anywho, on to the matter at hand... here are the moments, events and experiences that stick out to me as my biggest and best of 2018 (in no particular order).
1.). Big Sur or Bust
this fall my sister heather came to visit and hold a cabi show, as she does twice a year. it also happened to be the year she was to turn the big ut-oh! every time she comes we rock out some kind of adventure- they are filled with life lessons, imperfection, giggles, funny phrases and memories to last a life-time. every time we start to plan the adventure (usually the night before we intend to go, h says, "let's go to big sur!" her enthusiasm is great, her desire to explore the coast profound... but also, not possible as big sur isn't exactly a day trip from p-town. the girls and i, knowing that h has been longing to visit big sur, decided to treat auntie heather to a big sur exploration to celebrate her milestone birthday. big sur did not disappoint.
hbd, sister of mine. love you to pieces. love how you invest in your nieces. love your heart for the big guy. love you love for the in-n-out fry.
2.). Date nights with my number one
marriage is hard. don't let anyone tell you differently. it is work and compromise and confusion and yielding. and in spite of all the hard, it is also beautiful and rewarding and life-giving and fulfilling. so many highs. so many lows.
one of the things that i think the buse and i do well is date night. we fight hard for time to connect and be couple outside of our girls. sometimes we go on dates alone and other times it is with friends. each option has its place and value in our lives. it is the thing that binds and reminds us of why this is all worth it. at the end of the day, we actually like each other and enjoy spending time in one another's company. this year was no different.
3.). Amador and a girl who is rocking out freshman year
my eldest girl has been a challenge for me- not because she is hard, but because she is my first. i give her my all, hold my breath, say some prayers and wait. she usually rises to the occasion. everything before high school has felt like a fair place to fall on our faces. we haven't, but i had some anxiety over high school. "we've" got to nail this but the fact of the matter is it is all her. i am a witness in this story and not a player. the win or the loss is all on her- i can coach, encourage, pray, support, assist... but really we have crossed over into the land where she holds the keys.
and she is killing it. i love her people. i love her enthusiasm. i have mad love for her decision making skills. i super appreciate her passion for excellence without demanding perfection (there is a line and sometimes it is hard to see- it is human specific and she knows where her excellence lies). i could do less of the sass and teenager angst. i have mad respect for her independence and drive.
currently, she is rocking the freshman scene at her local high school and this momma could not feel more proud.
4.). A long weekend with my momma
this summer i had the opportunity to go "special" my momma for a long weekend. we did it all. we lunched and dinnered, volta'd and nyc'd. we gardened and we cooked bulgarian dishes. we did what makes her happy. and i was along for the ride. my task and mental mojo was to love with abandon. if you know my momma, you know that this can be a challenge. she is particular. she can be demanding. gentle isn't her strong suit. strength has been her middle name. her life has been hard from beginning until end. my goal was to make her laugh, smile, and get whatever it was that she needed.
it was an amazing time. mission accomplished = happy momma = daughter with full heart.
5.). Joining Darby Group
confession: i have been a reluctant stay-at-home momma. i like working. i like being busy. multi-tasking is my jam. using my brain makes me happy.
staying home with my girls for the last 12 years was the right, best decision, but i always knew that i wouldn't stay home forever. i also always knew that i was done teaching. i ended my career being a part of something so life-changing and life-giving and fulfilling- being a part of a start-up charter school in inner city chicago serving the dearborn housing project, which became a part of my soul. i want that to be my fireworks, the end of my teaching story, the grand finale on a career that started in a privileged private school environment and gradually eased its way into the environment where my soul filled because what i was doing mattered- REALLY MATTERED.
shortly after i left the field, my heart knew what my next gig would be. this girl, perhaps oddly, discovered that home would be my jam. helping people find and create and discover their own version of home became a passion.
a few years ago, i had a random chat with my gal-pal about a development proposal in p-town. at the end of our chat she said, "you should really go into real estate". and i told her of my passion. she encouraged me to launch this new version of me.
the timing was not right. my stint as a stay-at-home momma was still very much a necessity (as the hubs was launching his partnership).
this fall she brought it up again. "you should jump in, tasha."
me: i know. it's just so overwhelming and hard to know where and how to start.
her: "with us. jump in and join us."
and so there you have it. momma has slowly eased back into the work place and launched a new career. it has been gradual and slow and exactly perfect for me. we do leasing, property management, buys, sales, flips and construction project management. i love all of it. no pressure- but it you need help with a real estate need, we've got you.
6.). Anyone for Tennis?
last fall, technically 2017, my favorite shannie asked some gals if anyone wanted to take up tennis.
ME✋
since i was in middle school, i have wanted to take up tennis. for realz. i took lessons with carrie kern in 7th(ish) grade. mr. node was our instructor. we were terrible but we had a blast. and that was the end of that. in high school i used to walk my friend heather's dog (ladybug) while wearing a tennis skirt. we would pretend we had just finished a match. it was a farce.
and so with great joy, 2017-2018 from october through may, shannie and i would meet our instructor ken, and rock out some tennis. shannie is good. i am mediocre. but for the duration of a school year, we learned how to play. i love it. i miss it. i might make time for it again real soon.
7.). Tango
i didn't plan on getting a cat. really, i didn't. but one thing led to another and now we have a cat. i thought she would be an outdoor cat and kill the backyard rodents. but as soon as i met her, i just couldn't, i just wouldn't let her become a street cat. the buser fam is smitten with our (not quite) kitten.
8.). My Peeps
this year has been filled with SO MUCH FUN! i adore the people that i get to do life with. for realz- not a day goes by that i don't feel an abundance of gratitude for those that walk this story with me. from the peeps that i hang with on the daily to those that i have less frequent shenanigans with- each one of you rocks. you know who you are. love. love. mad love. for you.
9.). Mom2Mom
in june, my friend sally, asked me if i was up for joining her in a leadership adventure of the mom's group at our church. funny thing was that i had already felt god speaking this "YES" into my heart and soul. i didn't hesitate and jumped right in. i am so thankful that i did. obedience is always a good thing. and it is typically followed by blessings you didn't know you needed. so thankful for these girls that i get to walk this story out with. and for those attending- i am loving to get to know each and every one of you. heart bursting.
insert drum roll here... my favorite part of 2018...
10.). Quality time with the Fam Bam
my three little people and hubs can make this momma a smidge cray from time to time, but that doesn't change the mad love that i have for them. and let's be honest, i am certain fairly certain that i drive them just as nutty.
they make my heart beat. they give me purpose. they are joy and love and growth and challenges and hope wrapped up in humans. i adore us. we are far (very far) from perfect, but we are family. my family. and this life would not. could not. be the same without them.
we had a lot of fun in 2018.
some family you are born into. some family you choose. i am thankful for all of it.
nothing is promised to us, and so today i will celebrate the year behind me. cheers to 2018. thankful. blessed. wishing you and yours an adventurous fun-filled 2019.
