2010: my year of highs, lows, and blessed in-betweens

There's no doubt that 2010 was a rough year. A lot of big changes in a life that already felt changed enough. But, like life tends to be, it wasn't all bad. In fact, I think this is the year that the stage has been set for a lot of exciting things that will be happening in 2011. I have learned a lot--most of all how to grow wiser from my mistakes, how to work to be happy, and just how very, very human I am.

So, here's my quick year in review--the highs, the lows, the happy in-betweens.

January: I learned to snowboard! Finally! An experience that showed me that it sure hurts to fall and fall and fall again, but that I can always get back up.

 I threw so many fun parties this year! I really do have the best group of friends for being silly with. This was my friend Jenn's 80's themed birthday. So much neon :)

 February: I realized this would be my last year home with both of my little guys. So many fun memories and happy daily events--laughter, blanket forts, coloring books, Nutella sandwiches with the crusts cut off, Caillou. I loved,too, the priviledge of homeschooling my L through Kindergarten.

March: I went back to California, flying that same path through the air that I had so many times during the ten months I dated Haute Cakes. This time it was just as a friend that I went to visit him. And it was good. Different, but good. The color of the SoCal sky the days that I was there seemed to reflect my pondering mood--how people move on, how they change, how I change, and what that all means to me at this stage in my life. That lesson goes for the general state of my loopety-loo love life this year. I won't say more than that since I alway manage to hurt someone or other's feelings when I talk about that stuff, but I'm hoping that's one of the first issues to resolve itself in the new year.

March was also Ninja's very cool blacklight birthday party. Who knew adults could have so much fun completely sober?! :)

In April, the cat that the renters behind us abandoned when they moved came to live with us. I swore I would never own another cat after mine of 13 years died, but Blake has taken to our family and the boys love him. I learned that there's always room in your heart to love one more thing.

I adored working with the Shakespeare After School program. The kids were wonderful, the work was difficult but rewarding, and I was teary eyed as they took their final bow. Never has a troupe of 10 and 11 year olds performed The Tempest on a shoestring budget so brilliantly!

May: I still get goosebumps when I look at this picture! It was such a relief to finally get some projects done around the house I'd been meaning to for so long. The laundry room got painted and my backyard got the hot tub removed and this gorgeous (very cheap) makeover. Loved remembering how fun it is to work with someone to get a project tackled, too.

 More fun with friends! I learned my special skill in paintball is...hiding. And that were I ever in a real war, I would have no behind--because it would have been shot off.

May was the month I colored my hair really red and got removable, inexpensive hair extensions to get me through the awkward stage of growing the A-line bob out. It was fun to look different and to have the power to reinvent my physical appearance to reflect the changes going on inside of me.

This picture was taken in May, but seems to reflect a truth of this year. Ninja, being one of my best friends, had already been around for almost a year, but 2010 was the year he became commonplace around here. He can get the boys to do things that I can't, teaches them things that I wouldn't have a clue how to, makes us all belly laugh regularly, and fixes everything that breaks. I've even just about forgotten that he's 8 years younger than me.

June still makes me smile. I loved, loved, loved my 35th birthday carnival! Four months of saving for 3 hours of pure joy. My own cotton candy machine, snow cone maker, bounce house, and balloon sculptor. Oh--and the costumes! The amazing costumes! I don't think I can ever top it! I don't think I want to try! So happy for my sweet friend M who shared it with me and helped with everything!

Glad that I got to have that wonderful birthday since a week later, during step aerobics, I broke my foot. The first bone I've ever broken. Six weeks hobbling about in a boot kind of put a damper on summer. No skateboarding. No swimming. Though, I did ride a horse. I wish someone would have taken a picture of me mowing the lawn with my boot-cast wrapped in a bread bag :). I learned that I can push on, even in pain and moving at half-speed.

July: Attempting to eat the six foot banana split with my kids. Seriously--more like one of the highlights of my entire life! :) I don't eve care that we failed miserably!

The day of the lemonade stand! I haven't had one with my kids since my mom was still alive and came to buy every last cupful they had. Luckily, there was a construction crew working nearby who cleaned us out. This was my boy squad's "desperate pleading" pose :)

August was the month I came to terms with the fact that I might not be able to keep my house for much longer. It's still a "who knows?" situation, but--despite my deep love for this place and the security it represents--I've come to peace with maybe having to let it go. God will take me where he wants me to go, and let me stay when I finally get to the place I'm supposed to stay. That, I can trust.

August was also the month I FINALLY broke my 22 year old camping curse! I went, I slept in a tent, I ate stuff cooked over a fire, I canoed, I mountain biked...and I (and all involved) lived to tell the tale! Woot woot!

I sent my little L off to first grade in August. I've never had to send one to school so early. It did my troubled heart good to see him love it so much. He got a great teacher and is thriving. He even cried on the snow day we had this year because he hates missing school!

August (and the whole summer, actually) also brought my involvement with an amazing writers group. I was blessed to come in contact with those who would help me recognize and develop my talent in a very serious way, and to guide me toward my decision to apply for the Master's Program--another one of those potentially exciting things to happen in 2011.

Had such fun on my E's birthday in October making pizza and wearing silly hats. His birthdays always mark the beginning of Fall, too--my favorite time of year.

Four hours, one hundred peacock feathers, and ten hot glue-burned fingers later...and I had my super cool Halloween peacock costume.This Halloween dance I went to on the 30th was way better than the locking my keys in the van and ruining trick-or-treating ACTUAL Halloween. But I can even laugh about that now, as can my kids. Reminding me of the lesson that time softens all tragedy, and smooths out every rough day.

November 2010, I became the mother of a teenager. A super awesome, completely helpful, makes me smile every day teenager. His most anticipated gift? A Facebook page of his own! Ha! Of course, I can remember him as a newborn like it was yesterday. Lesson learned: treasure every day because they fly by quickly.

Then there was the Thanksgiving that no one came and we had no turkey. Illness and overscheduling kept family (and their turkey) from coming as planned, and--though we were sad--we got through alright. And had lots of company by dessert. I hope my boys learned the lesson in that day: Plan B isn't always so bad.

Decmeber was the month of sweet, tender mercies. The goodness of others, frankly, left me in awe. Kind blog readers sent some extra money my way. Completely unexpected and very humbling. (and please, don't take this as a solicitation to send me money--just know that those of you who did. Wow. Just wow. Your thank you cards are on their way saying more than that!). A secret Santa left presents for us and filled our hearts with excitement and a desire to serve likewise. And Ninja Claus made a special visit with waaaay too many gifts. We were all spoiled and happy, and blessed--as always--to understand the real message of the holiday.

I don't know what's ahead for the boy squad and I this new year, but I know that as long as we have each other and our faith...we can't go wrong.

Here's to a whole new batch of lessons to learn this year, and a whole new set of adventures to have.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!