Reflection of 2014

As December 2014 winds down with only a few more days on this years calendar I find myself reflecting back on the past twelve months and marveling on how fast they sped by.  2014 met us with our usual daily life routines, you know the ones that get in the way to really living, but there is always comfort in the routine.  However routine is never exciting to highlight, so here are the moments that made imprints in our hearts or brightly coloured our ordinary daily lives.

Jan/Feb: The most profound event in Jan was the passing of my Nan on Jan 25th.  Her death rocked our family as she was the grounding to our family's foundation.  She was the last of my grandparents to leave the earth and it saddens me to think they are all gone.

On a brighter note though, January was the month I finished my first manuscript: Marbles and Wine.  And many copies were distributed to various honest friends to have a read through and provide feedback.  Most have long since finished and helped me fine tune my masterpiece.

March: After some busy months working hard, both Scott and I needed a rest, so Sechelt  was our first pick.  The ocean air and calming surroundings rejuvenated us completely.  This trip turned out to be our only vacation away for 2014, besides Shuswap.  Hopefully 2015 will bring forth more travel.

April: One of the biggest highlights for me this year was a visit from my friend Erin.  She traveled far from Fort Smith to hang out with me and observe my teaching practice in the hopes of fine tuning some of her own.  I really think that was a cover so we could finally see one another after 9 years apart.  And from the moment she stepped off the plane, to the minute she had to return to the airport three days later, we never stopped talking.  It literally was like old times.  We hung around Fort Langley, relaxed at my place, went for a fine dinner at The WAG.

Her trip ended, and within hours my sister and her family came to visit for Easter.  This was another highlight of 2014.  Having them stay with us was so much fun.  My sister and I chatted well into the wee hours every night.  My nieces brought huge life and laughter in our little home.  And my brother in-law had us in stitches with his funny stories and jokes.  Between the egg hunt and big family dinners it was epic.

May/June: We slowed down again for the rest of Spring, until June.  Then I started summer vacation weeks earlier as job action hit it's peak- full walk -out until mid Sept.  This was the damper on summer travel.

July: Feeling utterly worn out and defeated I packed up Triggs in my car and we had a week to ourselves in Shuswap.  This was a new adventure as I had never really traveled alone with a dog before.  It was great just relaxing in the warm Okanagan sun, reading, writing and doing nothing.  Then within a few weeks I was back up there again to celebrate my nieces fourth birthday with the whole family.  Then the following week Scott and I, with Triggs in tow, had a relaxing four days at the cabin.  We arrived on our anniversary to find the cabin without power, but that didn't kill the romance.  We lit candles and watched the storm roll by.  The rest of the time we enjoyed the warm days and cool nights.  We even kayaked with Triggs.

Aug: After being fully recharged we came back and built a deck.  What a crazy fun project.  Who knew my husband could design and build a deck?  Once completed we had a few dinners at the outdoor dinning table with friends and family.  Scott's sister also came for a quick visit that month and then came back in late Oct for another.

Sept: To distract me from the fact I wasn't going back to work right away I hosted a Reader's Dinner for all the people who read "Marbles and Wine".  Not everyone could make it, but for those that did I have to say it was one of the best nights.  We sat under the stars, ate food inspired by the novel, drank wine and talked about the book.  It was incredible for me to have others take such pleasure in reading it and want to discuss it too.

Scott went hunting in late Sept and came back with a big moose.  It was also the time I finally got to go back to work.

Oct: Back in the full swing of things I was pleased to have a low-key Thanksgiving with our dear friends Jonny and Lisa at their home.  And then later that month Scott and I hosted a rockin' pirate party for Halloween.  It was one party for the record books.

Nov/Dec: Normally we go away in Nov, but this year we didn't have the time.  Scott was busy with work and so was I.  However Scott did take up the guitar and is doing quiet well with it. December was our busiest month.  Lots of parties and events going on.  We even took a trip to Vancouver with the neighbor crew and started a new tradition of "field trips".  This time was to Gourmet Warehouse, Peaceful Restaurant and Stanley Park.  No homework on this "fieldtrip."

Dec 21st started the epic week of family time, as my sister and her brood came for Christmas.  Between dinners, and outings it was a whirl wind of fun!

In between all of this were many trips to the yoga studio, where I learned to breathe.  Here's to another 365 days of awesomeness.