2012 was a long year.

In 2012, I:

• quit fashion blogging.
• opened Water Lily Thrift (and sold more than 50 items on etsy alone!)
• quit the craft store where I worked as a framer for nearly a year.
• got poison ivy and experienced ‘roid rage.
• celebrated Daniel’s and my two year anniversary in St. Augustine.
• considered many academic and career options.
• sewed a lot of things, including curtains, pillows, skirts, and a dress.
• cooked more than ever before (and kind of enjoyed it).
• became passionate about fair trade and buying second hand.
• converted almost all of my makeup to organic.
• learned barista skills.
• photographed my newlywed friends.
• became a better photographer.
• won a couple giveaways.
• wrote a few poems I’m proud of.
• went antiquing often.
• read 25 books!
• moved to Charlottesville.
• felt lonely, became better friends with myself, and made awesome new friends.
• hosted Thanksgiving.
• visited the Shenandoah Valley.
• toured Florida Caverns and Luray Caverns.
• kayaked with Andrea.
• wrote 252 blog posts.
• bought some pretty good clothes.
• went on a country road adventure (and crossed the FL-GA line) with my sister to photograph old barns.
• played a lot of Barbies with the seven year old I babysat (I miss her).
• went to Lowry Park Zoo.
• attended two weddings and a high school graduation.
• had my wedding featured on Ruche’s blog.
• was featured in the company newsletter for great customer service.
• took nearly 1,000 photos (maybe more).
• dyed my hair blonde (not doing that again).
• ate lots of wonderful Asian food.
• photographed some grad school graduate friends.
• photographed a baptism.
• quit church and found a church I love.
• took adult ballet classes.
• expanded my graphic tee collection (narwhals and elephants and cats, oh my).
• painted, scrapbooked, modpodged, and canvas-stretched.
• became a pet mice and rat owner. Oh, rodents.
• saw a Bluegrass legend in concert.
• felt defeated and uncertain.
• felt confident and content.
• had Christmas with part of Daniel’s family.
• visited Baltimore.
• experienced snow for the first time in a long time.
• experimented with varied depths of field.
• had horrible and wonderful work experiences.
• felt humbled by the love of companions and the beauty of the natural world.

It’s not often that I feel that a year carried its full weight in time. But this year held a lot of change of both the psychological and the physical sort. I changed jobs three times, moved several states away, blogged a lot, opened an online business, doubted myself, loved myself, read many books, practiced patience and self-control, hosted parties, cooked real food, ate at good restaurants, played with Barbies, went to bars, discussed personal struggle with great vulnerability, put on fronts, argued, cried, practiced compassion, found a church community, adopted causes, voted, felt stupid, felt brilliant, slept in, woke up early, put my foot in my mouth, and spoke eloquently.

I overheard a woman at a restaurant in Baltimore telling her friend that she was glad 2012 was over. I have no desire to redo any part of this tumultuous year but I’m thankful for how the experience, transition, and room for contemplation have changed me. I feel that I, and my life situation, have changed for the better this year. There’s no reason things won’t keep getting better. Thanks for everything, 2012:  the chaos and the calm, the tears and the laughter, the boredom and the ecstasy.