{2008-2009} Fears, Fails, Dreams & Hopes

I received this in an email today and had to *copy* it.....and *adapt* it to my life.....
So...........

I would like to be able to tell you that in the past year I...
Got caught up on *all* of my scrapbook albums.
Successfully wore my *favorite* jeans of all time.
Read the Bible each day.
Exercised 5 times a week.
Did not give in to the temptation of a rare cold can of Pepsi over ice.
Or the temptation of the *white cheese dip* from El' Pueblito's.
Ran a marathon.
Cooked a meal every night for my family.
Grew three inches.
Cleaned my closet.
Cleaned my kids' closets.
Shampooed the carpet in my van.
Took a vacation for no reason other than to get away.
Traveled to an exotic island.
Developed an addiction for the History Channel.

Instead, I have to tell you that in the past year I...
Didn't get near as far I had hoped for on the scrapbooking.
Am still working on the pants issue.
Didn't finish the Bible but did read a scripture a day for 3/4 of the year.
Haven't exercised once...unless you count taking laundry upstairs and down again???
Gave in to I think a total of 4 Pepsi's in 2008...
And ate the *white cheese dip* from El Pueblito's at least 2 times...
Learning to live with and deal with the Chrone's disease.
Ran around the house chasing kids for a whole year...that ought to count for something, right?
Choose *McD's*, *Sonic*, *Pizza Hut*, *cereal*, *sandwiches*, or the ever popular 'whatever you can find in the fridge or pantry'* for dinner rather than cooking for my family.
Stayed the same height, but gained a pound or two.
Closets???? maybe next year....
Became blind to the carpet in my van.
Traveled to the Ronald McDonald house in Kansas City.
Became addicted to *John and Kate Plus 8*.
Have become physically attached to my laptop.

However, in the past year I also...
Met amazing people at the several *trips* I took -*Women's Retreat*, *Summit*, and *Relay U*.
Learned that to *equipt* and *empower* is better than *doing it for them*... it always proves to be the best for all involved.
Made a couple new friends and learned how wonderful people can be.
Discovered blogging and Facebook.
Reconnected with some old friends.
Cut my hair up past my ears and then grew my hair out past my ears.
Became a WAHM.
Learned to *take it one step at a time.*
Learned that I *don't* have to be like everyone else. God created *me* to be *ME*.
Learned to *walk away* from the computer.
Have become closer to my Suzi-Q, my dreams, my hopes, *my mom* and *my sister*.
Have built a stronger relationship with my family members.
Took the children to the *movies*, to *Downtown Java* {in their jammies.. :) } for a special drink, allowed them to be children *in public*, to the park as often as we could, planned a game night almost weekly, played *Rock Band* way into the night with them, and taught them some of my favorite stories from the Bible.
Realized that there's more to life than a spotless house, perfect lifestyle and a fat bank account.
Have learned that ultimately, Heavenly Father is in control, and when I let him be, life is better.

In the next year, I am hoping to...
Rediscover the kitchen and the joys of making home-cooked meals.
Be more alert to the needs of others.
Make progress in being worthy of the trust others put in me.
Continue develop my relationship with God.
Read more of the Bible.
Wear the jeans that I've had tucked away in my closet for years.
Make healthier food choices to help with the Chrone's disease.
Dance in the living room with my iPod several times a week.
Help my children flourish in all that they are and who they were created to be.
Accept myself, forgive myself, and get back up whenever I fall down.

And so that's it for 2008...and what I have to look forward to in 2009. What did you do, not do, and hope to do?

Email me or post it in the comments to share...I'd love to be a part of your life's muse.

God bless each of you and your families.
Thank you for following this blog ~ keep reading in 2009...there's more to come!
CHEERS

~A