….LOVE, actually

Last year, while blog jogging, I was inspired by an Ezine article by Ali Edwards {she’s a scrapbooker whose blog I read & a contributing editor for Creating Keepsakes Magazine} about the one little word challenge.
So, my word was LOVE.

I was in the early months of exploring what was happening between Thom and myself. Looking back now, it was the beginning of our relationship….and I was nervous and self conscience about myself. I had never been in a serious relationship and I was scared a little bit. Scared that I wasn’t good enough or lovable enough. Scared that I was boring and a little too “old soul-ish.” I was scared to fall in love, fearful of having a broken heart in the end. But I took a chance on my one little word and I think I took it one day at a time…and look what unfolded….LOVE. Enough of it for me to pack up and move 800 miles away. Enough to be able to bear homesickness and my family & friends & familiarity, to be able to bear a changing job and new surroundings. Love, relationships, living with someone, it all takes nurturing. And that’s something I’m still working on and will probably have to continue to work on. I’m glad I took the chance.

Falling in LOVE wasn’t the only aspect of LOVE I wanted to focus on in 2007. I had hoped to show more of it to my parents and my brothers and their families. I’m not sure if I conveyed exactly how much I LOVE these people. Moving away isn’t a great way of showing it, methinks…LOL {but I think the first three quarters of the year may have balanced it out since the whole “moving” thing didn’t happen until later in the year}. I loved spending my weekends with the family at the campground…hanging out at the beach at sunset….setting up the tent in the living room for Ty, Monie,& Anthony….and waking up to the sounds of kids playing and Mom making coffee in the kitchen. I loved our walks down to Meinert, getting stuck in the PT Cruiser on the way to Subway in that blizzard and I love, love, LOVED our trip to Wisconsin for Luke’s & Kimmie’s wedding. That probably is my favorite family moment of the year: our little parade of Knuppenburg vehicles making the drive. Stopping at each state and taking pictures of Tyler and Dalani. Having dinner with the entire family at that Steakhouse. Hotel rooms 3 in a row…swimming together at the pool {can’t believe I actually wore that swimsuit in public!}.

Also LOVED last winter when I spent Thursday nights with the women of my extended family {and Uncle Mike, of course} for Card Night. I can appreciate how different we all are and all that we have experienced together that has bound us together. I love those women and I love how they helped me to LOVE me.

What I regret {and i hate to even have to use the word while speaking of LOVE} is that I didn’t spend enough time with my friends. I’m sorry that I didn’t spend enough time nurturing those relationships…but I am so grateful that Melly and Heather are such longtime, thick & thin friends, that we’re able to keep our friendships moving forward with quick phone calls or emails. I’m also regretting slacking off of emails to Liz…who is always reading this silly blog of mine and jotting off comments of encouragement and funny insight. I’ll do better in the coming year!

So….I guess that wraps up 2007. It was a year of LOVE for me…I will continue to nurture it now…and always.

I’m ready to live this one little word…..are you? What’s your word for the year?

Wishing you love, peace, and creativity for the coming year,

gina