Reflections

It’s hard to believe that 2024 is coming to an end, and what a year it has been!

If there is a word I could choose to sum up this year, it would be this - growth. Sounds cliche, but it accurately reflects the year for me with not just my art, but personally too.

In January, I launched my website after months of getting it just right. I also started a new job that taught me to love engineering again. For those in my inner circle, you know how much of a big deal that was. I was privileged to donate three paintings to local DU chapters (and will get to do so again this year!). I learned to be content in some areas of my life that I had struggled with in the past. And I survived watching a slow water line leak destroy my newly renovated house, only to move back in with my parents for 8 weeks while I navigated the reconstruction process. Let me just say that Farm Bureau is the best, and my parents are saints for allowing Rosie and I to live with them again with my stuff everywhere…and I mean everywhere since I had to fully move out.

2024 ended with the absolute best weekend at Harkers Island. It was good to see old friends, meet some new people, and sell some of my pieces. That weekend is a constant reminder that the work all year is worth it. I love getting to share my gift with people and for them to connect to my work. And to cap it all off, I got to move back in the house the weekend before Christmas.

Thank you for being along for this ride. For the likes on Facebook and Instagram. For the newsletter sign-ups. For the purchase of a piece. It gives me the confidence to keep sharing a side of me I never really thought I would. It gives me the excitement to keep creating and to push myself to become better with each piece.

I am thankful for the Lord’s faithfulness in the ups and downs of the year. He reminded me that growth is different for everyone. For some it’s slow and for others it’s fast. It’s a reminder that this year was a chapter out of His plan…NOT mine. And for that, I am thankful.