a-year-in-review

It’s hard to believe it’s time to wrap up the year in our Blog Circle.   The topic “A Year In Review ” was chosen for December and I think is the perfect subject to close out the month. For those of you who have been following us along, this will be a great recap of  our individual and unique worlds.   It will be an interesting read, this I know for sure.

It’s almost the end of December and it’s been quite a year in my world.  I can’t help but sit back and see the events of the past 12 months roll out like watching a home movie.  I was so READY for this year. I had some lofty hopes and really high expectations of what my year ahead was going to look like and it did not start out well.

My handsome 6 ‘ 3″ perfectly healthy athletic 34 year old son who is the father of 2 beautiful little boys ended up in ICU for a week with a very sudden and serious block to one of his major artery’s just after Christmas last year.

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This is what we looked at for 5 days while he lay immobilized , in pain and receiving treatment to clear the blockage.  It was a really tough way to start the year for my daughter in law, for me, for my husband, and for our whole family.

When I look back on that very dark time, I am so thankful now that it is part of the history of this past year, but that event did not define the whole year. He is well now ( thankfully ) and it is a reminder to me now that we never know what waits for us in any given moment of any given day . I’m so happy to be facing the beginning of a new year with hope and optimism. I used my creative energy when I was in the hospital and was inspired to paint this picture for him late into the night after one very difficult day.

I would title this ” Hearts of Hope  “

It helped me……

Once the dust had settled on this surprise beginning to the year I picked up my ‘ to do list ‘,  asking myself ” where was I before this all happened”.

I belong to a  WOTY ( word of the year ) group and we pick a word that we feel will  define the upcoming next 12 month period.  My WOTY for 2013 was  ‘ ACTION ‘..It came to me over and over again leading up to the beginning of the new calendar year,  calling to be used.  It was perfect. My plan was to take ACTION with my art.  I had just finished an on line course with Kelly Rae Roberts. My hope and plan was to get down to business with my art in a serious and intentional way in 2013. I had,  and have been,  listening to the whispers of embarking with intention on my artful life and NOW was the time . 

I was determined to start with taking action and carving out a corner of my physical space some how , somewhere to have all my art supplies in one place and finally be able to use the space to produce what had been calling to come out!!.  My plan was to be ready to jump in ( and out ) of this workspace when time and inspiration were aligned.   I’m lucky enough to have a garage with a bathroom ( of all things ) and decided this would be the perfect place to set up shop.  Ready access to water for cleaning up and a space to be messy.  I saved my pennies and installed new doors that would let in light and I have to say it was a highlight of this past year.   

Now I have a Room Of My Own

 I am so lucky ( and inspired ! to be looking out on this ………….

My garden, and the birds who come to visit are what I see when I look outside and I’m trying not to get distracted by this beautiful view !  And when it’s really sunny and warm enough next summer, my hope is to be able to roll up my doors and really let the light pour in. So I did take ACTION this past year and it’s been really good. I have been learning to blog ( big curve ) but I am proud of what I’ve accomplished. I want to keep pushing through my hopes and dreams to improve my skills and be better at what I’ve wanted to do since as long as I can remember.

I was gifted in Feb with this… A beautiful baby grand daughter .  The 6th addition to my happy little brood of small people that continue to fuel my creative energy and make me thankful every single day. But life has a way of readjusting itself  as we move from day to day and just when things were settling into a calm normal , this happened.

 But I was ALL RIGHT which was my happy ‘take away ‘…

It could have been much worse ! It did slow me down for a few weeks as I sorted through the discomfort of a fractured sternum, but I eventually was able to get back to where I was before this all happened.  It reminded me again about the uncertainty of life and how when we least suspect it,  out of the blue, someone can make a mistake and we find ourselves an innocent bystander, in the wrong place at the wrong time ……….All is well and I look back on that incident in June as just another chapter in the story of my last 12 months. I feel good and lucky and I’m moving forward.

 I found time to create in my new studio space. I’m pulling out all the stops to keep going and I’m excited about what the next year will hold . I’m going to Kick Up My Joy , make more mixed media art, paint, sketch, work on my photography and savour the journey.

I want to do more of this…………         I loved working with PaperClay…

And do more of this ……..      I love watercolours..

My list of hopes and aspirations is long for the year ahead but I feel in my bones that 2014 is going to be the best year yet. I’m proud of what has transpired in the last 12 months and can hardly wait for 2014. My WOTY is already jelling around in my brain, and I think will sum it up perfectly….

As December draws to a close I look back on this past year with amazement.  I watched the documentary Indie Kindred that was done by Jen Lee and it inspired me. If you’re curious or have never heard of it, you can check it out here . I found it ( and her ) so inspiring.

So glad you came by to read about my Year in Review . Don’t forget this is a blog circle . Now it’s time to move along here to my friend Monica and read all that she has been up to in 2013 .

And if for some reason the loop has some gaps in it … here is a list of all the contributors in our circle and I know that every read will be a good one.

• Ginger Deverell, http://redpearcreative.blogspot.ca/2013/12/2013-beautiful-year.html
• Amy Riddlehttp://onajourneybacktoherwings.blogspot.com/2013/12/2013-year-in-review-flying-sisters-blog.html
• Sandy King https://sandymairart.wordpress.com/a-year-in-review/
• Monica Martin http://theartsygirlstudio.blogspot.ca/2013/12/what-ive-achieved-this-year2013-in.html
• Robin Heim http://robinkeahnheim.com/2013/12/19/december-reflections/
• Naz Laila: http://www.agentlerebellion.com
• Laly Mille: http://www.lalymille.com/2013/12/from-paris-with-love.html
• Kathie Gadd: http://lavenderchalet.com/2013/12/a-year-in-review

Happy reading and HAPPY NEW YEAR …