This is Owen. He is my new nephew who was born in December. He's not a a lot of fun, but he is adorable when he curls his little knees into my chest and pouts his little lip. It's like a warm dense loaf of bread that drools. I don't know him well, and we're not on speaking terms. He's a bit of a fuss budget, but he's had a struggle from day 1. There were some complications at birth, but he and his momma are just fine now. He may have some bumps in his development, but I know this family has all the love that can help him face the challenges ahead.

This is Shosha. She was my first foster fail. Shosha was eleven years old when the vet found a large inoperable tumor pressing on her belly. Last month my husband and I had her put to sleep. My entire family was in town for Thanksgiving, and they gathered around us as we laid her in the cold ground just outside Owen's house. She was never a fan of my other cats, and she rarely tolerated foster kittens. She was however very sweet on head scratches and laser pointers. She adored being pet especially when you were trying to write a blog post or watch Netflix in bed. I live in a small apartment, and her absence is still very palpable.

It's tempting to look back into the past year and stack up the wins against the losses. It was exactly one year ago that I took the plunge into an uncertain future of freelance. All I know is that right now, I am a happier Sarah. I'm a less certain Sarah, but one who doesn't have the weight of dread pressing in. I'm grateful to the family, friends, and fans who routed for me. They come to shows. They lend me a car. They think of me when they are hiring musicians for their office holiday party. They post pictures of their cats playing with a penip. You are the best and thank you.

This is James Houlahan and his band.. We have had an annual show at The Burren in Somerville MA going for the past few years, and it's just a wonderful way to close out the holidays and the year. As I head into 2015 I've got hopes and dreams, some things I can control and some things I cannot. I know I need to manage my time better and focus on more creative output. I overwhelm myself with everything I want to do, and then waste time fretting about how to get it done. BUT I take it day by day and count on folks to help me through. I hope your tomorrow is filled with warmth, mindfulness, and much to be thankful for... and next year as well, if you're into that.