Welcome 2010!

Happy New Year everyone!! Never have I been happier to put a year behind me then 2009. The loss of my beloved mom was the biggest down point in 2009 and one of the highest was the birth of my first leonberger litter…

I think every year has it’s highs and lows and it’s important to be armed with a positive attitude to handle whatever comes your way. Something that makes having a positive attitude easier for an expat is establishing close relationships with people who become more then just friends, they start to feel like family. Last night we spent the evening with two families who have become like family to us. They welcomed us to Helgøya with open arms and always made us feel like we have been here forever. We have kids around the same age and share a lot of similar interests. Of course all that helps but for me being close to someone means being able to be yourself for good and bad and still feeling loved and appreciated and that is how we feel with these families. The one family are musicians and so the guitar was brought out and everyone was singing….you know you are in the company of close and good friends when you feel you can really sing even though you know you can’t….you just have so much fun!!

The holidays are a wonderful time to embrace the love of family…

But it’s important to remember the love the other times of the year as well….and I think this brother and sister have no problem with that….I just love this photo…so sweet…

At midnight the village and cities surrounding the lake lit up with fireworks and even though I had my tripod with me the pictures were not to the quality I hoped for, but I’ll share a few with you anyways just to get a feel for the evening…

As you may have noticed I’ve changed the header on my blog and the colour….Christmas is over and time to get on with the new year…I’ve left the snow for the moment because we are in the middle of winter and it’s fitting I think…I love how the New Year symbolizes new starts…fresh beginnings…of course I’ve made new year resolutions like every year and the number one resolution is to lose weight, get better health so that I can experience many more New Years together with family and friends. 2010 is going to be an exciting year, starting with hopefully some matings and eventually puppies….Julia will be confirmed in the Norwegian church, my dad will be coming over for a long visit, then he will take Sarah back with him and she will go to school in Texas for a year, we’re hoping to make arrangements so that we can go to USA for Christmas, and I’ll be turning 40 this year…already I can see the year will be filled with many highlights and I’m sure there will be some low points but with a smile and positive thinking I’ll get through anything.

I wish you all the best year possible, the love of family and friends, happiness in your heart, and health in your everyday.

Until next time my friends…