2012

I’m sitting at my desk amidst a whirl of pine-needle debris and
glitter. The celebration and indulgence of Christmas is being swept up
to make way for the new year: tightened belts, tightened routines,
tightened to do lists, loosened possibilities.

In 2012…

** I became a runner. I never believed it was possible. I did not
succeed at age 14, I didn’t succeed at age 17, at age 24, at age 27. I
tried many different times in my life. At age 36, two months after
having a baby, I started running—very slowly, very carefully. It was a
process. But, within a few months, I was running 5 to 6 miles per go. I
am still baffled and amazed. Thank you, Couch to 5K, for holding me
back. It turns out I was always doing too much too soon.

** I also learned that “running” means “jogging.” I was several weeks
into the journey before I had this epiphany. If you run-for-your-life
when the voice in the app says, “run,” you are not getting the idea—duh,
Heather.

** I had the thrill of getting to know my new little son. His unique
personality revealed itself, as he hugged us and whacked us—alternating
between the “Thank You” game and the “Uh-Oh” game—his two favorite
phrases. What a sass-a-frass, lover-bub trouble-monkey.

** I took my kids to the Bahamas. They swam in blue waters and sat in
the sand. Our first fancy vacation ever. Usually, we go camping.

** My work filled the shelves at Target. In the form of planners and
calendars—there are new ones there right now. The best is when my
personal friends stumble across them, having no idea I did this project.
Serious double-take. “Wait, I know her.”

** I designed a new cotton quilting collection. It was all-consuming work, as usual.

** Then, I started on the next one.

** We remodeled and expanded our home work space.

** We moved our office/store so our little one could have a more
homey start at life. It was a tight squeeze. But good and right.

** My mom started writing a column for the local paper.

** We gave our old van another chance at life—as our oldest child
turns 16 this month and we don’t believe in giving a new driver
something fancy to truck around in. $$$ in repairs later—more than the
vehicle is worth, frankly—it still looks like a sad, speckled monster,
but it works. The PERFECT first car.

** I took my daughter to dance class.

** I cheered for my teenager at band competitions.

** He grew to be two inches taller than his dad—so far.

** I hemmed a lot of pants for my growing children.

** I cried over difficult relationships.

** I prayed for my sister who is fervently wishing for a baby. I prayed for my brothers and my parents too.

** I thinned out my closet. Then, I filled it back up.

** I drank too much soda.

** I planted flowers.

** I filmed a tv episode with Sew It All for PBS.

** I didn’t blog all that much. I caught up on design projects after a
brain-fuzzing pregnancy instead. And soaked up my sweet little kids who
are growing older all-too-quickly.

** I designed aprons, kitchen towels, sewing patterns, embroidery
patterns, fabrics, planners, calendars, a Project Life kit, a Shutterfly
album and still more fabrics—all coming out in 2013.

** I found an awesome couch to reupholster for my family room. (I can’t wait!)

** I got older.

** I got muscles.

** I got boots. Several pairs.

** I took time off for the holidays.

** I baked a lot of cookies.

** I got tired of taking time off. And eating cookies.

Now it's time to get back to it. Bring it on, 2013.