Thursday, December 24, 2009

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!

19 comments:

  1. A great list Kathy! I hope you're having a wonderful time with your sister! Merry Christmas!

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  2. Hi Sandra, thanks so much. I love my list too. :) I had to work today, but I'm heading out to the airport in a couple of hours. I'm really looking forward to spending time with my sis and her family. Now if only I can win the "big" jackpot at the same time. . . but then I'd have to gamble to do that. :)

    I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas too! Take care.

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  3. Now that's clever ;) I like your list also. Sounds like you had a great year. Mele Kalikimaka! Merry Christmas! Good luck with that jackpot.

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  4. Hi Kathy, Merry Christmas! Hope you're having a wonderful holiday with your sister in Vegas.

    Excellent take on the "twelve" theme; I like Footsteps in the Sand and your photo is perfect for it. Enjoyed reading your look back on the past year too. Can't believe it's almost a new year and a new decade. Best wishes for all kinds of happiness to you in 2010!

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  5. Love the footprints photo. That was great that you gave a 12 month "look-back" of 2009! How appropriate!

    I hope you have a great holiday with family! And win the jackpot, if you did gamble. :)

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  6. Lovely post and great look back at this year. Have a great weekend and Happy New Year.

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  7. It was a 'full' year for you Kathy! Lucky you. I hope that 2010 brings happiness, health, and of course, lots of travel!

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  8. Nice one for this week's theme. :) Happy holidays!


    Mariposa's PhotoHunt

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  9. Kathy,

    What a lovely post.

    I hope your Christmas was great and your New Year too.

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  10. Nice post,Kathy, and so appropriate for the time of the year. I love your photos, and I am going to have to show them to Bill later so he can drool over the gorgeous setting of this golf course.
    I hope you had a great Christmas with your sister and happy new year.

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  11. Hi Everyone, thank you so much for your comments and Holiday wishes!

    Girasoli, thanks so much .I'm glad you liked my theme choice and my list for 2009! Time sure goes by fast and sometimes when I look back I am amazed and am so grateful that I made it through yet another year and that I had fun too! :)

    Leslie, thanks so much for your Holiday wishes. I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy, Safe and Healthy New Year!

    Annie, thanks so much for your Holidays wishes. I had such a great time spending time with my sister and her family and friends. In total there were 17 in our group. And guess what we even went bowling and played bingo together. Unfortunately, I didn't win bowling this time though :) but I did better my score to 98! I'm glad you liked my take on the theme. That's cool that you love that Footsteps poem too. It is one of my favorites. Wow, you are so right, another decade! I am so ready for 2010! Not that there was anything wrong with 2009, I just love seeing what new experiences and adventures I can get myself in to. :) I hope you are enjoying your Holiday time off so far. I bet Christmas was so much fun, spending it with your wonderful nephews. I want to also wish you the best and lots of hapiness in 2010!

    Eden, thanks so much for your comments. I'm so glad you liked my phto and 12 month look back. I try to live my life looking forward with no regrets most of the time but at the end of each year I enjoy looking and being appreciative for all the wonderful experiences that I had and for all the wonderful people in my life in the past year. Makes me realize what is of utmost importance.

    Marta, thanks so much for your comments. As I mentioned to Eden, it's always humbling back and remember and to know what is important. And it makes me more excited to looking forward to the future and what 2010 will bring.

    Jerry, thanks so much for your comments. It's really amazing to me how fast a year can fly by. It always makes me appreciate life and living every day to the fullest so much more. I hope 2010 brings you happiness, health and lots of travel too!

    Mariposa, thanks so much for your comments and for liking my theme. Wishing you the best of Holidays too!

    Nancy, thank you so much for your comments. I'm glad that you enjoyed my post. I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year too!

    Candi, thanks so much for your comments. That's so funny that you are going to show Bill the Traigh golf course photos. It really was a gorgeous golf course. It was 9 holes and the views from high up on that hill must be spectacular. It overlooks the beach with views to the nearby islands and my photos don't do it justice, it is soooo green! Hopefully that'll make him drool even more. He, he... I hope you had a wonderful Holidays in Houston and are enjoying your holidays so far. I had a very wonderful time with my sister and her family in Vegas. Happy New Year to you too!

    Thanks again everyone! Well, I didn't hit the big "jackpot" in Vegas, but it was so much fun and I had such a great time spending Christmas with my sister and her family and friends.

    Wishing all of you the best of Holidays and a very Happy, Safe and Healthy New Year with lots of travel....

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  12. I love the footprints in the sand theme and the thought behind it. Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season. Happy New everything to you in 2010.

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  13. Hi Barb, thanks so much! I hope that you're enjoying your holidays so far too. I am having a great time. Wishing you and your family a very Happy, Safe and Healthy New Year!

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  14. A little late in posting but hope your holidays were fulfilling with your sister and friends. Happy New Year or as they say in Hawaiian, Hauoli Makahiki Hou! PS: The highland cow always brings a smile:-)m

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  15. Hi M, Hauoli Makahiki Hou to you too! Thanks so much for your Holiday wishes. I had a great time with my sis and family. Lots of laugh, lots of food, lots of stories, some bowling, some bingo, some slots, some shopping and a whole lot of walking....a fantastic non traditional Christmas!=, :) This is funny, but I also smile every time I open up my blog at see my highland cow. It just brings me back to that moment in my trip, standing in the rain and trying to talk this guy into looking my way. Great memories....

    I hope you had a wonderful Holidays with your family and friends and I want to wish all of you a very Happy, Safe and Healthy New Year!

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  16. Kathy, I love reading this post and such beautiful sentiments while looking back on the past year. The photo is just perfect for this time of the year. It inspired me to reflect on the last 12 months and look forward to this brand new year. I hope you had a great time with your sister. Hopefully it was warmer than where we are.

    Happy 2010!

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  17. Hi Maria & a Very Happy New Year to you and your Husband all the way in Paris France. Thanks for liking my photo and post. At the end of each year, I always tend to reflect back and as you do I get so excited about what the future brings.

    I had a wonderful time with my sister and family. We shopped, ate, gambled, and even bowled. But mostly we talked and enjoyed just spending time with each other. I don't get to see her very often so we always have a great time when we do get together and then we look forward to the next time.

    It's been really pretty weather wise here and so I'm pretty sure it is warmer than in Paris. Still, I would love to be where you are right now. :)

    Your photos are so awesome and I enjoyed reading your recent entries and your beautiful photos. This trip was such a fabulous and also quite romantic Christmas present that your husband gave to you. You are very lucky to have such a great husband!

    Hope you enjoyed your first day in 2010! Keep on enjoying yourselves over there in Paris and I am looking forward to reading more of your wonderful experiences.

    Happy New Year and take care!

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  18. Somehow missed this before, but what a wonderful post, Kathy. As always, your way with words lifts my heart. And you are so right, no matter what else is good in our lives, it's the people in it who really make our souls soar!

    I wish you all the very best in 2010...love, laughter, health and happiness :)

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It's me Trekcapri (aka Kathy). Thanks so much for visiting and leaving a comment.