Fight Like A Girl!!

It's Relay for Life time again and I am on a true team this year. I have gone to different Relay for Life events at Clemson and in Spartanburg, but never actually been on a team. The District office where I work has it's own team. One of the fundraisers they are doing is t-shirts that say "Fight like a girl." I thought they were really neat. They are only $10 and ALL the money goes to the American Cancer Society! I'm excited about being part of a team and our team's goal is to raise $1,500 and they've asked each individual to raise $100... so hopefully I can do that, although I absolutely hate asking for money. But, if anyone reading this does want to donate... you can purchase a luminary that will be put out at the relay for life this year in May - they are $10 and if you want one of these shirts they are $10 also, but I have to know by Feb. 4th (I gotta at least try to put a plug in for the fundraising so I can say I at least tried). I'll let you know how it's going as the relay approaches. 

Inauguration 2009...

We had a snow day today, which was really nice. I never even got out of my PJ's, which was great. I spent some time watching the Inauguration events today and I think everything that's happening is pretty great. I'm interested to see what happens over the next four years, and it's just getting started! I really don't remember watching any other inauguration, but I probably have. Maybe it just didn't seem as important as the one today or maybe I just wasn't as interested. Either way, I enjoyed what I saw today (or maybe it was that I got to watch it in my pajamas???). 

My family is doing ok, but My Granny went back into the hospital last night for the third time this year (and it is only January 20th). We really aren't sure what's going on but I hope we can find something out soon. The first two times it started out with her sugar, but not this time so it's pretty puzzling. Granny will be 86 in just a couple of weeks so she has lived a long life, but she's very tough and I just don't think she's ready to give up, and the rest of us aren't either. 

I really wonder what changes will have happened by the time we reach January 20, 2012?? 

2012... the year I turn 30, 8th graders will graduate high school, seniors will finish college (hopefully!), children who are one will be starting Kindergarten, I will have several new family members and will probably have lost a few, so many possibilities for even just four years down the road. I just pray that I will do what God wants me to do and live in a way that honors him. 

goodbye 2008...

I have been trying to think of a way to sort of sum up 2008, but it's hard because I have always lived my life by semesters, or 9 weeks, or by what year I was in a program... my calendar goes August to August. Guess that's what happens when you go to school all your life and then work in a school. But I'm going to start with January of last year and I've decided to just list things that happened, both good and bad, BUT for the bad things I'm going to put something good that came out of it and for anything good, I'm going to put how it will continue to be a good thing this year. We'll see how it goes, and I'm sure I won't have a complete list, but I want to look at things in a positive light. I've really struggled the past 6 months with my outlook and I am even going to a counselor... yep a counselor, which I think everyone should do at some point in their life. I think up to now, I have only told a total of 7 people about it and a few of those I had to tell because it affects work if I can't get a late enough appointment. Anyway, it's really helping and I really really like my counselor. I mainly went to deal with things with my Papa and all the other deaths and I felt as if I was going through some mild depression. It turns out I've talked more about  my Mom's death and other things as well. Ok that was a tangent but I've just gotten to where I felt like sharing that I'm going to counseling... it's just one of those things that you don't necessarily announce to everyone. Alright, back to the 2008 review/reflection, etc...

1. My Papa as well as 4 other family members passed away ~ it's a good thing because he is not suffering and is in Heaven (as well as the other family members) so I am definitely at peace about that

2. I've had an emotional roller coaster this year with some depression type feelings and anxiety ~ it's forced me to really rely more on God and not try to do everything on my own (still working on this!)

3. Several babies born in '08, the ones closest to me include a new baby girl cousin and a new baby boy nephew! ~ these babies will continue to provide lots of joy in my family and be thankful for the new lives we've had given to us (I also have several friends and one cousin expecting in 2009!) 

4. I have spent a lot of time with my family and have realized more than ever how important family is ~ I hope to continue to stay in contact with extended family. I often take for granted the family that I have not living close to me. 

5. I have loved, LOVED having my digital camera ~ I got it last year for Christmas, it's one of the big ones, and I have taken over 3,000 pictures on it. I love taking pictures, looking at them, and doing things with them (scrapbooking, photo gifts, etc.) It's really allowed me to capture a lot of memories this year that I wouldn't otherwise have. And it's great that I can take as many pics as I want.

6. I am in my 2nd year of having a REAL job ~ and I definitely hope for 2009 that I continue to have my job. I'm very thankful for it and even on the bad days I know many people don't have a job right now. 

7. Alex and I are doing great ~ of course we have our ups and downs but we have made it a little over 5 years and I don't know what I would do without him! He is crazy but he takes care of me and puts up with my faults, which is a tough job! I hope that 2009 brings us another good year with more ups than downs. 

8. I've gotten closer to some unexpected friends, made some new ones, and haven't heard from some old ones ~ I'm realizing that people definitely do come in and out of your life, you may not always have the same friends forever and it's not always a bad thing. New friends bring in new perspectives and adventures, and of course it's always good to have an old friend around.

9. Family is so important ~ I would not have made it in 2008 without my family. From my Dad who supports me no matter what to my niece and nephew who love unconditionally and always keep me smiling, I know that these are the people that will be there forever, no matter what, and I gotta make time for them. 

10. Hmmm... I haven't quite stuck with my original idea all the way through this post, but it doesn't seem right to stop at 9, so for # 10 I'll say something about my hopes for 2009... I hope to spend more time with God, less time worrying, continue to spend time with family and friends, and just enjoy every day as it comes. Things won't always be good, but I need to remember that it's a good day as long as I'm alive.

So, if any of you made it through this whole long post let me know what your hopes are for the new year, or something important you learned in '08.

Big Bonfire!

Well Alex got to burn the piano. And don't worry, it was an old, rotted, no good piano that someone had him take out of a church. It definitely was not usable and way past being fixed. He has been saving it for quite a long time for New Year's. He was disappointed at first because it was so windy and he didn't think he would get to burn it. But about 10:00 the wind died down and as you can see, he got to have his fire. Thankfully, no fire department came this year, things were much tamer than they have been in the past. 

I hope everyone had a great New Year's. I don't really like resolutions because I never seem to follow through with them. But I'll probably come up with something to at least work on. And sometime soon I'd like to do a 2008 review of some sort on here, just not up to it tonight. Guess you will just have to wait in suspense!! :)