Reverb day 6 - What did you learn?

Compare the “you” from the beginning of 2012 to the “you” that you are now. What new skills or talents have you learned or discovered this year?

I love this question! I've written about a lot of these things lately (Letting Go, Being Like Me, How will you celebrate you?), but I guess I can touch on them now too.

2012 has been a year of growth for me. I feel that I have learnt a lot; about myself, about life, about my children, about happiness, and about how Heavenly Father is aware of and cares for me.

At the beginning of the year my hubby and I had a tiny baby and an almost-2 year old... I was a full time mum with no study commitments, and Jonathan had just finished his diploma which meant he was home a lot while looking for a job. - And that has ALL changed. *jaw drops as, in writing this, I realise more has changes than I realised*

At the beginning of the year, I didn't feel confident that I could do what I was doing - taking care of two kids, WITH the help of my husband and WITHOUT chucking study in the mix...

And then...

• When the school year started I took up one subject to go toward my SACE, wondered time and again whether I was crazy for deciding to do it, but kept at it anyway.
• Jonathan found work, which although I knew was necessary and a blessing, also left me wondering how I could possibly do everything I was doing WITH his help, without it. Which in some crazy way I did. I should note that I certainly still had his help, it just meant he couldn't be there in tricky moments when both girls were demanding things like he had been to that point.
• There were also a lot of appointments related to Natalie's speech and her eyes, and Hayley's physio stuff.
• Somewhere along the line (maybe around July, but I can't remember exactly) I started up piano lessons again and sat an exam in October.
• And somehow - in some miraculous way - I actually feel less anxious and much more relaxed in life right now that I did when the year started.

And here I was wondering how I spent all my time this year. :P  Well it wasn't easy... but that wouldn't be any fun, would it? :-)

Has that really all happened just this year?

There are a lot of people I couldn't have done this all without, and to them I will always be grateful. I hope you know who you are.

I'm grateful to know that I've grown.

I wonder if the fact that I am feeling more competent and confident than at the start of the year means that something else is heading my way to offer a new challenge?