The Absent blogger

A few months too late but felt I should do a catch-up post.  Lots of changes and things going on in the past several months; some good, some bad and others very exciting.  The most devastating was my mom's stage 4 cancer diagnosis in August.  While not much hope was originally felt, she has had a really good response to treatment.  After 6 killer chemo doses, she is on the verge on stepping down to a less aggressive treatment.  We had a mega scare with her in December but she is slowly bouncing back.  The love and support has been felt.

I really delved into self-employment which has many ups and downs.  It's been great having more mommy time and exhausting at the same time.  I've had to give up the luxury of having weekly breaks from my mom but it's taught me a lot about mothering from both the view of the child and the mother.

Onto happier news, MP (man person) and I are getting married in 3 weeks.  What was originally planned to be a romantic elopement of sorts is now a full-on wedding for 100 in a historical mansion here in NY.  It's hard to believe at 40 I will be a first time bride but I couldn't be happier.  It's both the end and the beginning of different journeys for us all.  The actual wedding planning began as a way of celebrating with our parents; 3 of whom have been ill this year; the latter being MP's parents.  All we can hope for is improved health for all of them.

Shortly after the wedding, we will be leaving NY.  This decision far exceeds any fears of marriage.  I'm leaving the only "home" I've ever known, my village and my friends who are some of the most amazing people in the world.  So in the midst of tulle and bows, petals and candles we are planting our roots in Florida where we are building our dream house.

Somehow along the way, blogging just got lost in the shuffle but what's a post without some photos.  The following were taken by Sarah Cornish from My 4 Hens Photography for our first family shoot in November.