Wow - I cannot believe it is already Christmas Eve! The presents are wrapped, the stockings are hung and the kids are absolutely manic with excitement!!!
I've been thinking a lot of all of you back in the States - I really do miss you all and wish you the very Merriest of Christmases and hope for all the best in 2009.
2008 had a lot of ups and downs for all of us - some of us gained a family member or friend, some of us lost one, and some came very close to losing one... I actually have had all three happen this year: I gained a lovely new niece, lost a new friend here in the UK - (Rest in Peace Herbert...), and have had to endure the angst of watching my mother struggle with breast cancer from 4000 miles away... (she is ok now, but the battle will carry on...)
The older I get, the more I realize how very fragile life is and I try with everything I have each day to appreciate my life and the people who I have been so lucky to know during my time on this planet.
Its been quite a year for us, making new friends, seeing new places, watching co-workers get laid off and move on to new opportunities, learning new customs, getting in touch with old high school friends (one of the highlights of my year!). It really has had its ups and downs living in a foreign country, but the overall sense is one of tremendous accomplishment and pride... I don't think I really appreciated what a massively huge thing it is to move your whole family to another country - I got so wrapped up in the details of moving and setting up a new household and organizing trips and packing lunches and ironing uniforms, that the enormity of the whole thing evaded me for quite some time.... Now, one year later I look back at my blogs and photos and I realize how incredible this whole thing has been and will continue to be. It has changed me forever - in a good way - I have learned so much about so many things, its overwhelming to think about - this experience has opened my mind and my eyes...
You are all in my thoughts at this lovely time of year- all the best
xo Lari
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Whatever.
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