Friday Round-Up--Last of 2010!--12.31.2010

Goodbye 2010. You've been a strange and memorable year.

This was the year that The Man and I finally took a giant leap of faith. We spent a January weekend in a cabin up north, snuggled with the Tropical Pug in front of the fireplace, drinking wine, and finally decided to quit waiting for the perfect time to have children---to quit waiting for our careers to stabilize, for our marriage to be perfect, for nature to make us parents. We had spent 18 years waiting, stuck on the edge of the parenthood cliff, unready to make that leap. But then, we did it. When we left that weekend retreat we were on the path to being parents. That was the highlight of my year.

2010, you also showed us how quickly time is fading away. It is fading faster for The Man's father, who has debilitating dementia. We felt helpless as we watched the past slide away from his memory, and his ability to function in the world diminished. We were awed by the strength of The Man's mother, who shouldered the responsibilities her husband could no longer handle. She is the keeper of their life now and her courage and determination continues to inspire us.

Thanks for all the blessings you've brought us, 2010. There were many things to celebrate in my career, with projects that made a difference, some awesome awards, and finally feeling a sense of accomplishment.

We are in the best shape of our lives. Fitness has always been a part our life, but never to this extent and we feel great! The Man successfully raced another season of mountain bikes, and this year he really flew!

Our family grew with the addition of our nephew, and two great-nieces. (How is it that our nieces are having children??)

And, we're thankful for our relationship and growth, as we've dealt with a year of extreme sadness and hopefulness.

One of the best things about this year has been our friends. Old and new, near and far, in real-life or in Bloggieland--we have shared tears, laughter, good and difficult times, hopes and dreams. If to have good and dear friends is the richness of life, we are rich.

So thank you 2010, for such an emotional, hopeful, difficult, enlightening, and damn good year.

"For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make and end is to make a beginning." ---T.S. Eliot

Wishing you all the best in 2011!


_________________________

To hope: Our First Meeting with Anna

To admire: Sam Han trying to help overseas orphans

To explore: Views on international adoption in the post, Holy Negativity Batman!

To do: Read and/or sign the petition Bring the stranded Nepali adoptees home now

To get: Free funny bookmarks. Super cute downloadable bookmarks.


To make: Thrifty gifts-bird seed ornaments

To reflect: How To Be Alone