A Year In Review Meme

A summary of 2008 from the perspective of my life.

1. What did you do this year that you never did before?

Embarrassingly, I balanced my checkbook all by myself! I am letting my grey hair show. I did Yoga Booty Ballet and Hip Hop Abs, but not for long. I rode on the Fort Deposit Library's Christmas float dressed as a cow (John Deere cowbell, udders, and all) for the entire town to view. I started a blog!

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions and will you make more this year?

I did not fare well with last year's and I am tardy with this year's resolve. I just today realized that resolutions had not crossed my mind.

I resolve to be better in mind, body, spirit, and service. I will be involved in an exercise regime at least three times weekly and look for opportunities to exert myself beyond that.

I will read more, study my scriptures more, and endeavor to keep my mind sharp. (Ha,ha!)

I will nuture my spiritual self and indulge in outlets that express my inner nature and creativity. I will spend more time in prayer with my God.

I will look for opportunity to do for others, especially, but not limited to, those who are unable to do for themselves. I will do it joyfully and quietly, and if it is known that I am the benefactor, I will give the credit and glory to Whom it belongs...my Lord.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My youngest stepdaughter gave birth to Annabelle Lee Nesbitt-McCann in October.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My Aunt Bill, 96 years old, went home in December.

5. Where did you travel?

To Gulf Shores, a couple of times.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

A clean, clutter-free house. Better yet, a bigger house, but still clean and clutter-free.

7. What dates will be etched upon your memory from 2008 and why?

Dates, I don't remember, but the events are frozen in time for me. Annabelle's birth, the election of Obama, my mama's 85th birthday, my daddy's 90th birthday, and their 65th wedding annniversary, the death of my Aunt Bill, the dissolving of our partnership with my brother-in-law, my son driving the car for the first time ever (around the parking lot) and the look of sheer glee and pride on his face.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

My daily life, in its chaos, is my biggest achievement. Getting through my crazy, event-filled days with my sanity somewhat intact is an accomplishment in itself. I realize how lame that is and I am shooting for bigger and better things in 2009. Things that will actually pertain to MY life and MY dreams, not necessarily the lives of my husband and children.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I failed my family by losing myself in them.

10. What was the best thing you bought?

A houndstooth shawl. Roll Tide!

11. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Supermassive Blackhole by Muse, from Twilight

12. What do you wish you had done more of?

More cleaning, more entertaining, more time with the kids, more time for me.

13. What do you wish you had done less of?

Less feeling guilty, less yelling, less goofing off, less hiding away from the world.

14. What was your favorite TV program?

I don't watch new TV, but I found 7th Heaven reruns. I had never seen them the first time around and I love that show. I also found Reba reruns.

15. What was your favorite movie?

Twilight, Walle

16. What was the best book you read?

The Shack

17. What one thing would have made your year measurably more satisfying?

A maid.

18. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Does this fit anymore and is it comfortable? Sad,but true.

19. What kept you sane?

My therapist, my friends, my faith.

20. Who did you miss?

Me.

21. Who was the best new person you met?

I am not sure that I met anyone new, who had a huge impact on me. I didn't get out much.

22. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2008.

a)People hear and listen to someone who controls their emotions. Those who lose control of their emotions are generally considered to be raving lunatics. b)I can do ANYTHING for 15 minutes. c)I am blessed beyond what I deserve.

23. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

I was sure by now that you would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in to save the day

But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining.

As the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain

"I am with you"

and as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God Who gives and takes away.

I remember when I stumbled in the wind. You heard my cry.

You raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on if I can't find You?

I'll praise You in this storm and I will lift my hands

For You are Who You are no matter where I am

Every tear I've cried you hold in Your hand

You never left my side and though my heart is torn

I will praise you in this storm.

~Casting Crowns~ Praise You In This Storm

Whew! If you read as far as I wrote, we are both tired! If you feel inspired, I'd love to read about your 2008 summary. If you don't blog, email!

Thanks for stopping by!

Fireworks!

There is nothing quite so exciting at New Year's for my children than the annual fireworks display that my husband and son put on for us each year. The son (who has always been a bit of a pyromaniac) gets a thrill out of being able to light the fuses, now that he is older. The girls are just enthralled by the glitter and the sparkle, although it takes a little getting used to the very loud explosion.

When they were little we couldn't afford much in the way of display. We had to travel and rely on others to provide spectacular shows for us. It was more difficult than staying home, but always worth it to see their little faces glow with wonder.

With each year, it seems we have been able to upgrade our pyrotechnics and this year, we had a true show that lit up the night sky! And BOY, was it loud! But it was beautiful. Best of all, my son feels so grown when he can be responsible and 'handle' the explosives and he does a good job and the girls still squeal with delight with each explosion of glitter and colorful light.

We will look forward to Independence Day to see what kind of fireworks display Daddy can come up with to top this one!

Holidays!

What a week of celebration! I managed to get past the sickness enough to salvage the holiday. We shopped until we could barely shop anymore, wrapped until after midnight, had a little eggnog, and settled into bed for a restful Christmas Eve slumber.
The children awakened us pretty early on Christmas morning, but not before sunrise and we opened each gift one at a time so that we could relish and enjoy not only our gift, but each other's gifts as well. We all had a very happy time and played merrily afterward with our new treasures.
It was time to put on the turkey if we were to have it for lunch! I tried a new brand of turkey breast this year, which went from the freezer to the oven, in a cooking bag. It had a thermometer that popped out when it was done and a packet of gravy which only had to be heated and cooked. It was so simple. No basting, no fuss and it was so tender, juicy, and tasty! Everyone raved about it so that I almost felt ashamed to tell them how simple it was! We added to that my mother's dressing, greenbean casserole, lima beans, sweet potato casserole and cranberry sauce and we had a veritable Christmas feast!
We spent several hours afterward watching Mama and Daddy open their gifts from my sister, Pat and chatting with them. Then we went home for a nice long nap.
My sister, JJ came to visit me later that night and we made a full day of Christmas until the wee hours of the next morning! But it was such fun to spend time with her. We so rarely get to spend any time together like that. When we can just sit and talk and laugh and cry and have 'sister' time together. It was one of my favorite Christmas gifts this year.
We just spent four days in Huntsville at Exposure Youth Camp. That is always a blast. I will blog about that and post pictures later. It has rendered me tired and ready for a little rest to prepare for the New Year's festivities that are quickly approaching.
I think I will try to get in a little shut-eye before dinner!

I Am Humbled

To all my blogger friends,

So many of you ladies have been through so many trials and devastating events that I cannot imagine. Some of you are living through them even now. The pain you have experienced is beyond my ability to comprehend and yet, you are still here. You are sharing with us your stories, your hearts, your sorrows, your joys, your lessons, your very selves.
That is a most precious gift. I am truly touched by the words you write. I am inspired, empowered, strengthened, comforted, and moved by your life experiences. I admire you so very much.
That you can maintain a strong faith through your trials is amazing. What a model of wisdom and strength you are.
You give me a gift with every post. A gift that time cannot take away, nor diminish.

Sometimes you make me laugh until my sides ache, sometimes you make me weep because my heart aches, but whether it is a funny, a tragedy, or a word of wisdom, it is precious to me.
I thank you for every word you publish, every thought you share.
You add so much to my life in a way that you may never know.
So, to all of you who give of yourselves to all of us, may your holidays be everything you want them to be and may the coming year bring you much joy and happiness.

And to all of you who read what I write, I am truly humbled that you find my world interesting enough to visit. Thank you for caring to know me and my thoughts, however strange they may be at times.

Merry Christmas to everyone and may the new year bring us much about which to blog!

Christmas Magic?

I don't know if it was Joy's letter to Santa, or changing my Blog page to pink, but whatever it was, it worked!

I awoke this morning feeling a little better but that is typical of morning so I didn't hold out much hope that it would last through the day. However, as the day wore on, I felt better and better.

I puttered around a little bit and still felt good.

I put on a roast for dinner and still felt good.

Took a shower (only the second I have had in a week! yikes!) and felt even better!

Put on some Christmas Karaoke and the girls and I sang while dinner cooked.

I laughed (it had been so long) and joked and danced and played and it is wonderful!

I feel like me, again.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and I have found my Christmas spirit! The Grinch finally left the premises and all is well in the world.

Now I am racing against time trying to get everything done by Christmas morning, but that will be fun! I am just to glad to be back and feeling normal once again.

In The Pink

If I make my Blog pink, will it put me "In the Pink"? I am getting back my sense of humor, even if it is bad! ha, ha!

Letter to Santa

I have borrowed a letter from a bloggy friend who has been experiencing the same challenges this Christmas as I have. Her words could have come straight from my heart, almost as if she had been reading my journal. Santa, pardon the duplicity, but our letters would have looked the same, with the exception of a maid along with the personal chef. (smile)

/Dear Santa,

When you stop by our house on Christmas Eve you don't have a to leave us a single thing. However if you'd be so kind as to take every bit of sickness out of our home and leave us all bright eyed and bushy tailed for the rest of the Christmas break that would be awesome. That's all I want.

However, if you insist on leaving a gift, I wouldn't mind a personal chef. And maybe peace on earth, while you're handing out miracles.

We left you cookies, but I wouldn't eat them if I were you. Awful lot of coughing and sniffling went on during the baking process.

So sorry.

Yours truly ,

Chaotic Joy/

Joy, if you read this, may your Christmas be happy and healthy and God bless us, everyone!