I want to wish all of you a very happy New Year. I love the support you have showed me, my family and the blog in the year just gone and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. I hope 2016 will bring you lots of love and laughter.

With the arrival of Caspian in February, the past year has without a doubt been the best of my life. We have grown as a family and every day I feel stronger, happier and more focused. 2016 looks to be a busy one with travels planned and many exciting developments on the work front, too.

I came across this beautiful poem recently and I found it quite fitting – for my first year as a mum, for myself developing as a human being and for relationships in general. May we all continue to learn. But also be open to others, look for the best in our fellow man and help where we can.

Comes the Dawn

After a while you learn the subtle difference

Between holding a hand and chaining a soul.

And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning

And company doesn’t mean security.

And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts

And presents aren’t promises.

And you begin to accept your defeats

With your head up and your eyes ahead

With the grace of a woman or man

Not with the grief of a child.

And you learn to build your roads on today

Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans

And futures have a way of falling down mid-flight.

And after awhile you learn

That even sunshine burns if you ask too much.

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul

Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn

That you really can endure

That you really are strong

And you really do have worth.

And you learn…

And you learn…

With every failure

You learn.

– Kara Di Giovanna