Favorite 10 in 2010

I created 118 layouts in 2010. That's plenty to choose just 10 that I liked the most. Really it made it far harder than if I had created fewer. So, here they are. They cover the gamut of style, subject and photos. I think I can begin to see a common style.

There you have it. I look forward to creating many more layouts throughout 2011.

OLW January

Here's my title page for the One Little Word binder for this year. I've had this beautiful crocheted butterfly for months and never used it. It's the perfect extra for the title page. I've also done the photo page, but not going to post that here. I still have the definition page to do, but lack the correct page protector for it. On order, but not here yet. So, I'll post that later.

So far, January is going well. I'm enjoying thinking about my word each day. I'm walking each day and feeling much better with the exercise. I'm also spending a few minutes a day going through papers to weed out what is no longer necessary. Next I'll be moving onto a closet that is filled with stuff: sorting, tossing, passing on, organizing what is left. It feels good to finally be taking some action on things that have been hanging over my head for several years.

2011 will be a good year. I can feel it.

OLW

once again I'm participating in Ali Edwards' one little word. I've chosen a word to be a guide for what I want to see during the year for the last 3 or 4 years. This year my word is release, as in let go. After looking up the definition of my word in the dictionary, I found that my word has many other definitions. I think I will open up myself to whatever definition seems to prevail.

Originally I had thought to let go of unrealistic expectations, to let go of stuff that I no longer needed or wanted - both physically and emotionally, and to let go of preconceived notions I seem to have regarding this stage of my life. In other words, I wanted to cut to the chase. We'll see what happens.

To start with I have begun decluttering my home. I went through all of the Christmas decorations and culled out those that were worn out or no longer appealed to me and also set aside some that I will give to Eli in the years to come. Those tubs are put away much lighter that they were when I took them down the first part of December. The past couple days I have been going through a box that contains most of my household papers. It's amazing what stuff I have saved. So far, I've dumped 12 pounds of paperwork in the recycle and I'm only 2/3 of the way through it all!
This photo shows it in the wastebasket before it went in the paper recycle.

And here's the box that was once so stuffed full that I couldn't even get another piece of paper in it. I expect it will be only half full when I finish.

Already I feel lighter. I think this OLW will be just fine.

Different/Unique

Again the post from http://reverb10.com/ challenges me. What is different about you? What do you do that lights people up?



I'm not really sure how to answer those questions. I have never felt like someone who 'lights others up'. I've felt pretty much like the status quo, the normal person, the melt into the woodwork kind of a gal. I've had a talent for helping those who are ill to be more comfortable. I've been an advocate for my patients with their doctors and with their families. I've always felt strongly that people have the right to correct information about their health/disease so they can be part of the solution. I've been able to hold another's hand when they need someone to just 'be' there. My family would say that I'm a fixer. I want to 'fix' broken things. While I think that has been more true in the past, I do still get sidetracked into the fixing mode. Age has mellowed me and granted me a greater acceptance of my limited ability to fix anything or anybody.



So if those things are a unique part of me, than so be it. The lighting up will have to be something that just happens as a result of those unique qualities.



And, speaking of lighting up. This photo was taken at the Tree Lighting Ceremony in Pioneer Square in Portland, OR on November 19th.

Unfinished

today the prompt from reverb (see last post) is to consider something that is unfinished. I immediately thought of all my projects that are partially done: a jumper for Eli, a quilt for Greg and Sara, embroidered Christmas tree ornaments, a table runner, my Christmas decorating, my Christmas cards......and the list goes on.

But then, I wondered what other things might be unfinished that are not material things, such as an apology that needs to be made, a relationship that is going nowhere because someone doesn't want to commit, a promise that is as yet unkept. Those are perhaps much more important than all the projects sitting around just waiting to be completed.

I think this question of unfinished is worth considering at length and in private. The answer also could remain unfinished......

Speaking of unfinished, this house was moved down my street into a vacant lot. It's now being finished with foundation and hook-ups to power, water, etc.

Reverb 10 prompt for December 2

A blog called reverb http://reverb10.com/ has prompts for December to spark contemplation. The one for today is: "what do you do each day that doesn't contribute to your writing....what can you do to eliminate it? " Interesting question.

I grew up in the age of letter writing. Every gift I received demanded a thank you note. My mother wrote letters to me weekly when I was in college. My husband and I exchanged almost daily letters when he was in Viet Nam. The last letter I wrote was a 'why I'm thankful for you' card at Thanksgiving. I can't remember the last letter I wrote prior to that. Writing now consists of short statements and even just letters of the alphabet that stand for words on facebook and in e-mails. I don't even hand write anything in a journal any more. I do, however, write in my own hand on many of the scrapbook pages I make.

Writing takes time which is thought of as in short supply in today's world. We text, we leave voicemail messages, we make cell phone calls while we're waiting in lines, while walking the dog, while doing something else. We multitask. Writing requires full attention.

So, what to eliminate? Really rather what to substitute or move up on the priority list? I think I'll take just a few minutes in the evening to write in my journal again. It encourages contemplation. That's a good thing.

Eli as she watches people, lights and the tree lighting ceremony in Pioneer Square. Yes, if the bomber would have been successful, things could be very different now.

One word

Well, it's December 1st and I don't have a December Daily page to share. My printer ran out of yellow ink so I can't print the photo that I'm using for page one. Instead I'm going to write about a prompt for the day entitled, one word.

We're to chose one word that would describe the year 2010 for ourselves. There are several words that come to my mind: retirement, infirmity, constraints. But the one word that is foremost is the word I had chosen last January that I wanted to focus on this year. That word is peace.

In spite of all that's happened this past year, peace is what I have found in the midst of it all. Retiring in February really set the stage for me to find real peace...with myself, with my family and friends, with my new reality healthwise, and with my place in life. I'm much better at not sweating the small stuff. I don't feel the need to give advice as freely as I have in the past, and I'm able to accept/listen to advice from my family and friends.

I can relax in the evening even when my to-do list is still my left-to-do-tomorrow list. I enjoy scrapbooking and sewing more without the need to compete or have the latest and greatest. I love gardening and accept that my time there is limited by my physical constraints. I don't worry about the weeds quite so much as in the past. I've found peace in my new reality. It's wonderful.

Now it's time to think seriously about another one word for 2011. So far, nothing has really grabbed me, but I'm certain one will float to the surface before the clock strikes 12 on December 31st.

And because no post is complete without a photo, here's one of Eli on her 18 month birthday.