Goodbye 2012... and hello 2013...

Tomorrow is the first blank page...

of a 365 page book...

write a good one...

.....Brad Paisley

Today is New Year's Eve here in Australia...

and as I sit and reflect...

 on the year you were 2012...

I realize...

 you were a year of great blessings...

of  happiness, joy...

 renewed inner strength and health...

immense celebration and gratefulness...

there was no doubt however that...

you brought with you some sadness...

times where I felt incredibly fragile... vulnerable... fearful...

and you threw in more self discovery...

  you were also the year 

where some long held dreams came true....

where I consciously 

pondered life... the shortness of it.. again...

and the need to make each moment count...

and from that

came immense love...

tangible and fluid...

I felt more layers crack and fall away...

2012... thank you from the bottom of my heart...

I have learned so much from you...

you have made me stronger...

more resilient and I am eternally grateful for that...

and to 2013... hello ... and welcome...

I can't wait to see what you bring...

here are some highlights...

I began the year with what has become an annual trip to

 Lavandula... the beautiful Swiss Italian Lavender Farm...

 with my beautiful Mum and Dad just outside of Daylesford...

and

Life Book 2012 began...

 I joined in with the fun of the February 29 Faces challenge...

and my first scrapbooking layout was published...

Dear little Penny arrived in March...

another beautiful little grand daughter  welcomed into our family...

And we had an amazing long weekend in Harrietville...

with Noel's family celebrating Tony's 50th birthday...

Also in March...

Noel and I flew to Queensland to meet Penny for the very first time...

and when we got home...

 had some wonderful Easter fun with the family...

I joined in again with 29 Faces... this time with the May challenge...

and loved playing along once again with 

Kristin's wonderful Summer of Color challenge...

Jen and I had market stalls twice this year... happy days...

and I began my sugar(less) way of eating...

which I am still following along with...

although not quite in the stringent  way I began...

In July...

Em and the girls flew down and stayed for a fabulous week of fun...

and August was magical...

 when the whole family traveled to Queensland

to holiday together and celebrate my milestone birthday...

memories I will treasure forever....

In September... Lynne came to visit...

and with Jen... we had the most beautiful week...

more wonderful memories created...

and it was then...

 that our inspiring little art group was created...

In October... I was lucky enough to travel to Queensland

for the third time this year...

to spend time with these little munchkins...

and Dad helped to organize a wonderful Family Reunion...

which saw more than 100 relatives travel to be together

from all around Australia...

it was fabulous... catching up with loved ones...

we hadn't seen for many years...

 November saw me painting every day...

 so inspired and energized..

and posting my artwork away to Eudlo for the

Takeaway Art Exhibition...

update on that coming soon...

and before we knew it...

it was December...

 and Christmas had arrived...

 we celebrated over two magical days...

oh my gosh 2012... 

what a ride you were...

and to you my dear friends...

thank you...

thank you for sharing 2012 with me...

for your inspiration... and encouragement...

your kindness and heartfelt words...

I truly do 'heart' you...

and wish you a wonderful 2013...

may it be everything you want it to be...

and  MUCH MUCH more...

with love

Jenny ♥