Starting out in Flagstaff, Arizona with father and family was such a nice feeling. I had no other obligations or responsibilities besides hanging out and enjoying the company of family. I was sick the first few days, so I just kinda vegged, well, I vegged the whole time, but we also got a few fun outings in while I was there.
The day after Christmas we went cross-country skiing at the Nordic Center just outside of Flagstaff. It was challenging and I fell four times, but it was amazing to be in the snow-covered woods, surrounded by massively tall trees. At one point, a light snow began to fall on us, and that was just about the best feeling. Clean air. Blue skies. Quiet. It was peacefulness at its best, except that my little sister Rebecca wore thin socks and couldn't always keep up so she was wailing a good portion of the way. She was a trooper though, and finally a nice worker on his snow-mobile picked her up and brought her to the lodge...by then, she had a smile on her face.
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| From Cross-Country Skiiing |
Patty beginning the trail.
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| From Cross-Country Skiiing |
Siblings on the trail.
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| From Cross-Country Skiiing |
Dad slowly making his way on the trail, s-l-o-w-l-y.
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| From Cross-Country Skiiing |
Tommy fooling around on his skis.
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| From Cross-Country Skiiing |
Rebecca posing by a fallen tree.
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| From Cross-Country Skiiing |
Incredible winter Aspen, I'm in love with the way they look!
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| From Cross-Country Skiiing |
And on the way home, the sky gave us an incredible gift!
Dad and grandma took me to the Phoenix airport and I headed to Washington State. I was greeted by my aunt Beth late-night at the Seattle-Tacoma airport and we headed out to Issaquah where I have about a two month sojourn before heading back to the land of kimchi, Korea.
As it was late, Beth and I visited for a little while and both headed to bed. We got up on Sunday and had a leisurely day of taking her dog, Hanna, for a walk, going to the grocery store, and generally just lounging around. This is the life. Vacation. Relaxation. Rejuvenation.
Tonight, my aunt Beth and I are heading into Seattle for a night of wine, cheese, and Devotchka. We are going to ring in the New Year with a band I love and am sure my aunt is soon to love. I am excited for dancing and yummy food!
Now on to thankfulness and resolutions...
I am so thankful for this year, that has been 2008. Through this year, I have come to a whole new level of being. I have done so much, learned so much, and have been surrounded by amazing people the whole time through. I had all the food I wanted and more. I have been blessed with work that I love through teaching and being a nanny this year. I was accepted to graduate school and successfully completed my first semester with A-'s in both classes. I lived on two different continents, Asia & North America. At the end of last year, I began a relationship with someone I became very close with. As the year moved along, we experienced our bumps, but also grew closer, this month though, that path changed and we are no longer in communication. Although this kind of transition is difficult, I am so thankful for the time I spent with this person, learning so much about myself, how I relate to others, what is truly important to me, honesty, and lots of fun times. I am reminded of a line from one of Sufjan Stevens songs, "All things go, all things go..." I am giving myself time to heal and really knowing that I am where I need to be and what has and will happen is perfect. Each day, I feel incredibly lucky for the life I lead, so much thanks for 2008, one of the best years of my life thus far.
Now, on to the future, the New Year, 2009. As I am learning to trust in the process of life, I have faith that 2009 will be a year of hard work, more learning, calm, new exploration, love, and discovering new passions.
Resolution #1
Take the time to exercise several times a week, even if I don't want to (I was good about this for most of 2008, but with the dawn of graduate school, I flaked on it a bit).
Resolution #2
Don't take things too seriously...knowing that as I quoted above.."All things go, all things go" and that if I just breathe, this too shall pass.
Resolution #3
Creating community wherever I am. This has been my goal since I can remember and I just want to acknowledge the success I have had in the past building amazing community and welcome it in the coming year, in my new life, my next journey, in Gwangju, Korea.
Resolution #4
Since I am going to have a job at a public school that requires me to wake up earlier than I am used to, I am going to work on being happy waking early, taking the opportunity to cherish the early morning hours and be thankful for the dawn, the sunshine, the quiet morning hours.
Resolution #5
I desire to find some sort of community service that I can do while in Korea. Last time, I found an orphanage which I went to bi-monthly where I was able to spend time with the children and build beautiful relationships that fed not only the hearts of the children, but mine as well. I hope to find something just as heart-filling to do while in Gwangju this coming year.
Resolution #6
Finally, I resolve to open my heart to all that the universe has to offer me, in life, love, and happiness, through the struggles, and tears, into the unknown, always learning, always evolving, like a cocoon into a butterfly, I start this New Year, 2009.
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