Here's to a brand new year!

 

The last of the ornaments (my favorite handmades here) got packed up and put away over the weekend. Christmas has almost vanished here, except for my poor wilting poinsettias. I always feel sorry for the ones that have to come and live at my house. Their days are always very numbered-- can't keep the things alive for longer than three weeks no matter how hard I try. 

Sophey made our New Year's Eve cake. We came up with the idea a few years ago, I think it's our new tradition. We all blow the candles out at midnight and make a wish for the coming year. It's kinda nice.

We usually order Chinese and stay in on New Year's Eve. This was the messsage in my fortune cookie. It seemed so appropriate for the past year. 2009 was one of the hardest years I've had. Losing my Mom has been tough on so many different levels. I haven't talked much about it all-- who wants to come to a blog for inspiration and find sadness... But I'm grateful for all the wonderful goodness in my life, and I've tried to stay focused on all that goodness. Working to stay focused on the love, and beauty in this family and home has pulled me through. Focusing on creativity has helped me heal and find joy more than I could have ever imagined. Since I was a little girl, I've always created. I've spent years creating professionally too. It's something that's in me-- a need needing to always find expression. It makes me so happy to be in the middle of the creative process. So many people think the pursuit of art and craft is just fluff. It's not. But I know now that I really didn't understand the awesome power of creativity until this last year... It is tranformational power, power that can take a painful heart and make something completely new start to grow again inside.

So all that being said-- here's to 2010! I have to say, I breathed a sigh of relief when the clock struck midnight and 2009 was officially over. Thanks for all the lessons... but I hope I don't need to repeat those lessons again this year. (I'd like an order of nice soft lessons for a year, thank you very much.)

I've got lots of plans in the work for 2010. My time is more my own now. And my mind is running along with ideas-- how to make this old blog better, how can I serve more through creativity, how can I share more this passion to create. Lots to think about... I'm working on it.

And thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and offer sweet, kind words of encouragement. It means the world to me. I am constantly amazed at what's happening in our little corner of blogland. I believe this is what true community is really all about. People sharing and supporting so freely-- without any thought of what's in it for me. We can learn and share and be inspired to keep journeying along on our creative paths-- without competition. And that is a pretty amazing thing to me, my friends! THANKS!!! xoxoKelly

  

 

Comments

[meleen dupré]

oh kelly.....a very happy NEW year to you!!!!

here's to 2010!!!!

meleen

[Deb]

Such a lovely cake & New Years Eve tradition. Hope all your New Year Wishes come true Kelly xo

[Julie]

Oooh, the handmade ornaments! Am I safe in assuming that YOU made them? Didn't post a tutorial that I missed, did ya?

What a fun way to celebrate New Years---great idea with the cake (so pretty!) and the Chinese take-out. Creative memory making for your kids, they're sure to treasure.

Kelly, I'm really sorry this past year was one marked with such profound loss (as you know, I had my own with my Dad). But isn't it a blessing to find joy in the creative process? Such a happy distraction from the toughest things. So glad you have that.
xx Julie

[mimisue]

Lots of things for me to think about in your post. Creativity can be a powerful force in our lives for sure. So sorry to hear about your mom. Mine passed in 2006. I miss her everyday. Mimi

[traci]

here's looking toward a wonderful, creative, blessed 2010. i am so glad that i have met you through this blogging world. you are a wonderful person and you deserve nothing but the best!! xoxo!

[Maria]

Well said, Kelly!! (re creativity and community) Here's a Happy New Year to you too, and softer lessons! I want those too. 2009 was tough in many ways, but as you said, creativity bridged a lot!
(((hugs))))

[Jeni]

Cheers to a wonderful new year. I love your cake tradition. I may need to get on board with that one too.

Can't wait to see all that you create in the upcoming year.