It has been a year full of new experiences for me and I have enjoyed it thoroughly. I remember this time last year, after an exhausting year, wondering what would be my year this year...what would I do, achieve, create, master. What would be the highlights that made me rise from my seat and want to keep plodding on in this life, and what would be those sad moments that had me want to retreat? What would my kids achieve and what would they embrace? what would the world offer them this year in all their innocence and desire to soak up all that is, for kids...What would happen to 'our family'...would we let go and move like we have spoken so often about...to a simpler place, or would we stay? Would Naomi learn to read and would she succeed in the classroom? would she make friends? would I survive it all?

This year has seen many things:

one Naomi starting kindergarten

one ME finally saying 'I can' and completing my teachers aide certificate III, I know, not my degree, but COMPLETED and in 4 months I tell you..! not 12!! (so proud of myself).

One ME Gaining casual employment for myself and for the first time in ten years working for someone and contributing to the family income

One Mark changing careers again 

One house being eaten by termites

said termites being treated

one dog called max winning my heart

one second family car, courtesy of mark's new job (everyone say 'amen to that one!')

One Jonah with hair that makes me think of John Lennon

half a bathroom due to said termites

one new laundry roof!

numerous new friends

a few old friends,

one best friend

one breakdown of friendship and the renewing of others

ten apples on my apple tree

zero oranges on my orange tree

one dead apple tree

hundreds of dollars on medical tests 

one new york ticket purchased

one novel read and finished...yes, one....

one tubal ligation

alot of running

quite a bit of praying

inspiration

contentment

and

joy

The year 2012 has a lot to live up to. This year has been a great year. I have learned so many lessons. How to love better, live better and not waste my life. I am blessed with the blood literally pumping through my veins every time I wake up in the morning. It is a blessing. That. I. Am. Here. A God-given gift. Not a right. I am thankful that I live to tell this tale. I am thankful for the lessons learned this year.  I know next year there will be a lot of changes. As I went on my walk tonight I felt a peace with this....normally I would be freaking all out with the thought of change...but I feel at peace. I want so much more for our life...more peace. more love. more joy. less 'stuff' and less 'neediness'. I know that God has great plans for our little family. I can't wait to walk this path called life, leaving my footprints behind to see what they are....and I can't wait to write all about them to you....

what lessons have you learned this year?