All The Time There Is
“Ma sighed gently and said, “A whole year gone, Charles.” But Pa answered, cheerfully: “What’s a year amount to? We have all the time there is.” ― Laura Ingalls Wilder
This is one of my favourite posts to put together each year, when the where-have-we-been-where-are-we-going feelings are strong. The wrapping up of a year, the potential of a new one, the change from where we were twelve months ago to where we are now, what we’ve learned, how we’ve grown, all the things that have happened we should give thanks for. It’s a good activity to do. I highly recommend it.
I remember sitting down with Nicole Cody, our fortune teller, this time last year and while she told me many great things, the one that stuck was this: Rachel, you need to stop &#@*ing around. The world is ready for what you have to offer.
And so, more than anything, 2015 became the year I took a chance on photography, saw worth in what I did, and used it not only to provide emotionally for myself but also to provide financially for my family.
And gosh, I’ve loved it.
It was the year Billy needed me less, finally settled into a sleeping pattern I could cope with, and life adjusted from riding the waves of young babyhood to getting pieces of myself back — time and space to grow more things than my children; my passions, my working life, and my social life finally getting a looking into. And I can honestly say, with every passing year, this time, right now, at the wrapping up of a year, well, it just keeps getting better from the last. And I’m so aware that this is a privilege denied to many.
Some favourite memories.
January:
Our post-Christmas holiday to northern NSW with Joel’s parents.
Ella started ballet which very quickly became my newest happy place.
February:
We celebrated our boy’s first birthday, a big milestone in a parent’s life.
And three weeks later, we celebrated our girl’s third birthday with a rainbow pool party.
March:
The month Joel and I got married.
And the month Ella moved to her big girl bed.
April:
Ella and Billy’s cousin Ollie was born. All the swoony feelings.
I turned 31.
I love the look on my girl’s face as she’s looking at me in the next photo.
And April was that happy month we celebrated Easter and egg dying and the Easter bunny visiting and our local Easter fair.
May:
The season shifting to autumn and jumpers and cozy-ing up.
And the month my dear friend Caitlin from New Zealand stayed with us.
June:
Ella had her first haircut which was a HUGE deal for me.
And we basked in cold winter vibes, spending a lot of time in, watching movies, baking and being together.
July:
Strawberry picking season.
August:
We go crazy for the Ekka.
September:
Celebrating Father’s Day.
Welcoming Spring.
And taking a little trip to Springbrook, staying in a quaint little cabin in the rainforest.
October:
Billy had his first haircut.
And we went crazy for all things pumpkins.
Including our annual pumpkin carving party.
And trick-or-treating with friends.
November:
Ella’s end-of-year ballet concert forever burned to my memory.
And the month we went away to Stanthorpe with my family for my brother’s birthday.
December:
Oh December. A month full of our favourite Christmassy family traditions.
My most favourite thing though, in all of the year?
Watching the relationship between my two children unfold.
I will never have the words to describe how it feels to have given them each other.
What’s a year amount to? We have all the time there is.
Fill it right up. Fill it full.
The Red Tent 
One Response to “All The Time There Is”
My goodness you pack a lot into one year! What a lovely way to look back at the extra fabulous year you guys have had. Here’s to farewelling 2015, and looking ahead to an exciting 2016! Enjoy every minute of India xx