It’s hard to believe that 2015 is almost over.  I am not sure where it has gone.  The year has been full of events, some good, some not so good.  2014 ended on a not so good bang.  4 days before I was due to have foot surgery, Amy had a challenging accident, knocking out 3 teeth and fracturing her upper jaw.  That set the tone for the rest of the year.

I was recovering from the surgery which in itself has left additional challenges to my foot.  At the same time I was driving to and from Gainesville every time Amy had surgery.  Throw into the mix a new job description.  I retained the work I was doing and added in a whole lot of new functions.  It was a real learning curve, with good days and bad days.

I brought home a street cat, whom Amy named Simba.  He should have been called Shadow, because that is truly what he is.  He is adorable and we love him.  Well all of us except Moonshine.  She is not too crazy about him.  He hides and as soon as she come near him he is in full “I am going to get you mode”.  Moonshine lives in the upper levels of the house, because Simba does not seem to jump too high.

In August we had a wedding.  Cameron and Kathryn got married.  What a time of blessing.  However, weddings involve a lot of work, and I had my fill from developing a slideshow, to designing a guest book, to doing all the flower arrangements less the bouquets and buttonholes, to hosting a rehearsal dinner. We have been very happy to welcome Kathryn to our small family.

We had a short break at the beach with Amy, and then it was full steam ahead to get her ready to fly out to her new home in Macedonia. While I was very excited for her my heart was heavy with the thought of saying goodbye.   With that comes the worry for your child.  Will she be okay.  Will she be home sick. Will she like her host family.  Phew, lots and lots of emotions.

And then it was the adjustment period of an empty home.  Suddenly I feel bone weary.  I am tired.  This has been a long and hectic and emotional year.  I am ready for a rest.  I want to just sleep and yet I do not sleep alot.

So when it came to doing my 30 minutes this month I was brain dead.  I wanted to do something different but I did not know what.  I thought of going to a big cat refuge but it seemed like it would take too much energy.  I was stumped.  I recently read an article about taking the same item in a number of different scenario’s and so this is what I have done with my 30 minutes this month.

Each year a friend and I host a Christmas dinner for our study group.  She offers her home and sets the tables. I coordinate the invites and the Christmas message.  So here is my preparation for the evening ahead.

Thank you for joining me for this month’s 30 minutes.    This is a circle blog.  Please take time to visit, Julia Forsman | A Rock and a Soft Place Photography and see what she has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month.

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