2012 was a good year. In many ways it was a quiet year for us – plodding along, working a bit too much but also using our time to work on the house/property as well as see more of the state and go on some family adventures.

For me personally, I think 2012 was a bit of a milestone. I haven’t been particularly happy about turning 35 and I have been too sensitive to the speed at which my children are growing up. I have cried many times about this: the speed of time and the way I wish I could bottle and preserve the youth of my babies. Having said that, I am delighted that my children are growing the way that they are. They are awesome little people and they make us both so proud.

My nanna died in 2012 at the age of 91 and not a day goes by without me thinking of her. I feel sad that she is gone but I hear her voice in my head, encouraging me not to be sad, but to rejoice that she is in heaven. I can feel her arms around me and I can see her loving eyes look at me and I can feel the way she loves me. I hear her encouraging words and I am grateful that I was so close to this darling person.

I worked too much in 2012 and in some ways I regret it because it meant that I ran myself ragged with the business of being a mother and wife and farmer and gardener and teacher. There was not much time left there for just me. My ‘me’ time is best used either exercising, cooking or crafting and I did not do as much of either of these as I would have liked. However, working opened up new challenges and rewards for me and I taught my first primary class ever, and did a good job of it too. I attained full permanency in the department 18 months earlier than scheduled, for which I am grateful.

Although we did not complete our house in 2012 I am pleased that we came very close, only having paving to do before we can get the official completion badge!

2012 was the year that we had been married for 13 years and I must say that even when he drives me crazy in a bad way, Monte really drives me crazy in the best way most of the time and I have fallen in love with him over and over, just seeing him work so hard for his family and be a great father and a wonderful husband.

2012 was the year that I read the most rubbish I have ever read before. I was bored in the ‘Fifty Shades’ trilogy (of which I only read half). I was curious about the novels but I found that they were lacking depth and many other things.

I have enjoyed writing and blogging so much this year, finding my voice and recording things that are special to me. I love reading back about our adventures. I love the fact that I am recording so much of our lives here. I have thoroughly enjoyed my 365 project. Finding something to smile about each day has had a great impact on my life. It is such a small thing, but to find a photo of something that happened, and write about it at the end of that day has had a great impact on me. I love our Fangorn Farm blog. It’s like a little pet that I have to keep nurturing.

Last year I found my green thumbs again and I enjoyed being in the garden, even to the extent that I will walk about with my hoe for some serious thrusting of weeds in the garden. I have enjoyed growing things more than I thought I would and I delight in flowers more than I realised. They make me so happy, with their perfect petals and sensual scents.

Although I am sad to see the end of 2012 – mostly because my baby boy will be in Grade 1 this year and to me he is still the little kindergarten boy who walked out of class at the end of the day clutching his teddy bear after their teddy bears picnic afternoon – I welcome a new year and its challenges, joys, surprises and adventures.