Getting in Touch with my Inner Artist...

....well, I am attempting to do that. I don't even know if my inner artist is inside me. I always thought, "surely, I have got it in me...have you met my mother? That artistic gene has to be in there somewhere." One of my goals while Thomas is gone is to work on this. I have a book, "You can draw in 30 days." I started the book a while back and got through 7 lessons, but it's been so long since I last worked on this that I decided to restart the book. My first lesson was on spheres. I learned about cast shadows, as well as blended and scribbling shading. I started with a simple circle which didn't look exactly like a simple, precise circle. But, I guess that's okay. You have to start somewhere. The challenge lesson was to draw an apple. Seems simple enough. Right? Yeah. I have 4 stages of apples on this page. I will say they did seem to get progressively better, so maybe there is hope!!! Although, apple number 3 looks more like a pumpkin than an apple in my opinion. Oh well, I guess you have to start somewhere or in my case restart somewhere. Now, I will leave you with these words... Don't laugh at my drawings. You may slightly giggle, but that is it! :)

2013: Reflections, Resolutions, and Fresh Starts

Another year has come and gone. It amazes how fast time is flying right before my very eyes. 2012 went by in a flash. It has some good and bad moments. Let's recap, shall we? My year began in Paris, France...right in front of the twinkling Eiffel Tower. How many people get to say that they have had this experience? I started volunteering at Vicenza Midde School. Those middle schoolers have challenged me, encouraged me, and lifted my spirits. Thomas did the usual trainings in Germany. I continued being the Cubbie Director in Awanas. I love my Cubbies. They brighten my day when I need it the most. My parents were able to come visit and experience Europe for the first time. The early beginnings of summer were spent making trips to Croatia and Cinque Terre with friends. We relaxed and awaited the dreaded deployment that was looming over our heads. Eventually, July 12 came and off he went. I went through my moppy stage filled with junk food and sad movies. Then I got back to real life. I spent lots of time with friends and then headed off to the US for my first trip back home in over a year. Fall began and so did school. I spent most of my days at the middle school and the rest of my free time was spent with friends who are more like family now. I joined a bible study through PWOC. I was excited to work on this part of my life. I also got to experience the real Oktoberfest in Germany. It was one of those "once in a lifetime" experiences that I will never forget. I had already been trying to do the whole "eating right" and exercising, but in October I really seemed to buckle down a little harder. The scale has reflected my efforts. I still don't feel like Im 100% where I'd like to be. But, I got through Thanksgiving and Christmas and managed to keep my weight down. Im back at the weight I was around the time we got married...maybe even a little lower than that. I still have health and fitness goals I want to achieve. But, it makes me happy to know that I have been able to get started on the right track. I was fortunate enough to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family in North Carolina. It was wonderful to be with family, but after 6 weeks it was time to get back to normal life in Italy. I missed my little home, the country, and the people. Now, I am just waiting for everyone else to start planning their trips to see me. WINK WINK. I look forward to the rest of my friends coming back here. Thank goodness for Jackie. She is my right-hand lady! We rang in the New Year together. It was a much more low key New Year's Eve this year, but still just as good. We had friendship, wine, and food. Plus 3 little ones who kept us occupied. The evening ended with seeing some fireworks right outside her house.

Now, onto 2013!!

New Year's Resolutions:

1.) Continue on my quest to have a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ. I will begin PWOC again on the 15th! It's time to push myself a little further with this aspect of my life. I want to continue to put more time and effort into this time.

2.) Health and Fitness. I want to challenge myself to eat foods that are better for me and less processed. Yes, I am human and will still have the occasional junk food. But, I can tell already I can't eat the same foods I used to. I found that out while I was at home. ;) I want to experiment with new recipes. I also want to push through some new fitness goals. I'm still working on what exact steps I should take, so any feedback is always welcomed. :)

3. ) My Home. There are many things I want to have accomplished in my home before Thomas comes home. So many pictures to hang, bedding to find, things to organize and decorate, etc. etc. etc.

4.) Travels. This is probably a no-brainer. I want to travel to new places and experience new things.

5.) Gardening. I'd really like to get this skill down, but I am very doubtful of it happening.

6.) Photography. I want to improve on my photography skills and take more time to do it.

7.) Creative Juices. I want to get them flowing.

8.) Classes. I want to take more cooking classes and take a language course.

9.) People. Take more time for the people in my life. Whether that is sending a card in the mail or giving a quick phone call or taking new people under my wing to help them. It also means having LOTS more "girls nights" and when Thomas gets backs, more "fun/different dates."

10.) Writing/Reading. I need to journal and blog more. I also need to set more "me time" to relax with a good book.

There are probably more resolutions that I am forgetting to include. But, these are just off the top of my head. I love my life and the people who surround me, near and far. I've learned through my own experiences with others and from the experiences my friends have had to go through. People never cease to amaze me..in both good and bad ways. I'd like to think I have grown...not physically, obviously. ;) I wish everyone a very blessed 2013. I look forward to seeing what it brings.


PS: #1 THING...My husband comes home this year. :) [Insert really excited scream here]