goodbye 2012

It's 3am on the 31st of December and I'm up, clearly since I'm blogging. It's crazy for me to watch the last few hours of 2012 fly by, it's almost sealed away -- history. I can't be sure why I'm up, except the fact that my mind is moving through the year, the ups and downs, wondering how to say goodbye to such a full year and what to let go of. I hadn't thought until I was chatting with some friends over google+ last night what I will we shed as I enter 2013.

I learned so much about myself this year, and would venture to say, I'm finally feeling like I'm beginning to understand who I am. Perhaps it's not that I'm better understanding who I am, but rather, finally feeling like I'm getting comfortable in my own shoes. I know what I'm about, I know what I want, I know what needs to be done to get there -- it's all a matter of doing, is it not? That's the hard part.

The first thing that comes to my mind as I leave 2012 for good is relationships. Relationships are everything and need to be nourished and feed. I've learned this so much in my marriage, there is constantly an ebb and flow and if we're not giving to one another the sparks dim. It is also true when it comes to relationships with my girls and friends. Relationships are constantly changing and molding and need different things at different times. If there is one thing I'm going to put my energy into in 2012 it's relationships.



What else I learned in 2012:

A continuing theme that is constantly coming up for me -- my life is my choosing. I am must say I am very grateful for where I am at. Very grateful.

We need less judgement, more kindness.

Hug those I love daily and show them what they mean to me with my words+actions.

Accepting help, where help is needed, is a sign of humility and a beautiful part of being human.

Staying focused on the good will make everyday full of light.

Be you. A genuine life will draw people to you.

There's no time like the present.

Daily scriptures, prayer, and really do make all the difference. When I put God first I have found there is time enough for everything else.

When I'm in a slump creatively try something new or do something a different way. I loved pushing myself to take photographs this year with more than just with my DSLR.

Be adventurous. Going to South Carolina on a whim seemed so out of character for me. Need more of that spontaneity.

Dreams do come true -- but not without a lot of work.

I need to see more of the world. Twenty twelve included trips to New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Moab, Jackson Hole, and Washington state. I'm itching for more...

Sharing what I love (photography) = fulfilled

Our actions will tell us what we love.

It's ok to take a break, my blog sort of fell off the grid, when it's needed. There's no time like the present to welcome it back.

December | 12of12 | iphone addition

I know I've said it a millions time, but seriously where did this year go. I hope you all take a chance to look at all your twelves together to get a glimpse of how great your year was.



01. Celebrating 12.12.12 today.

02. 06:12 Megan doing homework while she waits her turn for violin.

03. This is where I was when the clock struck 12:12pm on 12.12.12. Felt a little too coped up and needed some fresh air. I would never have remembered if I hadn't set my alarm.

04. I had big intentions for this day, but I'm not feeling myself, a bit under the weather, so I wasn't as ambitious as I had hoped.

05. 01:12pm Doing my last little bit of Christmas (online) shopping.

06. 02:12pm Folding laundry, not a fan.

07. 03:12pm Bella was telling me all about her day of twelves. Apparently the class went wild with cheering and shouts when the clock hit 12:12pm. Then they stopped and she said it was all a little weird.

08. I couldn't resist adding this picture mainly because I never laughed so hard. We were shopping at Target this evening for Sub For Santa gifts, but before we started I needed to return a few items. As it turns out while I was being helped by a young man Megan pulled out of my bag a tampon and said, "what do you use these for?" I was semi-mortified until I saw the look on the target employees face and then I couldn't help but say, "that was awesome," which made the kid laugh and relieved the tension  He still turned the color of his red target shirt. Poor guy.

09. 5:12pm Ah Megan what a delight to shop with -- not. I counted at least 15 items that she had to have -- no we are not talking for Christmas. This, I don't even know what it was, stuffed panda in her hand was the hardest one for her to let go of. She told me she would give anything to have it and when I suggested her kitty she promptly said, "anything but that". I suppose she really didn't get into the Sub for Santa spirit.

10. Cafe rio for dinner. Hard to resist when it's next door to target.

11. 9:12pm Working on a gift this evening while the girls are fast asleep. I couldn't show the finished product, for obvious reasons, so I smudge it out.

12. We are halfway through the advent. Only TWELVE days to go!

I hope you all had a good time capturing your day on this the 12th month of the 12th day of the year 2012. Weird to think I will never see it again.

I enjoyed following a few of my friends on instagram who posted photos every hour. Lara I'm looking forward to seeing your 12of12! Of course I look forward to seeing what the rest of you came up with and what your 12.12.12 day was like.

12 things i'm grateful for on this day of twelve

I'm grateful...

i have a light schedule today -- feeling a bit under the weather.

to be a woman.

for friends that get me.

for amazon Christmas shopping.

for holiday goodies.

[instagrams from Monday nights FHE at temple square]

for twinkling lights that greet me in the morning when I wake and before I go to sleep.

for technology that keeps us connected.

for peace in my heart.

for a phone camera with awesome resolution. I hardly recognize my canon these days.

for the relationship with my girls. I love how much deeper our conversations are now that they're a little older.

for warm cozy beds and good books to keep me company.

for the holiday season and how this time of year always brings me back to what's most important.

12of12 reminder

Tomorrow is one of those days that won't happen again for another 100 years.

12.12.12


Even if you haven't been playing along all year, you may want to consider documenting tomorrow, you know, for posterity sake? :)

Enjoy!

lately ...

I'm thinking about my elderly neighbors and what I could do for them this holiday season.

I'm reading the Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes.

I'm doing laundry that I've avoided all week.



I'm making candy cane peppermint cookies just for fun.

I'm watching the delight in my girls faces as we start the countdown to Christmas today.

I'm working on Christmas gifts.

I'm contemplating a big change in our everyday life.

I'm ecstatic my gratitude journals sold out. :)

I'm hoping to go on a date tonight.

I'm missing my sister and her family.



I'm loving going to sleep and waking up to Christmas lights.

I'm grateful for my life. I am tremendously blessed.

I'm waiting for the snow.

I need to clean my studio, again. Sad thing is I just cleaned it last Saturday.

I'm trying not to let my tired get the better of me.

I'm debating whether u should worry that my back still hurts after falling down the stairs over a month ago.



I'm looking forward to my Google hang out this weekend.