2008 a year in the life of me

over the past few years i have been planning on writing a holiday update to send to all those i have lost touch with…perhaps this year i’ll finally get to it

the last year has been filled with so many blessings and a few hardships all of which i give thanks for. for it is all such things i have learned many lessons and give much gratitude for. these i’d love to share.

in january, i celebrated the new year with my, then boyfriend. it was yet another year of being in ventura and i remember looking forward to what good was to come. i’ve had the opportunity of having my own studio apartment close to college, which has been my home away from home for the past five years. looking out my window you face the ocean and can even see a sliver of blue ocean! i truly love my little art studio haven.

in february i was able to travel with my mother to the east coast. after 17 years i returned to pennsylvania to visit both my father and his wife, as well as dear friends of ours since we lived there when i was young. to reconnect with everyone was beyond overdue and highly enjoyable.

in march for my english course i created this website and wrote this poem…

just because i am in a good mood i feel like writing this poem.

because the sun is shining and the weather is sweet outside i have a smile on my face.

because some days have challenges, i grow stronger as i overcome them.

because i am in a great relationship i feel an exorbitant amount of love, always.

because the last few days were stress free and successful with my family, i feel recharged.

because i am back in Ventura i have a new found love for the beautiful environment in which i live.

because of the way i walk tall and proud to be who i am, people see me as a strong individual.

in april we celebrated my nephew’s 2nd birthday at my sisters home in ca. my nephew is such a handsome and smart little man. i am so proud of him and his beautiful big sister. she is in kindergarten now and learning so much so quickly.

in may my gram and mother came to see me walk in a graduation ceremony in which i earned my liberal arts associates degree from ventura college. it was quite surreal for me, knowing i wasn’t quite done with school. as i continued in the fall of this year to complete my photography credits.

in june i remember hearing this quote “you can’t avoid trouble, but you can choose not to be troubled” and then i was off to go up north for the first time in the summer to my mom’s in the san frainsisco bay area. i went every chance i could to be with my family. we all had a great time together.

later in the month my good friend from new york came out for her christian science association in san luis opisbo. for the first time she came to ventura and we were able to have a great vacation weekend.

in july once again i ventured up north for the remaining part of the summer. this time was quite precious to me and all the family with papa. over the past couple of years he had been battling with with his health, working through it together as a family using christian science prayer. reading the lesson together, i could see his spiritual understanding soar.

in august i returned home and celebrated a year of working as a nanny for two adorable boys, ages 6 and 4. both are extremely well behaved and utter sweethearts. providing child care for their family has been such a double sided blessing. i have been able to make a schedule to help them with their busy daily lives, as well as keep up with my busy class and photo art responsibilities. a balanced life is what i’ve strived for in my adult years.

in september i celebrated my 25th birthday by having dinner with my brother and my closest of friends. afterward we then marched over to the artist union gallery by the beach to see the “art of the book 2″ show where my first art book, ethics for the new collage, was on display and later sold. this was such a great show to be involved in. the local paper, ventura and ojai view, even photo featured both myself, as well as a friend. it was a great birthday indeed!

in october things weren’t as cheerful. after a month of having lost my dad to the angels in the sky on 9.25.08, we celebrated his life by having a day of remembrance 10.25.08. the day was perfect, minus his absence. we all have him in our hearts as we move forward holding his love and memory dear to us.

we also celebrated my beautiful neice’s 6th birthday. just for her i dressed up as a birthday bumble bee and surprised all that weren’t in on the secret beforehand. she suggested i stay in the costume all day, since she loved it so much, and i did. even when finding out that my dad had purchased my art book just prior to passing on. it was a complete shock to me. for i had no idea that he had done this for me.

in november i received an art supplies scholarship from the friends of the arts. with this i was able to purchase materials needed for my current project, roadtrip 101. a photo art book consisting of photos taken along ca hwy 101 between ventura and san fransisco along with a mixed media extension of the image. the feedback i received from my class and instructor was beyond gracious.

in december i finished my semester at v.c. having taken my last two courses for my associate degree in photography, drawing and 2d mixed media/acrylic painting! i feel so blessed to have taken the 2d art class for i was able to complete roadtrip 101 with 10 pages. this book is dedicated to my papa. for he supported my work and was so grateful when i shared the photos in which i was sorting and planning to use in this photo extention collage book.

hopefully this message finds you all in the hands of God,… perfect, healthy, happy and utterly satisfied! i wish you all the best of such attributes and more for the new year of 2009! God bless each and everyone of you my dear friends and family!