Every New Year’s Eve day, I like to look back on the past 12 months and take stock of what kind of year it has been, what I learned, and what I have to be grateful for. I’ve had crazy and memorable years before, but I don’t think anything can top 2012…
I celebrated 10 years of marriage. I became a mom to two precious little girls after an almost four-year adoption wait. I made two trips to Ethiopia. I witnessed my beloved father-in-law take his last breath and depart this life. I flew to Spain to celebrate my brother’s wedding and gained a new nephew 11 months later. I spent a good part of the year way out of my comfort zone and learned that I’m stronger and braver than I thought. I learned a lot about generosity through the goodness of friends, family, and neighbors who went above and beyond to support us this year. 2012 was an intense, heart-breaking, beautiful, difficult, amazing year.
Sometimes I can’t believe I made it through. The year has changed me. My accomplishments have empowered me, and what I’ve witnessed in others — including in my daughters — has inspired me.
I hope it’s fine with my Maker, though, if I pray for 2013 to be a little less eventful!
What kind of year was 2012 for you? Any highlights to share?
And do you have any fun plans for tonight? We’ll be nursing our terrible colds and maybe, just maybe, peering out our front door at the fireworks over the Baltimore harbor. Wherever you are tonight, I hope you’re bidding farewell to 2012 just the way you want, feeling hopeful about a brand new year.
Image: Mekelle, Ethiopia by Zoe Saint-Paul
Hello, I'm Zoe Saint-Paul. I'm a writer, life coach, and new mama to twins who's trying to live "slower" in a speed-obsessed world. Here we chat about life and love, food and design, and everything in between -- all at the right pace. So grab some tea, pull up a chair, and join the conversation. Feel free to 
Our year was crazy and memorable, too. The highlight was bringing home our beloved Elvie and watching her get healthy and plump up. 2013 will start out intense, with a big surgery for her, but we hope, like you, to have a year that is overall less eventful.
Happy New Year, Zoe!
She is precious. Prayers for a successful surgery — I’m sure you’ll be relieved when you’re all on the other side of it.
What a year for you, huh?! 2012 will always go down in the memory books over here, too. Happy New Year!