Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a great and safe New Year's Eve. Dave and I had to wake up at 4 a.m. EST time yesterday to fly home, so we were exhausted. My mom managed to lure us over to her house with an offer of appetizers and a movie, but Dave and I both fell asleep during the movie and decided to go home and to bed....so we were sleeping while others brought in the New Year. Exciting, huh?

My favorite part of today is that it's a new beginning. A time to reflect on everything we did last year, what we want to do in the next year, and what resolutions we want to try, and how we succeeded and/or failed on resolutions last year.

2008 was a great year for me. Lots to be thankful for. Dave and I talked about our "highlights" last night. Probably the best one was seeing Barack Obama become the presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee last spring in person! It was such a milestone for our country and it was absolutely amazing to be there in person and feel the energy and witness history unfolding before our eyes. That said, the whole campaign season was pretty exciting, as well as election night. A personal highlight for me was getting a new job, which I feel so blessed to have.

Last year, I didn't really have one resolution. I created my list of 101 in 1,001 things to do, which included many resolutions and other things to do. It's fun to look at all I was able to do this last year. Crossing the finish line at Grandma's half-marathon, and watching Dave cross the line for the full marathon. We visited my grandparents in New Jersey and Dave's family in North Carolina (and they visited us too). We visited Erin and John in Chicago. Katie did a couple of photo sessions for us. I co-hosted a baby shower and had a summer pool/bbq party. I caught my first fish and managed to water ski (20 seconds or so, but I did it!) We did quite a bit of home improvement projects...including getting a new TV, dishwasher, desk and couch....and blinds for our loft. We went to a Minnesota Wild game and our seats were on the glass. Got golf clubs -- although I wouldn't say I've "learned" how to play yet. I joined a Bible study group and read lots of books.

There's more on the list that I look forward to doing this year. I want to work on my scrapbooks. I want to do more art stuff -- drawing, painting, sculpture, photography. I'd like to visit Stevie. I want to work on being a better wife and sibling and friend and aunt -- doing simple, yet meaningful things...like picking up the phone to call or sending cards or spending a day together. I want to teach my nieces how to ice skate. I want to work on saving money. I want to go to a bed and breakfast and go on a family camping trip. I want to finish renovating the master bathroom and re-organize the artwork that hangs on our walls.

Today we're going to my sister Becky's house to celebrate my mom's b-day. Her b-day was in the beginning of December, but since it's a milestone b-day (65), my dad wanted all the girls to be able to celebrate it together. Aunts and uncles will be there too. Starting the new year by celebrating my mom is a great beginning!