A New Year's Wish ~

It's time!!!!

Time for a new beginning...a fresh start!

My wish for you dear friends is that this new year

will hold so much goodness and love for you ~

That you will see dreams come true,

you will stay happy and healthy and

that we all will be blessed beyond measure!!!

Happy New Year precious friends!!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby...

He was due December 20th...the birthday of our oldest son!

Our oldest turned 15 years old and the twentieth came and went.

I was 35 years old and felt ancient.

I was so very pregnant and ready to see our new baby boy.

Finally on December 29th, at about 5:00 in the afternoon
they hooked me up to be induced.

At almost ten days late, you could say I was quite READY!!!

Our precious family members poured into the waiting room,

just knowing that this being our FIFTH child, the labor should be swift and

we would all be able to see our sweet Noah soon.

Ugh NO.

It just wasn't going to happen!

My body was tired and said...uh, no, this ain't happening...

after much begging to my OB, I finally delivered a precious baby boy

early in the morning of December 30th, 1997 by cesarean section.

He was absolutely BEAUTIFUL.

But to me, all of our boys were beautiful!

So today, our least 'un...our little baby boy Noah,

turns fifteen....

And what a precious soul he is!!!

Just when I thought our family was complete,

this little angel sneaks up on me ~

Dear Lord, thank you so much...

I'm so very glad he did!!!

Happy Birthday Noah!!!

I'm sure you know, with four older brothers,

and your mama and dad

and really ALL of your dear family...

that you are truly, truly LOVED!!!

Counting my blessings
on this almost New Year's Eve precious friends ~

and always wishing you...

A Beautiful NEW YEAR!!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Are you excited???

I am!!!

I can't help myself....

We are on the cusp of a new year.

A fresh start.

A new beginning!!!

I am so ready to be done with this past year.

It was a hard one for us ~ and maybe for you as well.

But we have this wonderful new year ahead of us...

and I'm so praying it will be great one!!!

But I guess ultimately,
it is up to us...
to make this new year be incredible ~
to do what we are scared of doing,
to make changes that need to be made...
and to ultimately make happen what needs to happen!

We can pray for guidance but it is up to US
to put into action what changes need to be made.
I always say the Lord gave us a brain for a reason,
yes, He can help us but guess what???
We must do our part too!!!
We can make it happen.

Wishing you a wonderful Friday,

a great weekend and of course,

a very Happy and Healthy New Year!!!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Blessed.....

That's how I feel this New Year's day!

Truly blessed.

Yes, we've had our fair share of troubles this past year....

stuff I don't share here because,

you know I want this to be a happy place, right?

But all in all....I feel so very blessed!

And my simple wish list for this new year???

To be brave and to try new things....creatively and otherwise ~

To try be be healthier because really, when we feel good we can do so much MORE!

To work harder to enjoy more.

What does that mean?

To not major in the minors...

To enjoy the moments, each and every one....because they pass so quickly

and will never return.

I wish you the most beautiful, happy and healthy New Year precious friends!!!!!

love you so much and thank you for being you ~

Dawn

What will this new year hold???

Can you EVEN believe it's already time for the new year???

It really is a wonderful time, isn't it?

A time for fresh beginnings ~

A time to make changes ~

A time for a new start....

But what will this new year hold?

I feel that WE hold this answer, don't you???
At this time in my life, I've finally realized that

if we want things to change in our lives,

WE have to change them!

What do I want to change in my life?

I would like to have more COURAGE!!!

Yes, you heard right.

I doubt myself, I doubt my capabilities and even doubt my art ~

I think I'm afraid to push myself to the next level...

So my big step is teaching a class at Karla's Bird Song retreat this spring!!!

Am I mortified?

Yes.

But I will push through and do this!!!!

I want to help more with

my family's business

Shop Fun Soap

with new product design and

don't fall out or be shocked....

but I'm going to work at the trade show this January!!!!!!

Yes, I'm an old bag and

I'll fit in at the Atlanta Merchandise Mart

like oil in water....

but I do know what's beautiful

and look forward to selling our wonderful soap!!!

No, I really don't make resolutions....

but I do have aspirations ~
things that I would love to see happen.

I don't know why I've posted these pics....

Except that they are beautiful to me....

This is a photo of a building in Savannah ~ I just love the perspective!

My new year's wish for you???

That your new year is full of promise
and that you will be happy, healthy and achieve
all that you want to!!!!

hugs and love precious friends,

Dawn

What a year....what a really wonderful year!

And do you know WHY it was wonderful??? Because. of. YOU!!! I have to tell you that because of you, your inspiring words, your wonderful blogs and if you don't have a blog, your sweet comments, it has been an amazing year!! You encouraged my creativity. Isn't that all that the human spirit needs?? Just a kind word and precious encouragement? Your comments have MADE me want to create.....and as a direct result, last Christmas Jenny Doh emailed me and requested a few pieces of artwork and it has been wonderful from that point on. Meeting more new friends and creating more and more all throughout the year. Creating artwork is a wonderful thing but the friendships have been the best blessing ever.

If you have been one of those precious souls that have cheered me on, that have bought my tutorials or artwork, or even just glimpsed at my blog.....thank you for such an amazing year!!!

And my wish for YOU??? My challenge for YOU? To take the time to create or do what you love....even if it's just a small part of your day, try to carve out that time to do what you crave. Believe me, your spirit will be enriched and it will overflow to all those around you! When you do what makes you happy, you are indeed a happier person to be around.

May we inspire one another to create more, enjoy our loved ones more and to see all the beauty that surrounds us

Wishing each and every one of you the most wonderful, happy and healthy New Year ever!!!

love and hugs to you all,

Dawn

(ps. take the image if you want! :)