We are only into the 2nd day of January but I already have a new nephew. Yesterday baby David was born at 31 weeks. He weighed 2.6lbs and is 14 inches long. He is breathing on his own. Prayers are greatly needed for him and his family.
Last January I started a 365. I took a picture every day for 365 days. First time ever in my entire life I can remember starting a long time project and actually completing it. I am proud of myself. 365 days I took at least one picture. Some days I was very creative (at least I think I was), some days not so much. It doesn't matter though, I did it and guess what I am doing it again this year.
First picture of 2011......
Last picture of 2011.....
That is how 2011 started and how she ended. What you don't see is the highs and lows that happened. Several people are no longer with us. Captain Bowman of Asheville Fire and Rescue tragically lost his life doing what he loved doing. He is a real hero. Just a couple days later a sweet 12 year old lost her battle with brain cancer. Kellie was the kindest and sweetest girl. Her mom and I have been close friends for over 15 years. I remember the day she was born, she made her parents the happiest parents in the world. She will never be forgotten.....One month later this world lost another precious little girl. Stella was an absolute joy to be around. At only 8 years old she would light up every room that she walked into. Her death was another tragic loss. She also will never be forgotten. When these three tragedies happened so close together it was a blow to the stomach. When things like this happen it makes you take three steps back and reanalyze how good life is. Maybe the job promotion didn't come thru, maybe they discontinued your favorite salad at Apple bees, maybe they cancelled your favorite show...
But maybe you have the priveledge of be chosen as this girls mama..
Maybe you get to sit back and smile when she is with her best friend/enemy, because we know how hard being four years old is....
Maybe you get to play "Where is Stella?" with the cutest one year old....
Maybe when you take your little one out for a photoshoot and when you say smile you get this instead.....
Maybe you get to watch your "Scaredy-cat" daughter climb a tree for the first time and see this triumphant smile on her face......
This by the way is my first picture of the year for my 366 this year :)
Maybe you get to see sweet sisters loving each other....
Maybe you get to smile everytime this little boy says "My" instead of "I"...."My love you Mawee"
Maybe you get to love this little girls profile everyday of her life....
Maybe life didn't turn out the way you planned it.......
Maybe just maybe it turned out a 1000 times better.....
New Year means new start....New unreachable resolutions....New unbelievably high unexpectations......Not this year, not for this Mama...
My goal for this year is simple. It is to have no regrets. Enjoy it to the fullest. Love with my whole heart.
Even when I go thru my moments of self doubt. My moments where my self worth is not as high as the grass outside. My moments where I seriously wonder if my almost 5 year old is going to succeed in making me pull my hair out. My moments of loss,pain, and fear of the unknown. I want to knock these moments flat to the ground, stomp on them and declare my self the winner and smile.....
Because how can you not smile when life is so beautiful.
And this year you get ONE more extra day to enjoy it....ONE extra day to laugh a little more, ONE more day to love a lot more....
So don't sweat things that in the end mean nothing. Start 2012 with a fresh start. Its not how the adventure ends, its how it played out. Live like there is no tomorrow, laugh so hard grape kool-aid come out your nose but most important love like you never want to lose it......Because you don't.....
And this one, well she informs me that she will be "5 years old, a WHOLE hand" on January "firtyith" a thousand times a day....A Minnie and Mickey Mouse party is in the works...
A whole hand.....Where did the time go???
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Beautifully put, and the pictures are beautiful also....this made me want to cry a little.
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