Getting Ready for the New Year!

I love thinking about a new year!! A new beginning...new opportunities, new days, new calendars, new pens, new, fresh sheets of paper to write on...(I love office supplies).

I have no idea what to expect or plan for 2009...2008 was certainly full of surprises for me. As I look back, let's see:
**The middle school my twins just started attending is going to be renovated before next school year, so they will be attending school in a church building for the remainder of this school year.
**We had a wreck in the summer, which totalled our vehicle, broke my back, cut my right shin and dis-located one of my toes...I didn't recover quickly from this...but I think I'm fully recovered now.
**This made it necessary for us to replace that vehicle.
** I was invited to attend something called: The Great Banquet this fall. This was probably the most significant spiritual retreat I've ever experienced. It was amazing. I'm anxious to share that experience with anyone who would attend.--It truly made a difference in my life.
**My family and I witnessed an arrest in down town St. Louis.
**We camped out in the rain...and got really cold...but had a fabulous time, laughing and getting really wet & muddy.
**I have been able to meet & work with some amazing people to further God's kingdom this year.
**Our family expanded this Nov. to include a new granddaughter.
**My husband surprised me with a different car.
**In the summer, my grandma (who I think is 86) was able to fly to visit us, from 1,500 miles away! While she was here to visit, we had a portrait taken of the women in our immeidate family, which was fabulous, there are 9 of us, which includes 4 generations.

Unexpected things happen. The ones I've mentioned were mostly really good things, or the outcome was really good! Not to say that there were no bad things that happened in my life.
If I said that, I would be lying. I don't lie. So, of course, there have been some really bad and really sad moments in 2008. The thing is, there are always going to be really bad, sad things happen...that's because we are not in heaven...we live on earth, which is imperfect.

So, the moment I'm living in right now is all I have...to experience the good stuff, the bad stuff, but to always look for the good, in every experience! Looking for the silver lining...the hope...the passion...And, so:
Happy New Year!