PhotoHunt: Twelve (Happy Holidays Everyone!)

Sometimes you have to look back to know where you came from, where you are going and to appreciate what you have . . .

I took this photo on a quiet beach in Scotland near a very small town called Arisaig. Surprisingly, there were twelve footprints in this photo and I didn't even have to crop it. He he!

I enjoyed a nice walk along the shores overlooking the islands of Eigg and Rum. Across from the beach, the beautiful Traigh golf course ...

I was the only one on that beach and although it was very nice, I remember it felt a little strange being there by myself. But then there were these three buddies golfing nearby and every now and then they'd yell out to get my attention. Here's a nice photo of one of them.

At one point during my walk, I turned back and saw my footsteps and it reminded me so much of that poem "Footsteps in the Sand" by Mary Stevenson.

I chose my footsteps in the sand photo for this last PhotoHunt theme of the year, because I thought it was so appropriate.

As 2009 draws to an end, I look back at the past twelve months that flew by. And I think about the many wonderful things to remember like my awesome trip to beautiful Scotland just this past November . . . spending the holidays with my sister . . . and although it's been a long time coming . . . .how about the exciting change that came in January with the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. That was awesome! . . . with the encouragements of my blogging friends, I joined this cool cooking group on Slow Talk and learned how to improve my cooking (so Slow Talk not only improved the way I travel, thanks to my fellow Slow Travelers I am now a better cook) . . . there was also our B2V race with crazy moments like getting stuck in soft gravel at 2:30 am in the morning. While in Vegas before the race, I remember placing a bet on the North Carolina Tar Heels basketball game. They unfortunately lost that night, but in the end Annie's Tar Heels became 2009's National Champions . . . I was also lucky to participate in a couple of annual projects again this year that is always rewarding to me . . . and then last week I won at bowling with a score of 88 . . . Twelve months of memorable moments that made me smile and laugh and even cry.

But as always, what I think about and value most of all is how fortunate I am to have such wonderful people in my life. I realize that no matter where I am or what I'm doing, I always have the support of my sister and her family, my good friends and my co-workers, I have the values and opportunities that my parents gave and instilled in me, I have my beliefs and I have the knowledge, inspiration and encouragements from my wonderful blogging friends . . . . I am so thankful.

I want to wish everyone a very wonderful Holidays and a Happy, Safe and Healthy New Year!