Looking back.

It's the last day of the year.

You know what that means?

The annual year-in-review is here!

Every single post from 2015 has been carefully listed right for your viewing pleasure.

A perfect way to "catch-up" and for newbies to see what I was up to this year.

Let's go!

January:

(1-5-15) Tagging cats!
(1-10-15) Married Engagement.
(1-17-15) Shake-up at the university.
(1-22-15) Six!
(1-24-15) Mr. Gordon.

February:

(2-3-15) Shared Journal--the beginning.
(2-4-15) Wordless Wednesday - This week's blizzard!
(2-7-15) "Justin's heart" (Shared Journal - Page 6)
(2-14-15) Vacuuming on Valentine's Day.
(2-28-15) Love is out there.

March:

(3-22-15) Two becomes three...again.

April:

(4-19-15) Update!
(4-30-15) Surprise!!

May:

(5-3-15) Without me there.
(5-10-15) Mom.
(5-17-15) Dancing at the grocery store!
(5-24-15) Buying flowers for work.

June:

(6-6-15) Wearing Jesus.
(6-28-15) Yellow Quarter!

July:

(7-12-15) Getting it all out.
(7-19-15) The games men play.
(7-25-15) Something nice.

August:

(8-12-15) Changing the trajectory of my life.
(8-16-15) That yellow chair.
(8-24-15) Blue Dime!
(8-29-15) August 29th...

September:

(9-7-15) Someplace of my own.
(9-20-15) Four years already.
(9-21-15) Feather heart!

October:

(10-5-15) One month down!
(10-12-15) One man's trash...
(10-19-15) Flower wreath!

November:

(11-5-15) "Blood Butterflies" - W.I.P. Step 3 - Completion!
(11-10-15) Both sides now.
(11-18-15) For my place.
(11-26-15) In my bed.

December:

(12-14-15) The day after.
(12-24-15) Kiss the moonlight.
(12-28-15) Orange Quarter!
(12-31-15) Looking back.

The big things that stood out for me this year were landing my second part-time university job, which in turn afforded me to rent my first-ever apartment.

I hope 2016 will bring as significant changes…for the better.

Happy New Year, everyone!!

Thank YOU for joining me on this journey.

Orange Quarter!

Another one!

While doing the deposit at the crafts store, I came across yet another painted quarter. This time a deep pumpkin orange.

You'll recall I found a yellow quarter and then a blue dime afterwards.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. It is a crafts store after all, so that's bound to attract artsy/crafty customers...who obviously have a thing for decorating money.

What color will I find next? Time will tell!

Kiss the moonlight.

The moon locked eyes with mine. Its light called to me the way lovers do. The blackness of the water glittered like a jewel.

How gorgeous.

After running errands this evening, I walked over to the lakefront to escape the commotion of the city (now that I live across the street from the lake).

The (almost) full moon hovered over the water...

These pictures do NOT do it justice!

In my entire neighborhood, I was the only there.

It reminds me that people's priorities are skewed. How sad that no one else cared about something so beautiful.

It also reminded me I had no one to share it with.

As the waves hit the shore in silky laps, I knew I could slip into the water and let the current take me under and no one would know. There's something so lovely about that.

I stayed there a good forty minutes but when the oncoming clouds devoured the moon, I headed back to my apartment.

Even though the moment was tinged with sadness, the beauty of the scene surpassed it. I thanked God as I left for I was truly blessed to kiss the moonlight.

The day after.

I called out his name this morning. There was no reply.

He flew back home last night and my apartment feels terribly empty.

Over three years in the making, it finally culminated into something tangible--something amazing--last week.

I miss him already. A lot.

But better to have had a taste of what could be than nothing at all. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

There must be a way to make it work (there must!) but neither of us knows how just yet. I do fear it may all dissolve into the ether but we'll see what happens.

In the meantime, I hope he remains in my life, and me in his heart.