And now, a year of gifting bread has come and gone, and I can honestly say I am a different person that I was when I started.  I mean, I am totally still me. I still love bread. I still love people. But life has changed for me this year and changed me.  Some of that is just being a year older, some of that is this project that I started, and of course, some of that is the awful reality of the sudden loss of a loved one, in my case, my dad. So because I love a good list, here is mine for 1 year in, about the project, about me, and about what I am learning.

1. I still love baking bread.  
2. It is deeply satisfying having this project and a world I made.  I think we are all called to be creators as we were made in the likeness of the original Creator.  What our creations look like can be so different, and that is what makes the world a beautiful, interesting, and sometimes a terrifying place.  This is my creation.
3. I think I have gotten better at photography, but it is still not easy for me.  I have yet to do a flat lay photograph (think of looking straight down at everything) that I have really liked.  The composition is the hardest for me in all aspects of photography.
4. I still really love the wrapping of the bread and preparing it for gifting.  It is all anticipation and finishing touches and the best of intentions.
5. Sometimes the who to gift it too is really, really hard.  Sometimes I think, “I know no one anymore! I have no ideas, no one wants bread, no one needs bread, the entire world is gluten free, paleo, keto, or on just on a regular old fashioned diet.”  Then I remember there are close to 8 billion people in this world. I can find more. I may need to widen the circle or come up with crafty new ways to do it. All suggestions are welcome here.
6. Gifting to people I don’t know makes me really, really nervous.  Like crazy nervous. I would love to come up with a way to not creep people out by gifting them bread.  All suggestions are definitely welcome here too.  
7. Sometimes the blog posts write themselves, and sometimes it is like pulling teeth to get words and or thoughts out of me.  I honestly didn’t expect this part to be so challenging because I thought I would be writing more about other people. However, as soon as I started, that felt a little intrusive.  My recipients had never asked to be written about, and most don’t even know that the project exists.  So, with a few rare exceptions, I try to offer a little detail, but not too much description. I am still trying to find that perfect line.
8. My family is not tired of trying new recipes.  At all.
9. The best part is still connecting with people and trying to serve them in some small way.  Sometimes the gifting just zings and it is amazing. I have had quite a few giveaways that have felt so filled with warmth and human connection, that I am walking on air the rest of the day.  Sometimes the giveaways are a bit more rushed and slightly less awe-inspiring, but all feel very much worthwhile.
10. I am not done yet.  I feel like I am on a path and doing what I am supposed to be doing.  But I feel like God has a bigger plan (doesn’t He always?) that I am playing my part in.