The last hurrah of 2008...

Over the last couple of days in between designing and planning for the business, I took some time to think about the past year, look through blogged photos, remember where I've been and where I'm headed. It's been one crazy year. While I won't deny that I emit enough crazy on my own, this crazy was pretty darn good.

I can't begin to explain or list all that I've learned this year. The lessons will come in some future, unexplained, or "what the..." moments when I need them most. As in 2007, my word of the year (balance) was always in the back of my mind and actions, even if I didn't master it ONE BIT. That's what counts, right? I think I learned that balance is an illusive little bugger that everyone strives for, yet it can never exist. I'm currently thinking about my word for 2009 - something to strive for that CAN exist. I don't do resolutions, just one word. Are you picking one?

As for our Christmas, I'll be honest and say it was probably the most stressful ever. Our family plans were changed at the last minute, there's always some kind of issue getting people in my family together, and I had the big biz plans weighing on my shoulders. Hello drama. But the family time was good after it was worked out, and we received some great things. We even got to have family over to our house and have a dinner. It's times like those you realize what you didn't register for when you got married. Hopefully we gave some great things - couldn't go wrong with homemade bread & butter pickles for the majority of our gift giving.

Dan was the master wrapper, yo.




I do have to give props to a couple of Dan's gifts, because he is most awesome. Once he had my first gift in hand he wanted to give it to me, so we exchanged on the 23rd. Who am I to refuse an early gift? Right now it's in a temporary frame, but I opened the wrapping to find a limited edition print of Kal's birch trees painting. LOVE the trees and the colors. LOVE Kal, she just rocks.


This next gift was a biz gift, but it arrived on Christmas Eve so I got to open it. I had originally asked for a couple fan guides so I could match up Rye Designs' colors, but Dan's gift motto for me must be "go big or GO FLIPPIN' BIGGER." With all the stress I had last week, I opened all of this Pantone color-matching goodness and just started to cry. I told him to return it all and just get a couple of fan guides. It was all too much and I couldn't accept it.

I gave it some time, though, and totally changed my mind. I couldn't be more excited about this now, especially since I've already used it to tweak our logo to a standard. Now, the biggest tear-jerker of all is that Dan bought this big set for ME because he believes in my designing and my skills-to-pay-the-bills. He totally believes in my dream, and our dream. He has confidence in me when I have none. HE is all too much. It was a very Merry Christmas. It's going to be a very great 2009.

And let's not lie, Dan is a paper and office supply junkie, so this set is like a big playground for him.




Here's to a dreamy and joyful 2009. I'll be back soon with the latest updates and plans for the biz. In the meantime, enjoy a fresh start with the new year and go check out the Facebook page for Rye Designs - here.