So this is the New Year. And what have I done?

I’m not sure about you but 2010 has just flown by. It feels as though it was just yesterday that I was at my friends party, although she celebrated her birthday in April. Or just yesterday I was shopping for flip flops but in reality, I just bought a pair of winter boots. 

At first thought, ‘fun’ would not be the first word I use to describe 2010. But if I look a little deeper, this was probably one of my most eventful years. Although one of my busiest, in between all the books and work, there were some amazing moments!

I absolutely hate even numbers. It was 2002 that I lost my Father. 2006 that I lost my mother, 2008 that I lost my mother-in-law and this year I lost my aunt. I am not sure what stoked the motivation to set my expectations so high for 2010 but I did. I remember New Year’s eve last year, talking with a friend about our resolutions. The goals we set for ourselves and what we hope to accomplish in 2010. I had three:

·      To become a Certified Holistic Nutritionist

·      To buy property

·      To grow more spiritually

I accomplished all three of my resolutions, although spiritually I still have much more growing to do. Along with accomplishing these resolutions, I got engaged to the love of my life, graduated with first class honors and as class valedictorian, found a steady, well paying job that I like, found an irregular, not-so-well paying job that I love, competed in my first duathalon, learned how to blog, bought my first new computer and jumped out of a plane for my first time!

The purpose of this blog is not to brag. Actually, before reflecting on my year, I was not so proud of 2010 because all I thought about was how busy and tired I was. I think it is human nature to see the negative before we can see all the positive in our lives. However, when being fair with myself, I realize how much I have to be proud of. This is the purpose of this post. To help you reflect on your year and be proud of all you accomplished.

Although some huge events occurred for me this year, I must not forget about some of those less eventful but very significant moments as well. Like the healing I have done and some of the fears I was finally willing to let go. Or the friendships I have helped create, or the existing ones I helped to make better.  Being able to believe in myself that I am most proud of. If it wasn’t for that, I would have never achieved anything this year. 

So as you reflect on 2010, try not to focus on the bad times, or what you were not able to accomplish. Think of all those beautiful moments and take time to recognize how important they were. Think of how much you have grown and how you made at least one person’s life better this year. Steve proposing, although was a moment I will cherish forever, was not my highlight of 2010.  My highlight was the moment I let go of my fears of commitment and put trust and faith in Steve’s love for me and mine for him. If I was not able to do that, Steve probably would have never proposed to me on that magical night. And jumping out of a plane, well that was just meant to signify my emotional leap!

Kristy: My Lifetime (minus 7 years) Love

Today my very good friend of 25 years is celebrating her birthday (actually it was November 27, but I have been so busy I am only posting this now;). I thought what better way to tell her how much she means to mean than by a ‘My Love’ dedication in my blog.

Kristy & I met in grade 2. I had already had my circle of friends and she was the new girl that we were reluctant to let in to our tight knit group. However, once she was in – she was in for good.

Kristy was very different from all the other girls I knew. She moved to my small town of Deux-Montagnes from Montreal – the big city. I never knew anyone my age that lived in the city. She also was the first person I met who’s parents were divorced. Her family dynamic was completely different from anything I had known. Her single mom worked hard to raise her as best she could with the unconditional love and support from her great-grandparents, who she also lived with. Her father was nowhere to be found and she hardly even knew him. He abandoned her and her mom the day Kristy was born. It is amazing how even then – a few hours old, moments such as these can dictate the person you will become. For Kristy was born independent .

It wasn’t long before her family, as unordinary as I thought they were at first, adopted me as one of their own, as my family did for Kristy. It was years before I learned the names of her grandparents as to me they were always Oma & Opa. And because Kristy’s mother had her at young age, she dressed and acted a lot different from our mom’s and we all thought she was so cool.  As different as her family dynamic was from mine, one thing remained the same: we were both well loved.

We traveled much of our young lives walking side by side. It was with Kristy that I experienced my first kiss, my first drink, my first love and my first heartache. Together, we went on our first real adventure back-packing through Europe.

Our bond grew tighter as life got more complicated. When my parents divorced, it was Kristy who brought me hope. Hope that a family can still give love, even though it has been shattered.

Kristy never complained about her situation.  Instead of feeling sorry for herself for not having a father in her life, she felt blessed for having a wonderful great-grandfather. A great-grandfather that raised her like the daughter he never had. She also felt blessed to not only have a great relationship with her mother, but have an amazing relationship with her great-grandmother as well.

Six years ago, Kristy became a mother herself. From that day forward, everyday has been devoted to her two boys, Corey & Kayden. They are her world as she is theirs. She realizes today, that she may not have had much growing up as a child but she did have much more than many. She had love. As Kristy works hard everyday to provide for her children, she knows aside from the toys and cool clothes, that the boys will forever have her unconditional love.

Recently, Kristy was betrayed by a man she deeply loved forcing her to relive an experience much too familiar. Kristy suddenly found herself thrown into single parenthood with no one to rely on but herself. Her days begin at the crack of dawn and don’t stop until she sits down for dinner at 9 o’clock at night. Her evenings are spent running from daycares, making dinner’s, lunches, doing homework, drawing baths and reading bedtime stories. Time for herself has become non-existent as she struggles being a full time working-woman and full time mom. After all of this, not once have I heard her complain about her life.

Kristy is a remarkable woman that amazes me everyday. I am amazed at the energy she finds, deep within herself. I am amazed at the love she gives. After all the betrayal and hurt, she still has unlimited love to give to her family, her friends and especially her children. And I am amazed at her strength. It takes a lot for someone to get up every morning already exhausted, knowing that it will be another struggle to fit all you have to do in the few hours the day provides. But she does it. Kristy gets up every morning, throwing herself into the rat race. Not for herself; but for the two beautiful boys sleeping in the next room.

As for me, I am blessed to call this amazing woman & role model, my lifetime friend.

Cabbage Rolls

I love rolling my food!! What ever I can stuff and roll, I know I'll love before I even try it. Lucky for you, these cabbage rolls have been tested and tried many of times and never fail to be absolutely delicious!!

Not only are cabbage rolls fun to make & eat, but they are super nutritious too. Many people don't see cabbage as highly nutritious but this hardy vegetable is full of vitamins A,B & C and is known to have anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. There are even studies showing how cabbage can help prevent cancer.

Cabbage Rolls

6 whole cabbage leaves

1 medium onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tbsp olive oil

½ cup brown rice

½ cup green or red lentils

2 ½ cups water

1 tbsp fresh parsley, minced

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp curry powder

Pepper to taste

Organic tomato sauce of choice

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees

2. Rinse rice and lentils and cook in water.

3. Carefully remove 6 whole leaves from cabbage (this is the hardest part! Take your time & try not to rip leaves.

4. Wash and cut out stems of cabbage leaves

5. Steam leaves in water until soft but not mushy. Set aside.

6. In skillet, sauté onion and garlic in oil.

7. Add rice/lentil mixture to onion in skillet. Add oregano, curry and 2 tbsp tomato sauce, pepper and parsley. Mix well.

8. Place mixture in cabbage leaves and roll.

9. Place in baking dish. Pour tomato sauce over and bake for 30 minutes.