A Look Back

Well, it is New Year’s Eve.  Another year has come and gone.  We’ll welcome 2015 in just a few short hours.

Last year, I recapped the year with moments captured on my Instagram account: https://jackiesmith114.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/how-do-you-measure-a-year-in-the-life/

I thought I’d honor 2014 by doing the exact same thing.

2014 was a big year.

I grew a sunflower garden.

Saw shooting stars.

Enjoyed the rain and even a little bit of snow.

Watched some amazing sunsets.

And went to the movies by myself for the first time.

I said goodbye to my oldest and dearest friend.

And spent time with my Midnight.

I published my second book.

And participated in some amazing book clubs and signings!

I saw my favorite Disney Movie of all time brought to life on stage.

And attended an early screening of The Fault in Our Stars.

I ate the best snow cone I’ve ever had in my life.

And went for a sunrise kayak adventure.

I played with the cutest husky puppy ever.

I discovered the coconut fad.

And I got my first tattoo!

I saw a really cool train.

And learned to mow the lawn.

I visited the church where I was baptized.

And I saw the Mystery Machine!

I had a few laughs in the bookstore.

And found one of my new favorite books of all time.

I visited my old camp, one of my favorite places in the world.

My sister and I met some awesome musicians.

And I met some awesome authors: Kathleen Kent and Anne Rice!

I took a trip back to the Gulf Shores.

And San Francisco!  I was even there for the 6.0 Earthquake. But I slept through it.

I read an awesome book with my Witch’s Familiar.

And explored a haunted antique show.

I also gave a presentation on Ghost Stories at the Colony Public Library.

And discovered my initials on a haunted gravestone.

I was honored to have some incredibly talented film students write and direct Cemetery Tours‘ book trailer! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr7b59l1s4o

And met The Doctor on Halloween!

I exercised my right to vote.

And participated in my first NaNoWriMo.

Even though I didn’t finish within the month, the book that I began will be published on April 21!

I drank hot chocolate by a campfire.

I enjoyed holiday Starbucks.

And celebrated my Scottish heritage.

I also made some amazing discoveries about my heritage thanks to Ancestry.com.

I traveled to Lubbock to see my sister perform in her first professional musical production.

I made some pretty fantastic desserts.

And adopted two adorable Venus Flytraps.

I met a beautiful horse named Licorice.

And enjoyed Double Movie Day with my sister.

I went on the Great Cheese Ball Expedition of 2014.

And ended the year with a stack of brand new books!

2014, you were a good year.  2015, I’m ready for you!  Good things are already in the works!  I can’t wait!

PS If you want to follow me on Instagram, go here: http://instagram.com/jacquelineesmith/

Warning: I post a LOT of pictures. But I do follow back.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

I know I’ve talked about my time spent in Scotland on this blog before.  Lately, however, I’ve been thinking a lot specifically about my time spent on Iona, otherwise known as St. Columba’s Sacred Isle.

Iona is amazing.  Anyone who doesn’t believe that fairy tales exist, clearly has never ventured to the Iona, or any part of Scotland for that matter.  It has the most beautiful white beaches, crystal blue waters, lofty hills, windswept meadows, and the most fantastic celtic crosses, some of which are centuries old.

St. Martin’s Cross

The plaque at the base of St. Martin’s Cross

Sometimes on Iona, chickens just walk down the side of the road.

As magical as Iona is during the day,  it was equally captivating at sunset.

One of my favorite moments on Iona wasn’t spent on the beach or hiking the hills.  It was one evening in the hostel after dinner.  Of all the hostels we stayed at in Scotland, Iona’s was the one that felt the most like home.  That evening, we’d made a home-cooked meal, a luxury we hadn’t been able to enjoy at any of the other hostels.  Don’t get me wrong, their food was fine, but it sort of reminded me of cafeteria food.  On Iona, however, we prepared our own meal and cleaned up afterword.  It was the sort of thing I never enjoy at home, but somehow, in that cozy island setting, it was like a scene straight out of a novel.

After we finished clean-up, a small group of us gathered around in the den.  The den was right next to the dining area.  It had a few bookshelves and a small nook next to a giant window that overlooked the vast fields leading down to the shore.  Jeb, the leader of the group and our youth minister, brought out his guitar and started strumming.  My sister and I each settled down onto one of the couches with the books we’d purchased at the airport (yes, we took our own books, but really, who can resist an airport bookstore?).  She read Matched by Ally Condie.  I’d selected Insatiable by Meg Cabot.

I actually really enjoyed it.  Sadly, the sequel did not end the way I wanted it to.  Oh well.  You can’t win them all.

Jeb played a number of songs that evening, but the only one I remember is “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”  I remember it because every one of us in the room stopped what we were doing to sing along.  It was just one of those magical moments.  No computer.  No television.  Nothing but pure simplicity.  Books, music, comfortable couches, and a sunset over the sea.  I don’t think I’ve ever been more content.