This year, for Christmas, I made a gift for David and Chloe. We take many, many pictures but rarely print them – the curse of the digital camera. So I decided to make a 2011 album as a gift from me to them.
It took many carefully planned hours of sneaking around to finish it. In those hours, with photos spread all over my kitchen … I got to relive 2011. More than once, tears welled up in my eyes as I remembered the many small moments of the past year. I saw beautiful moments between my daughter and husband and remembered the fancy dresses and wild tights Chloe insisted on wearing all last winter. I saw pictures of Chloe’s big haircut and her first day of school. There were pictures of us camping with friends and Chloe at swimming lessons. There were many smiles and silly faces. 2011 was a good year.
I get lost in the moment, in the “what’s next” and planning for things ahead. It’s not bad to do those things – but those things are uncertain, they are guesses. Thinking ahead can cause stress or worry because of the unknown and always living in that mindset is dangerous – keeping your mind on what could be.
Taking a moment to reflect on the past year is good for my soul. Looking back, I can see how blessed I am. There were things I feared that never happened and there were wonderful surprises that I never expected. There were milestones and victories where we celebrated and tearful moments that strengthened my faith. When I look back, all I can feel is grateful and gratitude leads to contentment – a perfectly wonderful way to begin a new year.
Happy New Year, friends! I’m feeling blessed by this past year and looking forward in anticipation to the next. Have you taken time to reflect on 2011?
Why I do what I do ~ Chloe heard dogs howling in the distance and told me they were saying all their vowels.
Have you liked Domestic Cents on Facebook yet?
