goodbyes and hellos

i was thinking about the new year. how you say goodbye to one year and hello to another in a second.

and then it occurred to me that we've had quite a few of those this past year.

goodbye to diapers and hello to underpants {and a few accidents}.

goodbye to our house and guelph and hello to living with family in toronto.

goodbye to canada, family and everything familiar and hello to a new life in uganda in a new house with a new team {and a new-to-us car}.

goodbye to friends in canada and hello to making new friends in uganda.

lots of goodbyes.

but lots of hellos as well.

and as it stands now, we've only 18 months left here in uganda.

it seems like a long time, but also i know it'll fly by and that makes me a bit sad.

my friend kelly told me about how she asks God for a word for the next year {an idea she got from her} and i thought about that and i really liked it.

so i've been thinking and praying about it.

i think next year's word will be embrace. 

webster's dictionary defines embrace as to love or cherish and to take or receive gladly and eagerly or to accept willingly.

i want to embrace life here in uganda.

i want to embrace opportunities as they come up.

i want to embrace my calling as a wife and mother.

to embrace is to accept and not resist.

i'm moving forward from 2011 and embracing 2012, whatever it may hold.

2010 in pictures

Snow, buzz cuts,

new life, and love

I got to throw an engagement party for my dear friend, Tamsin who has been living in the UK for over 2 years now and was visiting Canada briefly.

*photo credit to yellow barn photography

My sister gets married 

*photo credit to yellow barn photography

*photo credit to yellow barn photography

and I dabble {briefly} in the world of cloth diapers.

The beginning of my cake pop obsession, the end of winter and the start of warmer weather {hoorah!}.

Hilarious conversations, ridiculous cuteness 

and The Nest.

Saying good bye to my brother for 7 months {serving with the military}, 

enjoying the balmy weather, the "big boy bed" 

and a third trip to the hospital.

6 years, 

new discoveries, photography love.

*photo credit to Deb Wong

Our time in BC, 

*photo credit to Deb Wong

lots of firsts for Noah and Jude turns 1!

*photo credit to Deb Wong

Family beach day, 

a trip to Quebec 

and a decision to GO.

My solo trip to the UK, 

Noah "winds his toy" 

and I struggle to remember it all.

We ride a train,

 we get the "go ahead", my dear friend Elisha has twins {!},

 Noah turns 3 

and I run 10k!

Getting colder, new friendships are formed, 

baking lots 

and Jamie scouts out Uganda.

Time with family and friends.

welcoming home my brother from Afghanistan, 

And now looking on to 2011 with hope, joy and a peace in the God who has proven Himself faithful before and will continue to do so.

Happy New Year!