intro- i really just wrote this to remind myself… and i think that it would be a wonderful idea for you to dig through your archives and diaries and see all that your year has been made up of- so many amazing things that we forget, that we think were so long ago..
as a new year approaches, new opportunities on the rise. new possibilities awaiting us…
i reflect back on this year- and seeing how full it was, packed with such amazing juicy awesomeness… i realise how very blessed we are…
i see so many of our dreams building and coming true.
i cherish so many wonderful memories…
in january, i was insomniac for pretty much the entire month. i spent nights paintings and creating… or sometimes doing nothing. and early mornings- waiting for the sun to wake up… breathing in the untouched new air… magic, crisp, silent mornings that invigorated the soul.
in february, i danced in the street with my neighbours- as snow fell down from the sky. big smiles spread across our faces, cameras ready… tongues to the clouds. it was magic and beautiful and so sweet to see so many adults become children for a few minutes…
in march, i flew to the united kingdom and met up with a group of amazing, talented, and beautiful girlies. (who i met through flickr) we stomped through cambridge and… oh god.. it was such a magical time for me. i can't believe it really was this year- it feels far too long ago…
in april, i fell in love with spring. i guess i simply forgot about her ripeness… i always look forward to the bouncing baby lambs in the green pastures… but this past spring- i really fell in love with the earth. with ireland in bloom.
also in april- i opened my etsy store and began selling my art. this was something that i used to dream of when i was little- being an artist… thinking that i wanted to go to college to be an artist. but then 'who ever really makes a living as an artist?!' so i gave that idea up. guess what? …i am.
in may, we battled may flies and fat spiders… we endured stuffy heat and discovered ice cold pear cider. i took up embroidery as a new fun hobby/craft.
in june, my allergies reared their ugly head (ew..so literally…) and i spent the entire month being miserable… i cheered myself up by dining on fresh strawberries and zirtek.
in july, one of my best friends toured through ireland. it was so surreal to see her here… we spent a day in galway city, and then i got to spend a night with her in dublin… i can't believe that she was really in my house. le sigh…
i also decided to try something new, and added blonde highlights to my hair. i'm glad that i tried- and am now trying to make the recovery back to my red… blonde just isn't me.
in august, i shot my very first wedding. i did it solo- and boy did i work my ass off… it was an incredible experience, one i don't think i will ever forget. i'm so proud of myself for not only taking on this experience, but i am also proud of the photos i was able to capture. (especially considering how nervous i was… and how much i still have to learn about my camera)
later that month, steven and i took off to belgium! we stayed with hanno and cass (who i met in cambridge earlier in the year). we toured brussels and were entertained by la petite princess, amélie. we took trains and subways, navigated through a city split by three languages… soaked ourselves up in the history and beautiful architecture of the ancient city… it was absolutely…amazing.
in september, i came to a difficult, and much needed space on my fertility journey. it was all very much spiritual/mental… and i think that it was the first process in letting go.
in october, one of my oldest friends (er… friend i have had the longest?) came to ireland! sigh… i never really imagined her being able to come here…her life has taken off- and she had the chance to study abroad and travel a wee bit… and i am so honoured that she chose to spend some of that time with me, in our home.
in november, suddenly i booked us tickets to fly to florida. i had been saving money to upgrade my camera… but then a few things started to click into place and made me realise how much more important it would be to spend the money on memories- instead of material. it was the first time that my entire family has been able to get together-and i am so so glad that we got to be there. while we were there, we experienced the thick florida air, lizards, niece and nephews (and we got to meet our newest nephew)…and disney world.
also in november, we celebrated our third anniversary. oh wait, we both actually forgot it was our anniversary until the day after. so we bought a bottle of bubbly… we were both pretty tired, and i was starting to come down with a sickness. but all the same, THREE YEARS MARRIED! laaa. and many many more.
in december, i taught myself how to french braid, and fish tail braid my own hair. i know that isn't that big of a deal- but it really was to me… now i'm ready to have a baby girl so i can practice on her. hee!
we also experienced horrible ice storms, baked gingerbread cookies with my brother-in-law, and watched him sing solo in his school christmas play.
my etsy has sprouted, and i have made well over 60 sales both on, and off etsy… i have been able to make a small little living out of a few creative hobbies, which is a dream come true. i never expected to find myself in this space…and here i am.. it is so beautiful and full and rich…
–
dear future erin,
you sometimes like to think that you have to struggle for the things you want most in life… but i think that reflecting back- you'll realise that there was really no struggle. you made things happen without meaning to, or… you made things happen because you dreamed so much, and wanted so much for them to happen- that you did. you have been blessed beyond with what you have been given, the choices you made, the risks you took. and most of all- the people that surround you and hold you up daily.
i think by 'struggling' you mean- things aren't handed easily, and because of that- keep working hard, and dreaming big… i think it's just a good reminder to not take these beautiful things for granted.
i do hope that you continue to remember what you are grateful for… to live in the present, and continue to remind those that you love- just how dear they are to you.
everything is happening for a reason. and your life has been so beautiful and blessed so far.
