I am looking forward to the New Year. 2018 was a difficult year and also filled with some wonderful blessings. My father passed away at the end of 2017 so the entire 2018 year was filled dealing with his property and stuff. His no need for a Trust has proven a challenge for me to deal with. I did get him to sign a Will that the state of California does not really recognize so I have to go through Probate. That has been a challenge but I am working through it without a lawyer. Dealing with the court, tons of paperwork, realtors and siblings has I believe strengthened me. There have been days I have wanted to quit and let someone else deal with this. Then I remember my father choose me to take care of his Estate so I push forward. At the end of 2018 I finally got one piece of property sold. On to the next one. Probate is I think actually moving along faster than I expected. Most people tell me it take a year to two years. I started in August and I am at the point to ask the judge for final distribution. I had the loss of a sweet Nephew to suicide that no one expected. I also had the loss of a very dear friend. She battled cancer for 7 years and it took her life. My dad's brother passed away one year and eleven days after my father. There was so much loss this past year my heart cannot take anymore.We also decided to have our kitchen cabinets refinished, and that turned into a disaster. The painter did such a poor job that my cabinets looked like a cat scratched the front. Since I would not accept the quality of work the contractor left the job. The owner called and wanted to make things right. We gave him a chance but the guy painted everything outside and the doors are covered in dust that then got covered with paint. What a ugly mess. I have hired someone else that is making new doors and drawers. Hope to have them installed next week. Started this back in August. It was supposed to be a three week job and it is now January.
The blessings for 2018 were restored relationships. This just fills my heart to the brim with love and is what I needed to counter all the loss in my life. My eldest son whom walked away from the family a few years ago, has come back into our lives and it has been joyous. My second son and his wife have reunited and remarried and are so happy together. To see my son's broken heart healed and to see the two of them together gives hope that broken relationships can be mended. With the passing of my dad's brother this year I reconnected with cousins I had not seen for about 40 years. We spent time together and it was so comfortable. We shared so many memories of our childhood together and photos. Living all the way across the states from each other we just never visited.
I am looking forward this year to finishing up the Probate work and taking more time to do something creative. I realized I need to refuel my inner self with doing something I enjoy. For the past few years I have challenged myself to complete something during the year. One of my best was going back to school and learning how to use Adobe Illustrator, In-Design and Photoshop. That has proven to be a great investment to myself. I can create so much more than I used to and it has expanded my job skills.
This year I want it to be about relationships. I lost so much last year that this year I want to spend more time with friends and family and nurture those relationships more than I have before. I also want to get back to doing something creative and sharing it with others.
My first project for 2019 was making these bowl cozies. With Winter upon us I have been eating more out of a bowl and they can get hot. So I decided a bowl cozie was a necessity.
I found some patterns and tutorials online. Check these out if you want to make some yourself.
Diane Knott - Craftsy
Craft Warehouse
Happy Hour Stitches
Sew4Home
There are also You-Tube videos you can search for if you need more help.
Happy New Year, Blessing to you all!
Diane
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