An Ending and A New Beginning

This time traveling I'm doing gets exhausting. Attempting to keep memories in order, and true. Like, "I did do that, didn't I?"... We were laughing, happy and unknowingly keeping memories to heart, right? Jumbled, foggy thoughts are friends of mine lately. But, here? now? I can mostly keep track of time by the photos that I savor.

Back a few journal entries, I shared a family party that was held for my sister-in-law, nearly in lieu of Christmas - as the entire family was present that evening - and we were going separate ways for December 25th.

I went the email route for sending good tidings and embracing the coming New Year... memories of the abundant life I share with my Hubby ~

Traditional Christmas it WASN'T this year (similar to Thanksgiving). A portrait with Santa was about as traditional as we got - albeit this Santa was my brother-in-law.

Always and forever Christmas Eve is with Hubby's family.  Gift giving and opening takes on an entirely different  joy when there are children in the room. It makes me happy to have our nephew and his family grow to include two young ones. Our great nephew is like a bouncy ball that hops from plaything to not-so-plaything while smiling, laughing, and singing his ABC's. We don't share photos of these beautiful beings... unfortunately....

my kitchen in December

Brother #1 celebrated endured Christmas in Southern California, as his mother-in-law passed away. Brother #2 was content at home with his family for Christmas and had to work.
Brother #3was dutiful and kind sharing Christmas day with other family.
And, my parents were home, at their place in the woods. They made plans with friends for holiday dinner, yet my Mom was still not feeling well. That flu bug was hanging onto her.

Yes, quite separated we were and equally as nontraditional.

Off to the beach on a whim, because of the niceties from my Goat Hill boss...  Hubby & I would dig toes in the sand and watch sunsets for Christmas.

even the bird came along

Sunshine filled perfection!!


2013 coming to an end - we headed back home. A small celebratory evening with friends to welcome all that the beginning of a new year can mean... resolutions - maybe, dreams - surely, hope for a year of abundant joy and magnificent memory making ALWAYS! Isn't that the truth for each of us? That we have eternal hope each and every time the calendar reads January 1st? Life is all about the beauty of sunshine perfection, isn't it? Otherwise it would be hard to rise each morning. Who of us would sit and ponder dreadfulness? Not on my watch, anyway! Eternal optimist (mostly), that is me.


Let us celebrate a HAPPY New Year ~

art on our fridge for incoming 2014

Try as I might,  I cannot come up with a clear picture in my head of the first week in January. A lot of vague recollections. Checking my calendar, there are entries about the 3rd, 4th, 5th being spent in Los Angeles, and San Francisco at funerals. Deaths that needed to be acknowledged, loved ones that needed support.


Very soon after, acknowledgement, love and support would be needed to heal my heart. The art I chalked on the refrigerator said IMAGINE.... but, imagine what exactly? Thinking sunshine, I got rain...

Stick-to-it-iveness ... Say WHAT??

No. The new year does not automatically call for resolutions. Sometimes I partake in the goal naming, sometimes not. This go-round all of it just slipped past me.Though I probably should have taken the Numero Uno resolution of dieting - 'cause, as you'll see below - the days before the ball dropped for 2013, I done had me a treasure trove of delicious EATS!!

Also, more than my fair share of fun and frolic - leaving much less time for goodly things like exercise and well-being! Additionally some trying events + sadness = {as mentioned here}highly unlikely to be kind to self!

This was a somewhat healthy meal ^.. still very indulgent!  Shall I be resolute about a goal - now - a week into the year? And if I do choose something will I stick with it?... that is the biggest goal of all : to have the stick-to-it-iveness in all facets of life.... dontcha think?

If I were one to follow trends... and in some things, I am... then the Blogland thing to do for the new year is to choose a word. Your chosen term for a goal you hope to hit in TWENTY THIRTEEN.
Maybe I'll be really bold ridiculous and say that my word is sticktoitiveness {albeit a made-up word}.


Haaaa - I know what my first stick-to-it will be :  STICKY BUNS!!  nah, not really...

Dates

Dates, appointments, memories, calendars, a whole new year...

SO MANY RED LETTER DAYS!

Doesn't get much more important than the fresh start of a brand new year. I commandeered Hubby, got behind the wheel, and drove myself to fill the day with my personal joys. I finagled him into enjoying them as well!

Slowly ambled creek side at Alum Rock Park, crossing turn of the century stone bridges while sniffing at the air for sulphur from ancient hot springs. I had battled the flu for the week prior to this and our walk was a meek version of my usual hikes. That was alright though, it kept me side to side with Hubby.

Drove to the highest peak I could find in our city and waited for the sun to set. The first one of the next 364 in 2012. And, there are really BIG important dates coming....

Not to be forgotten - I'm a little ahead of myself - a date; an anniversary just passed for my dear friend Coco. She found skies to soar in without physical limits two years ago on New Years Eve. I was at the beach when she passed, and I was there again on this anniversary.

Anxiously awaiting today, January 3rd for many RED LETTER reasons....

My Sweet has worked hard to get well, and back to work again. Today was his first. Hopefully his achy legs can be willed into strength with each stride.

On this date, we've pinned high hopes on results to a medical test.  The outcome was not the one we wished for, yet everyone's spirits are calm and only time will tell. This is another event for a leap of faith. {see past few posts} As have been very many of my life's situations of late.

And today came, and left us with a different date to watch the calendar for. With many months past a year now, my friend that has been both hospitalized and housebound while waiting for clear thoughts and happiness is trying to keep the faith.  We expected to hear where she might move; where I can visit her next. Our hopes are pinned on a new place, and a changed RED LETTER day.


One day at a time.....

Sure as the grass grows...

We'll get our answers, and make new dates, and memorialize anniversary dates...

And, God willing live another full year...

Hop Skip ... And A Jump

Into the New Year....


                               {  2012  }



YAY!!! Joey

 Leaps of faith!  Not exactly a resolution.

 Resolved though, yes! Resolved in the dictionary says to make a firm decision to do something.  So, at the risk of failing, and not to be taken too seriously  nor last for any lengthy amount of time.....

I'm taking up skipping {see post title above} good for both heart and soul!...
  (maybe I should also SKIP next weeks meals!)

SKIP, SKIP, SKIP TO My Lou

Keep right on skipping through any rough patches, mind you... *SHOULD THERE BE ANY *!.. in this new year!  Not expecting any rough patches, or eczema either! hhaa
* see - leap of faith

HOPPING over some hurdles. Quickly! Like Florence Griffith-Joyner! Will attempt to hop right through Easter. Hop to it each and every time Hubby calls my name! {will not last through Easter}... and this is not the place to take me too seriously! Yet, resolved in hopping out of bed when the rooster crows, throwing on me tennies and git back on them dusty trails! Just may hop, or jump on the bandwagon for the SF 49ers also!

JUMPING into the ring..  jumping at the chance... jumping out of the fire and into the frying pan. Possibly one or all of these. That's what life is all about. The old year; this new year...  how would I learn, experience, live, love, laugh ; be me  without taking chances??? Without leaps of faith?? Without trying "new" ??  Without checking boxes off my bucket list??


Divide the calendar in half, and the last months of the old year knocked me flat{only at times}. Feeling in a cave looking for some light ....
FOUND IT !!   ->

Taking a leap of faith that the light will shine on for awhile...  {better not take batteries}




New Years Eve at Seabright Beach

The sun shined bright as the year ended, and as the new began ^

GIVE ME MORE LIGHT!!

WHITE

Clean, stark, crisp, and white - that's my slate in preparation for this new year! An easy start to 2011 since I am away with family and resorting in the snow. 'Tis very crisp and white on this mountain!

The order of the day begins with coffee  champagne, no really it is coffee! Then we go to luxuriate at the spa.... well, sorta! Elliptical machines, treadmills, weights and stretching come first. All the while excited to get to the hot tub and outdoor swimming pool. YEP!! I swam outside in a pool only heated to 70 degrees - with snow drifts mounded 3 feet high all around! Swimming with snowflakes kissing your cheeks is special!  Each day has had a different middle and ending, and all of them make for a revitalized spirit to begin this new year. Hoping my short list below reflects 2011....

Celebration is in order ~

and silliness and play ~

A limit to those blue days ~

Some relaxation ~

And a bit of work too! I'll be starting a new adventure once I'm home. For only a few short hours one day per week I will be working at a local antiques & collectibles shop. Truly a good fit for me. Wish me luck... and I wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

INSPIRATION

Believing this post would be a remembrance to a passed friend I came up with the title of: Inspiration. Upon checking my Webster's, it seems that my title has plenty to do with many a thought crossing my mind!

The inspiration (noun -the act of influencing or suggesting opinions) and also (the power of moving emotions) for me today comes from the fact that as the year wanes, a date of  profound loss nears. I've previously spoken of Colleen. She and her remaining family are on my mind. I've sent them a note in remembrance as I will be away this weekend. I shall be celebrating all that is hopeful and new, and they shall be saddened by their loss. I also HOPE that her family will celebrate too. May they find their way to celebrate the good memories held in their hearts, the new joys they have experienced since her death, and all of the possibilities of the New Year.

And yet even more inspiration.... (the drawing of air into the lungs) on that trip away for this weekend. Icy, cold, fresh, mountain air.  We'll be nestled in the majesty of the Sierras on a steep, snowy slope for 3 days. Here's hoping that I can find inspiration (of another type) for my life in the lovely new year that we are embarking upon.

May you find inspiration from those who shower you in love and kindness, and from the air you breathe in the beauty that surrounds you daily!