Hooray for 2012, all fresh and bright and clean. I love the opening of a new year more than just about any other time. There's something comforting in it's possibility---in aspiring toward twelve months of joy and accomplishment. Friends and regular FTBG readers are familiar with a few of my New Year's traditions including my Top 10 Books List and my coming year's aspirations.
This past year was one of happy moments and creative triumphs, complicated by a few obstacles and heartbreaks.
We continued making progress on our seemingly never-ending list of home improvements (finally finishing the master bedroom and nursery, completely re-landscaping our garden area and replacing several doors and windows). We traveled quite a bit (Jamaica, Idaho, Vermont, Portsmouth, and Washington DC) and hosted many friends and family members for cheerful times in Malden. I kept up my running routine, read 36 books, knit, sewed and generally created many fun projects and together, Joe and I grew an incredible garden.
Early in the year we were struck by some unfortunate news pertaining to our Ethiopian adoption. It's a complex tale that wound us through periods of grief and frustration, but ultimately resulted in our closing the year waiting on a new list to adopt a child (or two) through the state of Massachusetts' public adoption system. We're on the right path, and we're hopeful.
All in all, I am grateful to have experienced 2011. It was a year I will never forget; lessons learned, memories made and love deepened.
And now I welcome (with arms wide open) 2012. May it be a year of growth and happiness for us all!
Holli's 2012 Aspirations (a partial list):
- Develop watercolor painting skills
- Record a daily journal
- Eat vegan 4 times each week
- Learn to speak Spanish
- Read/Listen to 40 books
- Go on a maple tapping trip
- Log 600 miles jogging
- Weight train twice a week
- Learn to play chess
- Give proofs of love
- Maintain weight
- Travel to Idaho, St. Louis, and Europe
- Laugh more
- Participate in a fun run
- Say yes
- Play tennis
- Create a 2013 knitted monster calendar
For those of you curious about this tradition, check out my first FTBG post on the topic: 2007. Posts that followed in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 might also be insightful. I find Aspirations a fun and meaningful way to think about my year ahead with out feeling confined by and guilty about "resolutions".
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8 comments:
You are an inspiration! Here's to you, your man and your path.
I enjoy this post every year! Once again thanks for sharing! Here's to a wonderful 2012 full of love and laughter and adventure!
Meg
This list is wonderful! My mom teaches water color classes. She does beautiful work. I think you will really enjoy it. And I look forward to that Knitted Monster Calendar! hahaha Happy 2012 My Friend!!
Happy New Year Holli! I love your list of aspirations. I had been wondering about the adoption, so sorry for all the frustrations but I guess when one door closes another one opens. You'll be parents soon!
I always love reading your aspirations. You are so amazing and always accomplish so much. I wish you the best for 2012 and also hope for good news with your adoption process.
Love your aspirations, Holli. AND those 3 little ladies on the top of your page!
Go you. Always inspiring me to be more, do better, love bigger.
LYF, H
what an awesome year! i thought of you yesterday as i crafted my own holli-inspired 2012 aspiration list!
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