Happy New Year....heh

Well, There has been great blogging lethargy around here. I've also been very busy. And I've been going through a period where I just want to get on with doing things and not talk about it so much - the whole fall has been like that, really. There have been some big things going on that I haven't shared yet but I am feeling ready to these days - more posts to follow. I would love to be a very regular blogger like Soule Mama and others. I enjoy reading their blogs. At times I set off to blog like that but sooner or later (usually sooner) I run out of things to say. I don't know how they do it, really - to blog so regularly and so interestingly.

But anyways, I have got to say that I am not the least bit sorry to see 2009 go. It was a hard year - the hardest I've had in a long time and I know many other people who feel that way. I think it was when Freya died, that I was really ready for the year to end - enough already. For me it was a lonely year and often sad. But all things have their blessings, too. It was a year of real growth - the kind that only comes from dealing with hard things. It was a very quiet year, too. Lots of time for reflection and journal writing, processing and learning. It was a year to appreciate the love and kindness of true friends and the tender love and understanding of my husband. It was hard but I wouldn't trade it for anything. At least it was real.

There were some real highlights, too. Like the Clarke family reunion here in the smoky Okanagan. And sister visits. Having my house full of sisters was definitely the high point of my year! Spending time with little nephews at the beach and around my farm was wonderful - I hope there is lots more of that in my future!

I have a symbol for my New Year, of course. This year my symbol is a white rabbit. I had a dream awhile before New Year's and in the dream I was feeling despair and discouragement and very sad and then to my surprise, I discovered Cypress in the house (our white rabbit) and I remembered that she had always been there and I was so grateful and happy. To me Cypress symbolized the magic that is always there in our darkest times - we just have to remember it. This year I have certainly had lots of chances to remember my magic and that is what I take with me into the New Year. Here is the painting I made of it. Of course, I am not an artist like my sisters but it captures what I felt.