2011 - A difficult year comes to a close.............

As 2011 comes to a close, I am keenly aware that it has been a difficult year for many people - my family included. Bear with me as I take the time to reflect on our 2011.....

As the temperature goes down to 18 tonight, it is hard to believe it is time to begin thinking about my vegetable garden for the upcoming spring. Last year, I did a great job of pre-planning, getting my seeds ordered and started. The year started with an exceptionally hard (and long) winter - I know, we are wimps in the South..........
 






We were barely beginning to thaw out, and I was so pleased to post these pictures of life emerging from the cold ground in spring:

Shortly after my yard had come into full bloom I had these photos to post:

My heart had just begun to feel the life and renewal that spring offers -to be crushed by the violence of the first tornado to come through Georgia in 2011.









The damage the tornadoes caused to our property is still very evident today. The cleanup is still very much in progress. We are still replacing items lost - and we didn't lose EVERYTHING we own as many people did. 





 

We were blessed that we didn't lose any life. It still hurt though and it was especially disheartening as my soul felt a blow to the tender life that was starting to bloom.





 



I think I have been procrastinating on my first post for 2012, as I have remembered back over 2011 being a really tough year for me and my family. 

I carry on. I am healing. I am growing.






 



To prove it, I will sit down with my seed catalogs and start another year. Again, my heart goes out to all of those who were hit by hard weather last year. I pray that 2012 will be a better year for everyone!