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puzzle pieces

Friday, December 30, 2011

happy trails....2011

Dear 2011,
I write this with mixed feelings.

You were a year filled with many incredible moments and memories.
Moments in which smiles were made, and hearts warmed.
And then on some occasions,  
we had to deal with matters beyond our control and just hold on for the best.


During this year of 2011, you have brought to me  many adventures.

In  racing~  running and triathlon;
I once again raced my oldest in our Sprint Triathlon Annual Adventure.
I ran my 1st Half Marathon while family I truly love, cheered me on.
I nervously  signed up for an Olympic distance Triathlon~ and ended up completing 2 plus an Aquathlon.
A 10km Night Race with my oldest, a 5k with all 4 kiddos, and
an absolutely beautiful 29k Mountain Trail Run.....
Who said running can't be a beautiful thing?




During your 365 days here, Change happened.
I saw my oldest writing college entrance exams and registering for his first term of secondary education.
A daughter said goodbye to her home school adventure with me and began attending the local High School.
And I now am experiencing what it's like to only teach 2 kids instead of 4.



Cross~country skiing played a big part in the Long Winter and even longer spring.
Camping adventures, Golden kayaking trips, river canoe paddles, and a bit of hiking with Meaning.
Many beach days~~and one cannot forget the trip to the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean.

Oh! And the many miles put on my new road bike??
 ~absolute bliss.


Friends were made~moments were shared~as was many bottles of good wine.
Moments around bonfires out back roasting marshmallows, and talking into the early hours of the morning...will be cherished.

The memory I have when my kids gave me a new camera and thanked me for teaching them over the years? It still makes me teary.
{The walks with them and the new Canon are pretty special.}

Meeting all of you blogging friends over the past year, has been a major highlight in 2011.
I cannot believe how much I have cherished your letters, emails, and comments,
 while I seem to journal away my thoughts in this space.
I am blessed to know each and every one of you.


Not all of your 2011 days were happy ones.
But I learned a lot from those moments. 
For that I am grateful.
And I learned that I can still dance in the rain....instead of fighting against the pelting drops.


I do feel a bit of melancholy with you coming to an end, but I am not sad to see you go.
One never likes to say goodbye to a good friend, and that you were. 
But I now am looking forward to another year ~
(and I hope you don't take offense, but I hope it's even better than you were).
Filled with more Adventure
more learning (even if it includes heartache), 
and more growth.

Happy Trails to you 2011.
You have brought some beautiful ones into my life this past year.
Thank you.

Yours for this year~ but not for the next,
Dawn


42 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

you have a gift of weaving thoughts and words with beautiful images. :) i do hope all your trails in 2012 are happy ones.

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh Dawn I love this post it has been quite the year and I am so happy you shared it with us/me I am also happy we found each other. Life is great isn't it? 2012 is going to be wonderful I can see it now. Awesome shots. B

Anonymous said...

A wonderful final post for 2011 ... Look forward to enjoying the adventure that is your life vicariously in 2012.

Rosaria Williams said...

Wow and Wow! What an exciting life you have had so far! And you also home-school two children? Wow!

Hope your new year is just as exciting/

Discovery Street said...

some beautiful places you've seen on your runs! Happy new year!

Deb said...

I have enjoyed this year learning about you and your wonderful family Dawn....looking forward to 2012 to see what you are up too..

Michelle said...

A wonderful tribute to 2011. Wishing you and your family a very happy new year.

Aimee said...

What an awesome post for your year in review! I have no doubt that 2012 will bring lots of wonderful adventures for you!

carmilevy said...

I count myself lucky that I was able to be a part of your online world, Dawn, as every visit here managed to inspire me to lead my own life in a more meaningful way.

Here's to many more years of discovery and growth.

Leah J. Utas said...

Best to you in 2012, Dawn.

GardenOfDaisies said...

Dawn, 2011 sure did have it's ups and downs. I truly hope that 2012 will be a better year for you, and my other blogging friends, who faced illness, loss, unkindness, unemployment and all the other challenges that caused stress and hurt.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year!!

Jack said...

Great illustrations for your commentary, Dawn. All the best in 2012.

Slamdunk said...

Thanks for inspiring us Dawn, and I hope you have a nice New Year.

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

Thank you for these incredible moments!
I wish you good health and a happy new year!

Farm Girl said...

Lovely Post Dawn. I feel so blessed to have got to know you and I have loved reading your thoughts and I have enjoyed your running, your swimming and I cheer you on even if I am sitting and reading about it.
I wish you many blessings and lots of new trails to run on.

Peter said...

Sounds like you ticked plenty of boxes, hope the new year is full of fulfillment and joyfulness. Happy New Year from Downunder. I'll be down by the harbour tonight watching some fireworks.

Brian King said...

Gorgeous photos - as always! Thanks for the visits to my blog during the past year, Dawn! I appreciate it. Best to you in the coming year!

Kathy said...

I love reading your posts, Dawn, they always make me think ... and your photographs are beautiful!

Here's to an even better 2012!
love Kathy xxx

Out on the prairie said...

Breathless, you left me that way,lovely indeed.

Carole Barkett said...

Beautiful post in photos and thoughts

Anne said...

Wishing you a very Happy New Year Dawn!
~Anne

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Happy trails Dawn! May 2012 be a great one!

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

These thoughts of 2011 are beautiful...yes it is sad to see 2011 go also. The pics are beautiful

mountain mama said...

happy new year!!!!! :D

Ransick said...

Great pictures and a great recap of the year Dawn! I'm glad I stumbled across your blog this year. Your pictures are amazing and your posts are very thought provoking. I look forward to following along again in 2012. Keep the pictures coming!

Oh, it would be really cool to do our first full IM together. We'll have to plan way ahead though since the IM branded ones sell out so fast (and we'll have a ton of training to do). Or we can pick a non-IM branded one like a HITS series or Rev3. It is a lot more fun racing when you know someone there.

Hope you and your family have a great 2012!

bon bon said...

absolutely gorgeous scenery, topped with beautiful memories. you truly are blessed! may all good things continue your way tenfold in the new year! :oD

Leenie said...

What a great list of accomplishments. 2011 was mostly good to you and yours.

Maybe someday we can meet in a snowy place and wax up our x-skis together! I'd love to show you the trumpeter swans that winter on the Snake River in Harriman Park.

Homeschool on the Croft said...

Gorgeous photos.
May you truly be blessed in 2012 x

Full-On-Forward said...

Simply put--Thanks for being You, and such an awesome Blogger friend!

Till 2012 then.....


J

Heidi said...

Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year 2012, Dawn!...I enjoy your blog very much and your pics on Flickr.

sage said...

Beautiful photos-I love photos of roads and trails, they always stir my soul. May you have a wonderful New Year, Dawn.

Jo said...

Just perfect. :)

Hope said...

A beautiful post dawn! Now you can pick and choose what it is about the year(s) gone by that you want to experience all over again. The rest we forget!

the best to you and yours Dawn. Looking forward to a continuing friendship with you :)

Randy said...

What a wonderful post. Wishing you another amazing year full of joy.

darlin said...

Dawn this is such a beautiful post, a very nice way to end the year and open the doors for what lies ahead in this New Year. I love your trails, the skidoo trail makes me what snow so I can get to the farm to go skidooing at least once before I fly out to sun and summer!

Wishing you all the best in the New Year and many more happy trails to you my friend!

Allison said...

I feel the same... off with the old and time to embrace something fresh and new! Warm thoughts to you, Dawn. xo

Katie said...

Dancing in the rain! Love it. It's all a fantastic journey. Happy 2012!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful shots! Here's wishing you more dancing in the rain in this new year!

Unknown said...

The number of people whom you've touched is evident by the list here. I was a new friend who came along late in the game, but always enjoyed how much life you infused into your blog. Don't be a stranger and God Bless in 2012 with a great New Year, Dawn! All Best!

Lowell said...

A lovely, poetic post with photos to match. Congratulations on all that which you accomplished and on your wonderful family.

May 2012 be even more fulfilling and joyfilled!

Pat Tillett said...

Happy trails to you for 2012! Your photo and word posts are awesome. You have such a great eye...

Hilary said...

Happy New Year to you and yours, Dawn.