Hello 2011

Happy New Year to all my dear friends and family! I still stand in awe. I can't believe it's the start of a new year again. Seems so soon. I feel that the past year has been full of unbelievable blessings and a lot of struggles. I feel like my life has spiraled out of my control the past few months. I've had a lot of not so fun things take place, but I realized something as I said goodbye to 2010 and started into the next year. 

Hope.

I'm usually all for big New Years Eve parties, with friends, food galore, staying up all night playing games and watching movies. This year we decided to seek solace in the mountains with a couple good friends of ours. There, we stayed in a humble lodge, cooked a simple dinner and waited patiently for the clock to strike 12. It wasn't anything extra exciting, it was perfectly ordinary. And as I could hear the world all around shout Happy New Year, exchanging kisses and partying hard, I closed my eyes and slept in peace. I need ordinary. I saw a million stars in the midst of a  black sky and heard nothing but silence in the dark of the mountains. It was frightening almost. Then, I heard it. The sound of hope. I feel that I have endured a lot the past week. So much, I was ready to bury my head and disappear for a while. But there was this still, small voice that told me I could do this. I could wake up the next day and be okay. Life doesn't have to be full of happiness and perfection. It can be a struggle and hurt sometimes. So, I embrace this new year with a new hope and perspective. I will feel peace knowing that if things don't go the way I plan, it will be okay. I want to wish you all the same. That no matter what this year brings your way, you would have hope in facing it. 

xoxo