As we draw near 2011, I went back and reflected on all my photos, blog posts and memorable events from 2010. It’s certainly been an interesting year for me. I don’t think I’ve ever had a more challenging, yet rewarding, year.
2010 started with the birth of my nephew, Samuel, on New Year’s Day. His presence adds an exciting dynamic to the family. It’s so neat to see Sophie interact with her little cousin.
Speaking of Sophie, this year held so many milestones for my little one. She moved from a crib to a “big girl” bed in January. She conquered potty training (no more diapers) – a huge deal! I put away her trusty baby monitor, which brought me more sadness than I expected.
Sophie started preschool this fall, and we said farewell (on a daily basis) to the childcare provider that had been taking care of her since she was 4-months-old. It’s been so exciting to see how she’s flourished in her new school setting. I admire her strength and love of learning every day. Her vocabulary has grown in leaps and bounds. In fact, I often wonder if I’m talking to a 3-year-old or a 10-year old.
I’m happy to report that our family has grown by two – cats, that is. You may recall me writing about how the mama cat and her babies “adopted” us this summer. After finding homes for nearly all of them, we decided to officially adopt Mama Tess and Little Bipp (aka Boo). I never thought of myself as a cat person; never having grown up with cats. But I must say that I love these little creatures. They are great additions to our family. Even the dogs love them.
And now on to me. Like I said earlier, it’s been a tough year in some ways. I didn’t expect to struggle with so many medical issues, such as my chronic sinus infections and subsequent sinus surgery this summer. But with the year ending, my sinuses are in much better shape than ever before. So I guess the struggle was worth it. I also learned a lot about my mental health and how my body physically responds to emotion. It’s been very eye-opening.
When I looked back at the post I wrote about my goals for 2010, I said I wanted to live more simply and concentrate on my personal writing growth. I’m really proud to say I’ve accomplished both.
Let’s start with my writing. It’s hard to imagine that I wasn’t even blogging a year ago. I started this blog December 21, 2009; yet it seems that I’ve been writing here for so much longer. I have LOVED developing this blog. The posts I’ve written and the photos I’ve shared – it’s been such a joy for me. Thank you all for coming along!
I’ve also been writing like never before. I now write for my local community magazine; two national Web sites and blogs; a local news site; and now, my local Jewish synagogue. I also have at least four book ideas that I need to flush out and begin writing. And I’m so excited to start a new job in January where I’ll be doing nearly all writing and speechwriting. It’s been such an amazing year to discover that THIS is the life I want to lead.
I’ve also achieved my goal of living a simpler life. Both Bryan and I have made great strides in using the things we have and not buying stuff to fill the house. I’m proud to say that I’ve actually burned all of my candles I’d been coveting all these years. And I read every book I bought and had on my shelf for so long. This has been great because now I feel no guilt picking up a new read.
I’m excited to end 2010, and even more looking forward to seeing what 2011 will bring. I decided to end 2010 by creating the “year in review” photo collage below.
Happy New Year, and here’s to 2011!
