My Year ... In Photos

It's said a picture is worth a thousand words. Maybe that is why I enjoy taking, and being in, them so much. Everyone who knows me says I love pictures, and it's true. A picture is part of a memory, and who doesn't love making and holding on to new memories? I certainly do.

Over the course of this year, I have taken over 600 photos. That number doesn't include the many that were deleted along the way. For this 'end of the year' post, I carefully thought about which photos I wanted to include, and why. Each picture tells a story, each one is it's own special memory for me to hold on to.

It truly has been an eventful year. For as many amazing moments I experienced, my life has been well-balanced with just as many difficult ones. I almost wish I had written about everything that impacted my life along the course of the year, however time simply didn't allow me to compose posts the way I would have liked to. Interestingly enough, I don't have many, if any, photos that speak for the lows, but as with anything, a photo of a certain place or friend can bring back a memory that I would just as well choose to forget.

For as many pictures as I selected for each collage, there were many I didn't choose, and there was no rhyme or reason to the ones that didn't 'make the cut.'

The collages have their own themes and if you know me well enough, the theme can be identified. If it can't be, give it your own clever title.

2012, and all the experiences that came with it, is a year I won't soon forget. I will fondly look back at my posts, as well as these photos, and know what each one means, or meant, to me.

'Forever Friends'

"'Forever friend.' That's what I should have written in your card," Sue decided during our dinner conversation. At that very moment we had been discussing friendships and the toll her being away in Canada the past year and a half had taken, or not, on some of hers.

That's happened to me and a few of my friends whom I was close with for a moment in time. Some moved upstate, others out of state, and we while we vowed to keep in touch and visit, the demands of life took over & the friendships took a backseat. A sad truth, but simply put: life happens.

In the case of my friendship with Sue, life has definitely happened. It's taken her to college and back, and even back then, we kept in touch via email and letters. Along the years since then, Sue has been fortunate enough to teach English in Japan, travel to Africa, be a bridesmaid in Europe, got married and moved to Canada - and we've always stayed in touch. As I reflect on her travels, I realize what an inspiration she has always been. Through all these experiences, our friendship hasn't faltered. I see how it could have, though. A friendship, like any relationship, requires work, effort, care and genuine love. I would venture to say that we have all the necessary ingredients to maintain 'the perfect' friendship; the only downfall is distance. We work at our friendship, though, not out of obligation, but out of genuine love. As it was stated last night, we consider each other more than friends. We're family; sisters, even. We feel blessed to have each other.

In 16 years we have shared laughs, tears, road trips, birthdays, deaths of dear family members, births of our precious nephews, moves, marathons, dinners, shopping excursions, more laughs, her wedding to an amazing man, and all that's transpired in between.

I am always thankful to have been blessed with the true friends I have. It is so easy to take people and moments for granted. Sue is not someone to take for granted. I am certain that our friendship is one that will last forever, and I look forward to the memories that are to come. Even though we're a whole country apart, all of life's moments and emotions are still shared as if we were only 30 minutes away. I will always be more thankful for our friendship than I can express with mere words. Sue, my forever friend, my sister from another mother, I love you.

Motivation ...

What keeps us going day after day? In a world/society that day after day is full of stress, negativity, anger and sadness, how do we wake up each morning and start again? What keeps us plugging through?

Is it our jobs? Family? Our future? Our past? What is it that motivates us to keep moving forward day after day after day? Our never ending bills?

Is it the hope of 'today' that someone special will call? Or the prayer that the person causing you the most pain will finally go away? Maybe you're hoping the job opportunity you prayed about would come through?

Is it the excitement of an upcoming event or culmination of another, perhaps? A holiday? Birthday? Wedding? Maybe knowing that someone, or something, is relying on you?

There can be a million reasons why we get up & go each day. There can also be a million reasons to feel like you can't continue for even another step .

At times, I don't know what motivates me.
I just continue going like the energizer bunny until I can't continue any longer. Although, supposedly he never runs out of energy...

I love my family, my job & my friends. In reality, God has been very good to me, and I'm undeserving of it all ... How do I keep going when at times it feels as though the world is ending because of my daily stresses? But, 'therefore by the grace of God go I'... God keeps me going, day in & day out. He strengthens me. Through the happiest of times and the most stressful of times, God is there ... He's never left me, nor forsaken me. I know I don't deserve such love, such guidance, but He's chosen me. Therefore, through it all, I give Him thanks for each situation presented to me - difficult and easy.

There are moments when I don't know what my purpose or plan is here in this life ... And I wonder if God hears my prayers ... It's then that I am reminded that He has a plan and a purpose for my life. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give me a future and a hope. In those days, when I pray, He will listen. If I look for Him wholeheartedly, I will find Him.' Jeremiah 29:11-13.

If I needed any more motivation to 'keep it moving' every day, knowing that God has a plan for my life is more than enough. Sometimes I do wonder what my purpose is, then I am reminded that God's plan will be made clear ... In His time. In the meantime, I have a lot to focus on, motivate me & be thankful for ... The good, bad & the in between.

Giving Back

Today I joined my friend, Rebecca, at a Hurricane Relief effort in Breezy Point, NY. Since the hurricane hit us, I've wanted to help somewhere somehow. Giving money or donations didn't feel like I was doing enough. All this time, I have wanted to physically help; I just didn't know where to go, and couldn't find anyone to accompany me. When I heard about this relief effort, I didn't hesitate to join them.

My usually shy self had to get over being quiet, and had to get to know these people that I would be working with for the day. I'm glad I did, as they were great to meet. It was evident that they were interested in helping the families we went to, and they were also easy to get along with. Through the cleaning out of basements and scraping of floors, we had a few laughs and even more group efforts. We quickly became a good and effective team and worked on two homes while in Breezy Point.

At the first house, we gutted the basement. The insulation was still pretty wet which made it heavier than normal. The basement smelled of rust and mold, and was damp and muddy. Pulling things out was definitely a group effort, and we worked very well together. I thought it would never get done, but it did.

The second house we worked at needed the cork to be scraped off the floor. With a scraper and a hammer, we went at it. Some guys had crowbars, some were sweeping up the debris as it came off, and all in all, it wasn't an easy task. The cork seemed to be glued to the floor, and the floor was so damp underneath it. Tirelessly, we hammered and scraped away and got it all off! By the time we finished that floor, we were physically feeling the effects of our efforts. While working in this second home, and while walking along the way, we took note of how high the water had risen from markings left along the walls in, and on, the homes. Truly unbelievable.

I was definitely taken aback by the devastation in Breezy Point. The news reports weren't exaggerated in any way. My heart broke at how people's whole lives were changed, affected, even taken away. For someone like me who lost power for 9 days, I'm certainly glad I didn't even think of complaining about my small inconvenience, as it was just that; an inconvenience. Seeing children help their families carry garbage bags down the road in their wagons really broke my heart. I can't imagine what they're thinking or feeling. Obviously no one is living in these houses, and they are all just labeled with signs that say 'inspected' or 'dangerous.' It's sad. And that word doesn't do it justice. To see the residents of the area waking around, just uncertain of anything really, broke my heart.

The images of the area, faces, and the work I helped with today will forever be on my mind and in my heart. I won't soon forget how blessed I am, nor will I forget to pray for those who were affected. There is still so much more to be done there, and I suppose it's going to take a good amount of time to get things finished.