Fueled with JENergy.

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012.

this was my favorite photo taken during our week trip to new orleans. actually it was my favorite photo in 2011 (snuck it in in the last week). ha. a moment i will never forget, and wanted to share it will you all because you have been on this journey with me for however long or short... i am happy you are here. for me, it was a perfect ending to another year full of trials, tribulations, beautiful memories made, and lots and lots of laughter. there's something special about going to visit my dad at the cemetery in new orleans, then to have my daily moments with him. it just felt right. i got to see him a few times, and am already looking forward to our next trip "home" with him.

i don't know about you, but i love getting older. it's weird to say, i know. and most likely when i do hit 30 or 40, or 50, heck... i am sure i will want time to stop. but for now, i love living each moment and really taking it all in. the moment above is just one moment in a day. and every second i was there...... i was really. truly. there.

i have a lot to be thankful for, daily. and yes, i can always go back to the moment that changed my life forever. but i can't change it. so i move forward as best i can. i know i say that often, and will continue to do so..... but this life is just so beautiful. i have received some emails about "staying positive" and how do i do it when life really kicked me, hard. i simply say..... i live the life he would want. do i miss him? of course. every second of every day to be exact. do i wish i could change it. absolutely, i would give anything. but somethings i can't change & how or where do i go from here? i live. i choose to be happy. i choose this life. and that is what keeps me going. do i cry still? you bet. but i cherish even those moments. because i know he is with me and will forever be. that is a hard reality i live with as i get older. i love learning more, seeing more, doing more..... but those moments where i wish i could share it. those are, and will always be hard. but i know he is here. every step of the way. he would be making some silly joke none the less. (don't act like he wouldn't) ;)

this next year i want to be better. i want to do even more. i want to learn. i want to do things that scare me. i am excited about the future & excited to keep moving forward, and mostly that is because i have all of you along the way. i don't even know who reads this half the time, or if anyone even cares.... but it's my space, and i can't thank you enough for always encouraging me to keep going. and to keep living (cheesy? absolutely).

okay.... this year i have made a list (go figure) of all the things i want to do going into the next year. some are silly, some i am really looking forward to, and some i just hope to stick with. i normally don't share all of mine, but rather a few. and yes, i make a list of 10. most years. (it's a lot, i know) but it's my list... so oh well. i explained a few to make more sense...

in no specific order;

1. learn spanish (rosetta stone in my computer & ready to be used!)

2. learn & master photoshop

3. be kind to my body (love it daily)

4. blog 5 days a week (this will be more of a fun to-do post blogshop at the end of Jan, so stay tuned!)

5. save! save! save!

6. live in the moment

7. simplify, everything.

8. work on my book (cut out time each day or week for this)

9. nightly rituals before bedtime (i need to get better at flossing, washing my face, ya know the stuff we all should do)

10. project 365 (i want to capture a picture a day, i always say i am going to do this.... why not start this year?)

what is your resolution or resolutions?

to you all who read this, happy everything to you. looking forward to 2012 with you all. big things in store and thanks for taking the journey with me. love you all, dearly.

much, much love.