2011

Another year, this one was pretty good. It started in the heart of the Yucatan state, we were just about half way through our great family escapade. I had pulled the plug on stress and worries and was happy with a much simpler life style. Happy that my children were enjoying it too, and very proud of Tim for stepping outside of his comfort zone for three months. In retrospect, it was fantastic for all of us to immerse into simplicity and I think that we came back home with a fresh new perspective.

2012 is very promising, the boys are growing beautifully and family life is good - home sweet home. Business is also pretty good and I realise that I can provide sufficient income for our family. Tim can generate a fair income too but he always has to make a big special effort to make it happen... so it happens in phases and it's far for consistent, and it's not likely to happen if I don't let him know that he must focus his energy on it for awhile. He's an artist, and work is not always tied to income. I find this part of our life difficult. At this point in my life, I would like to just pay off the house and invest in a bunch of much needed upgrades and fixes - partly for comfort, but mostly for decent upkeep of our house. I can not do it alone and sometimes it feels like I'm on a treadmill... only managing to keep up a good pace but staying in the same spot. If I think about it too much, I get very frustrated and bitter... so I focus on the positive aspects. We have a good roof over our heads, food on the table, we're healthy, we have enough money to keep the boys in hockey and baseball, and for some entertainment. We're doing pretty good overall.

For these reasons I'm having a hard time with my upcoming Mexico vacation... flipping back and forth between remorses of selfishness and satisfaction of rewarding myself for providing for my family. It started as a plan for a low cost business trip, and it has turned into a much bigger expense. I have no choice but to go with the flow at this point, make the best of it, and make sure that I still follow my business agenda while in Merida. Life is a balancing act of holding on and letting go, it requires an open mind and willingness to adapt. I have done it many times before, so I should be able to find peace with my decisions.

It's the Holiday season again, time for fun gatherings with family and friends. I'm making candied nuts, pepita brittle and nuts and bolts this year instead of cookies. All packaged in pretty tins, perfect for parties. I will share my best finds on that front very soon - Stay tuned for recipes!