What better way to catch up on an absent year than to reflect on the past year. Overall, 2015 was a great year and it leaves so much to look forward to in 2016! Ironically, that even though I declared myself in a state of a midlife crisis in my last post, I wasn't overly emotional about New Year's yesterday as I typically am. Instead of looking back too much into the past and too far into the unknown future, I was just happy and thankful for this past year and excited and hopeful about the plans that I do have in this new year. But just in case you missed me over the passed year, this is what I have been up too...
After saying goodbye to this blog in January, I immediately began a new blog, "A Moment's Glory." I thought that it would be an outlet and representation of where I was at the time. I took a photography course in January and February and was excited about showcasing my love for photography and my writing in a combined effort. However, neither the blog nor the photography lasted long. I loved the course. I learned how to use my new camera and how to take some great shots! I realized that like my personal/family photos, I just started a collection that had the potential to become a giant mass to put onto my to-do list. I hate editing photos and for whatever reason, I hate deleting them as well. I found it hard to write and my blog never took off. I can't say that I was extremely disappointed about it because I ended that blog to start a new one. Whaaaat?!? That's right, you read it correctly. I stopped writing in "A Moment's Glory" at the end of April because I had started a new blog, lol. But, before getting to that I have a few more events to update on that occurred in-between.
In February, John, Ewan, and I took our first family vacation. We went to Puerto Rico and it was fantastic! It was great to have some uninterrupted family bonding time, especially for John and Ewan. Ewan even began to swim on his own! thanks to John! Besides that, Puerto Rico was just beautiful. Flying in from NYC was so easy and being that we were still in US Territory made it such a smooth vacation. We enjoyed it so much that we even booked a flight back in October to check out wedding venues!
In March I went to a home party for a facial line of beauty products. I wasn't particularly interested in those products, but I wanted to help out a friend who had just signed up to sell them. Well... I didn't come home with products, but I did come home with the idea of starting up my own business! I had written in this blog before about wanting to do something more and different in the job field. So, beauty products (which I have never been into, besides wearing makeup from Walgreens) seemed somehow like a good choice, lol. I didn't sign up with my friend though. Those products were very expensive and full of chemicals. So I did some research.
In April, I became an official consultant with Lemongrass Spa. A small beauty and skin care line company with natural and organic products. The products are fantastic but even more so healthy and safe to use. I started to pay attention more to the products that I was using, not only in my shower but in my makeup and even in what I was using to clean the house. It's amazing what is allowed in our products! So I was happy and proud to share a safe and affordable alternative to my family and friends and clients that I met along the way. What I also learned along the way of this newfound business is that I am a terrible salesperson! I still have yet to recruit anyone to join the team. But I love the products, I believe in them, and I am doing something that is waaay outside of the box for me and my comfort zone regardless. I was also inspired to start that new blog with the focus on being healthy and happy. I posted about inspiring people, positive quotes, and whatever else I could find to help people to find and appreciate their own individual and unique inner beauty. I even set up a donation page with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in which I (publicly) shared Dale's story. I donate 10% of my earning from Lemongrass Spa to the AFSP as well. In April, everything seemed to come together in an unforeseen way. However, I have to say that it has been tough to maintain. I have not been organized with my blog and go long periods without posting. I have also lost some intensity in my business since becoming engaged and busy planning a wedding. But they are both still there and were a big part of my 2015.
May marked the 4th anniversary since Dale's death. My parents were visiting that weekend and I tried to go along as if it were a regular day. That didn't come out quite right.... what I mean is that the prior 3 anniversaries, it was as if time stopped. I put my life on hold and dedicated that day to being alone with my son. This year, I didn't push anyone away. I found that I wanted to, but not only were my parents visiting, I now live with someone and couldn't escape. It proved to be a difficult day in a different way. It was hard living "normally" on that day. I think some built-in quite time is appropriate for that day, but I also think that continuing to live on that day is equally important too. I learned that on this anniversary.
Ewan graduated from kindergarten in June! He loved his teacher and he loved school and I couldn't ask for anything more. He had a fantastic year and Iwas am just so incredible proud of him! (More on him in a later post.)
Late June/early July is when I had the dream that awakened my midlife crisis.
In August, John and I vacationed in The Nordic Lands! We started off in Stockholm, Sweden for a couple of days. Then we flew to Copenhagen, Denmark for just a day and a half before taking an overnight ferry to Oslo, Norway. It was on the ferry somewhere in the middle of the Black Sea that John proposed to me. We had been taking about it and I knew that it was coming. Although, if he hadn't slipped and accidentally (without him even knowing it) showed me the ring in Stockholm, I would have been completely surprised that he decided to do it during the vacation. Needless to say it was an extra special and memorable vacation. Besides that, The Nordic Lands are just beautiful. We went hiking in Norway and OMG... the views were simply spectacular!
Ewan turned six and started first grade on the same day in September! It also became official that John had been in Ewan's life longer than Dale had been. It's sad to think of it that way. However, John and Ewan have developed their own special relationship. Ewan does not call John dad and when asked he says that his dad is dead and that he doesn't have one. He is very comfortable and matter-of-fact in his words when he says this. More so than I am. John is not upset by this at all and I respect and appreciate that from him. I have never spoke to Ewan about John and his role. I wanted that to take its own course. Honestly, it makes me happy that Ewan reserves that special spot for Dale. John will get all of the rewards of being able to be an active part of Ewan's life and being able to watch him grow. Dale won't. More than anything, I am glad that Dale is still alive in Ewan's heart and mind.
Wedding planning, wedding planning, wedding planning.... that pretty much sums up the end of my year! Yes, I am having a wedding. A big one in fact. I was perfectly fine in not remarrying. Once engaged, I was find with a small destination wedding. However, through a series of different events, we are having a wedding in NYC (Staten Island to be exact) and after lots of hesitation, we are all in. John has never been married before and has lots of friends and family. For me, my life is very different now. My family remains the same, but my friends are completely different than 14 years ago when I married Dale. My friend Jessica told me that I had more reason to celebrate than anyone and those words opened the door to wanting a day to celebrate and have a blast with the people who have been a part of (atleast on my end) the journey from picking up the pieces to building a whole new life in the past (almost) five years.
So there you have it! The general gist of my 2015. I do have so much to look forward to in 2016 and I wish all of you a very happy and healthy new year!!!
After saying goodbye to this blog in January, I immediately began a new blog, "A Moment's Glory." I thought that it would be an outlet and representation of where I was at the time. I took a photography course in January and February and was excited about showcasing my love for photography and my writing in a combined effort. However, neither the blog nor the photography lasted long. I loved the course. I learned how to use my new camera and how to take some great shots! I realized that like my personal/family photos, I just started a collection that had the potential to become a giant mass to put onto my to-do list. I hate editing photos and for whatever reason, I hate deleting them as well. I found it hard to write and my blog never took off. I can't say that I was extremely disappointed about it because I ended that blog to start a new one. Whaaaat?!? That's right, you read it correctly. I stopped writing in "A Moment's Glory" at the end of April because I had started a new blog, lol. But, before getting to that I have a few more events to update on that occurred in-between.
In February, John, Ewan, and I took our first family vacation. We went to Puerto Rico and it was fantastic! It was great to have some uninterrupted family bonding time, especially for John and Ewan. Ewan even began to swim on his own! thanks to John! Besides that, Puerto Rico was just beautiful. Flying in from NYC was so easy and being that we were still in US Territory made it such a smooth vacation. We enjoyed it so much that we even booked a flight back in October to check out wedding venues!
In March I went to a home party for a facial line of beauty products. I wasn't particularly interested in those products, but I wanted to help out a friend who had just signed up to sell them. Well... I didn't come home with products, but I did come home with the idea of starting up my own business! I had written in this blog before about wanting to do something more and different in the job field. So, beauty products (which I have never been into, besides wearing makeup from Walgreens) seemed somehow like a good choice, lol. I didn't sign up with my friend though. Those products were very expensive and full of chemicals. So I did some research.
In April, I became an official consultant with Lemongrass Spa. A small beauty and skin care line company with natural and organic products. The products are fantastic but even more so healthy and safe to use. I started to pay attention more to the products that I was using, not only in my shower but in my makeup and even in what I was using to clean the house. It's amazing what is allowed in our products! So I was happy and proud to share a safe and affordable alternative to my family and friends and clients that I met along the way. What I also learned along the way of this newfound business is that I am a terrible salesperson! I still have yet to recruit anyone to join the team. But I love the products, I believe in them, and I am doing something that is waaay outside of the box for me and my comfort zone regardless. I was also inspired to start that new blog with the focus on being healthy and happy. I posted about inspiring people, positive quotes, and whatever else I could find to help people to find and appreciate their own individual and unique inner beauty. I even set up a donation page with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in which I (publicly) shared Dale's story. I donate 10% of my earning from Lemongrass Spa to the AFSP as well. In April, everything seemed to come together in an unforeseen way. However, I have to say that it has been tough to maintain. I have not been organized with my blog and go long periods without posting. I have also lost some intensity in my business since becoming engaged and busy planning a wedding. But they are both still there and were a big part of my 2015.
May marked the 4th anniversary since Dale's death. My parents were visiting that weekend and I tried to go along as if it were a regular day. That didn't come out quite right.... what I mean is that the prior 3 anniversaries, it was as if time stopped. I put my life on hold and dedicated that day to being alone with my son. This year, I didn't push anyone away. I found that I wanted to, but not only were my parents visiting, I now live with someone and couldn't escape. It proved to be a difficult day in a different way. It was hard living "normally" on that day. I think some built-in quite time is appropriate for that day, but I also think that continuing to live on that day is equally important too. I learned that on this anniversary.
Ewan graduated from kindergarten in June! He loved his teacher and he loved school and I couldn't ask for anything more. He had a fantastic year and I
Late June/early July is when I had the dream that awakened my midlife crisis.
In August, John and I vacationed in The Nordic Lands! We started off in Stockholm, Sweden for a couple of days. Then we flew to Copenhagen, Denmark for just a day and a half before taking an overnight ferry to Oslo, Norway. It was on the ferry somewhere in the middle of the Black Sea that John proposed to me. We had been taking about it and I knew that it was coming. Although, if he hadn't slipped and accidentally (without him even knowing it) showed me the ring in Stockholm, I would have been completely surprised that he decided to do it during the vacation. Needless to say it was an extra special and memorable vacation. Besides that, The Nordic Lands are just beautiful. We went hiking in Norway and OMG... the views were simply spectacular!
Ewan turned six and started first grade on the same day in September! It also became official that John had been in Ewan's life longer than Dale had been. It's sad to think of it that way. However, John and Ewan have developed their own special relationship. Ewan does not call John dad and when asked he says that his dad is dead and that he doesn't have one. He is very comfortable and matter-of-fact in his words when he says this. More so than I am. John is not upset by this at all and I respect and appreciate that from him. I have never spoke to Ewan about John and his role. I wanted that to take its own course. Honestly, it makes me happy that Ewan reserves that special spot for Dale. John will get all of the rewards of being able to be an active part of Ewan's life and being able to watch him grow. Dale won't. More than anything, I am glad that Dale is still alive in Ewan's heart and mind.
Wedding planning, wedding planning, wedding planning.... that pretty much sums up the end of my year! Yes, I am having a wedding. A big one in fact. I was perfectly fine in not remarrying. Once engaged, I was find with a small destination wedding. However, through a series of different events, we are having a wedding in NYC (Staten Island to be exact) and after lots of hesitation, we are all in. John has never been married before and has lots of friends and family. For me, my life is very different now. My family remains the same, but my friends are completely different than 14 years ago when I married Dale. My friend Jessica told me that I had more reason to celebrate than anyone and those words opened the door to wanting a day to celebrate and have a blast with the people who have been a part of (atleast on my end) the journey from picking up the pieces to building a whole new life in the past (almost) five years.
So there you have it! The general gist of my 2015. I do have so much to look forward to in 2016 and I wish all of you a very happy and healthy new year!!!
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