2015.

My mind is filled with memories from the past year.  Most of our recent years have had huge notable things marking them like graduating from school, moves, new babies.  We had none of those major things this year and I am so grateful.  We could settle into real life and work on building things up.

It's all felt like a blur.  In the past we've had these big notable milestones to mark the days but not this year.  It was day in and day out caring for a home.  It was adjusting to life with two active toddlers.

We rang in the new year with two celebrations.  The first was with my mom group with celebration at noon.  My friend was so sweet to remember Amy's birthday.  There were so many toddlers and so many noisemakers.  In the evening, we went out to dinner out with friends, had a fire and our burning of grievances, smores and fireworks.  I went to bed that night feeling so content.  There are so many good things happening here, the year really ended on a high note for me. 

It has not been the easiest year.  I think I'm more tired then I have ever been in my life but I have grown.  I have a much better sense about who I am and what I'm capable of.  Here are some of my favorite parts:

- Visiting friends and family in Utah.  There were so many parts I loved: going to Logan and seeing some of my best friends, spending time with my family, swimming, shopping at my favorite haunts.  The best was celebrating Easter up in Ophir, an old tradition that I never thought I would see again.  Even thinking about it brings me so much happiness.

- Going to Outer Banks with my parents.  We love the beach and it was so fun to introduce my mom and dad to the most beautiful place on Earth.

- Making new friends.  We've only been here just over a year and it takes a long time to make friends.  I've met some wonderful people and can see my life taking shape here.

- Growing into motherhood.  This year has been hard and I can see myself growing all the time in the way I parent, in how I think about parenthood.  I'm so thankful to be a mom and to be able to be home with them.

- I learned about following my gut and intentionally choosing what I put my energy into.

- I think I finally settled into life here.  For a long time I've worried and wondered about our choice to upend our life.  I wondered what we should have done and have come to some peace about the whole situation.  I am here and I'm going to make the best life I can.

- Making our house a home.  Our house feels like home now with all of the work and organization I've put in this year.  We've found furniture that works, I've sewed pillows, painted so many walls.  I'm proud of this place.  

- I found my voice in glass this year.  I spent some focused time this summer while taking a glass class at the Workhouse and am in awe of how much I grew and progressed over the short time.  I am so excited to continue down this path.  I have made my most favorite work this year.

- Heber and I celebrated 10 years.  I have felt so happy to be with Heb.  He was in a car accident this summer and I spent the next few months being so grateful for him.  We've faced big things together and done it all as a team.

So, that's my year.  Looking forward, I've been writing some resolutions for the new year.  
This week I've been thinking about new years resolutions.  I think I'm actually going to write some.  It's been ages since I have thought past survival mode and it is exciting.  I can't wait to see what 2016 brings.