Good-Bye 2017

How did this year fly by so fast? I can't believe that just like that yet another year has come and gone.

It is no secret that the last couple of year since moving from Germany to West Texas, have been the most difficult for our family.  It has been grueling and frustrating for the most part.

I have struggled with finding joy and thankfulness in the our less then stellar (at least according to my standard) circumstances, and making the best has been a challenge.

At the end of last year when the kids and I spend sometime in South Africa, I realized that something has to change because this is no way to maneuver through life, and that the kids did deserve much better then what I was giving - the storm inside of me was taking it out of all of us.

So I decided to prioritize the things that matter, and to cultivate those things that are near and dear to my heart and to let the rest go - regardless of the "popular and unwanted" opinion.

Nate finished up school at the end of last year, and also got a job in town, so things were already looking up at the beginning of the year.  A little prelude to a fabulous year of finding our own little place once more.

I am so happy to report that for this first time since that much regretted move, we had a good year.  2017 was so good to us.  For the first time in three years, I have felt happy again, and my motivation and joy for life returned.  It has been a struggle to get it together for a long time, at times it seemed completely impossible.

We have separated ourselves from the things that creates unnecessary stress, the things that doesn't fill us up, but creates division and tension in our home - and it is has been freeing and rejuvenating.

Though we didn't do much this year, we focus on settling (I unpacked the very last boxes and sold a ton of stuff) in, we found a routine and structure - and our own little sweet spot of existence out from under the radar.  I will never understand how people desire so much attention - it seems like a nightmare to me.

This year has been a good one, we have grown so much together as family, and alone as individuals - and our future seems a little brighter once more.

My love for this little space have returned, writing and photographing some snippets of our life, has been like a breathe of fresh air.

Thank you 2017 for the awaken - it was a little pass due.

*** You can see 2014 here - it was a good year.  2015 here and 2016 here - these are tucked away under never want to revisit ;)

Our 2017 in pictures.
Enjoy!

January.
We spend much of the first month of year settling into new routines and prioritizing life.

Library visits became a frequent occurrence.

Ian lost his very FIRST tooth!

We enjoyed this fabulous book that my friend illustrated.

We spend cozy days together, hiding away from the cold cold rain.

We also started our food challenge with the kids - good-bye picky eaters and I am happy to report that we had fantastic reports.

February.
More library love.

Enjoying the Valentine's things.

Our Valentine's Day!

March.
The vegetable garden prepping begun.

Spring and summer time feeds my flower addiction.

My love affair with kombucha began.

We slowly started to usher in summer.

Homeschool began in full swing (and here.)

  April.
Outside time in full swing - garden work and lots of play.

Our Easter.

We had little impromptu picnic lunches.

Chasing wild flowers.

May.
Happy Mother's Day.

Happy birthday, Nate!

Nate and I had our first alone trip since the kids were born -  we went to Fredericksburg, and it was a blast.

 June.
Simply enjoying some summer time.

Happy Father's Day.

We went strawberry picking.

 July.
Nate and I celebrated nine years of marriage.

Happy 4th of July.

Getting the joy of harvesting veggies from our garden.

We added another turtle to our family.

 August
A cousin sleepover.

More garden harvest - this was seriously such a highlight.

Enjoying sunshine and the water park.

A unicorn birthday party!

Happy birthday, Hayleigh!

Happy birthday, Chantal!

Our first watermelon from the garden.

September.
A minecraft party.

Happy Birthday, Ian!

Our first rattlesnake.

The last of the garden harvest.

October.
Hello fall.

Corn maze fun!

Ian graduated from the first grade - we celebrated with a little trip.

November.
We ushered in November with the library, some frozen yogurt, and a visit to the duck pond.

Hayleigh lost her first tooth.

Fall gatherings with friends. with friends.

Nature preserve adventures.

Happy Thanksgiving.

We took these beautiful family portraits - I am the luckiest.

December.
Hello December, it is our favorite time of the year.

Hello Christmas tree - it is the most wonderful time of the year.

Enjoying everything Christmas.

It was the night before Christmas.

Merry Merry Christmas.

  ****
Looking back at these pictures this year contain so much richness and growth, and it makes me all excited for the new year.

2018 looks pretty promising with lots of adventures on the books, and memories to be made.  It will be a big year for us - celebrating wise.

Good-bye 2017 - thank you for bringing me back to life.

Hello 2018 - I can't to see you beauty unfold before my eye.  The adventure awaits.
Happy new year from my little family, to you.

**** Some delicious recipes to try out ---> here.