Wow. It was only one year ago today that I started this silly thing called “Blogging.” A dear friend of mine had been blogging and recommended it to me. And am I ever grateful she did. Blogging has been wonderful for me. Not just the whole design business I’ve gotten myself into (though that is wonderful, I’ll admit), but the purpose and release in writing these posts. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Looking back at my first series of posts brings back a lot of… memories. We had just arrived in Elko, NV to spend the holidays with my in-laws. And to hear me talk about it then, you’d think I was being forced to walk on hot coals or having my fingernails ripped out. But truly? I like my in-laws. And I’m very lucky in that respect because I know so many women who have barely tolerable relations with their in-laws. But mine are cool. And I was totally dogging Elko. See, there was a time when we would have liked to have LIVED there, so it’s not all that bad.

The long and the short of it is; I was in a FUNK. December was a hard month for me last year, and the closer we got to Christmas, the worse my mood got. I did NOT like being taken from my safe, hidey-hole of a house and made to interact with people at the one time of the year I’d probably been dreading the most. I really was in a bad way. I simply wanted to get through Christmas, get past it. And for me? That’s saying a lot. I’ve always been the sort who has loved the Christmas season. I love the music, the presents, the decorations, the family… Even as a child when I could barely tolerate the total boring-ness of church, I enjoyed going to church during December. So for me to be a total grinch, was a big change. But liek I said, I was in a bad way.

Things are so much better this year. I wouldn’t say I have the same level of Christmas spirit I had when I was younger, more carefree, more naive… but I’m really looking forward to the holiday. Seeing my parents is going to be fun, despite all the cleaning I still have left to do. I’m excited for H, because I know this is all such a big deal to him. I can’t wait to bite into that turkey. I want to see everyone open the presents I bought them, see their expressions. I want to know what’s in that one strangely shaped package under the tree that’s for me. I want to go to church and sing Christmas songs and hear the Christmas story one more time. That’s a 180 degree turnaround from last year and for that, I’m so grateful.

So happy Blog-aversary to me! I can’t believe it’s only been a year. I should have started this up years ago. Here’s to many more years!