In With the New....

I like to take a "snapshot" of my life on the first day of each year, mainly because it saves me from thinking about making resolutions.

So, on this first day of 2008, here's what my life looks like.

* I've managed another full year of maintaining my weight loss, and this morning's scale number was 112 pounds. On January 1, 2007 I weighed 116.5, and struggled through a trip up that scale from there until the fall. My goal for 2008 is to maintain my weight between 110 (haha) and 115.

* I'm still working where I've worked for nearly 19 years, and unless there is a corporate decision to retire, I imagine I'll still be there on January 1, 2009.

* I am in good health. My husband is in good health (save an annoying cold).

* My parents are still both in "pretty good shape for the shape they're in" which, trust me, I realize is a huge gift.

* Luke and Jackie are living in Birmingham, and although we have sorely missed them being here, we've managed to see each other enough to keep me from going bonkers. They have big plans for their future, and it'll be exciting to see how they pan out over the next 12 months.

* Thomas is in flux right now -- not sure he wants to continue with college right now. We are hoping he will reconsider, but support him fully as long as he's doing something that moves him forward in life in some fashion.

* We have five cats now: Big Louie, Gus, Littlebit, Dusty, and Paddy O'Malley. This last one is our grandcat.

* My sister is moving from Montgomery to Huntsville next month, and this will bring about some enormous changes here. She's been the "go to" person during the medical crises we've experienced this past year with Mama, and the rest of the siblings have really looked to her to get our "assignments." I have been given the responsibility of changing my parent's bed linens weekly, and vacumming their house on weeks that Daddy isn't up to it. I think I can handle that. I will miss her, but I am excited for her that she'll be living very close to her children and her grandchildren.

* Speaking of grandchildren, she'll have one more come spring. After an anxious several days when some testing was being done on her unborn child, my niece and her husband are expecting a daughter in April.

* I have one trip for the year already planned -- Nashville in February to meet my friend Sandy for the first time, and hopefully see some other of my RML friends there, too.

* This is the year of 50, and I cannot WAIT to reach that!

* Alabama Football was a tremendous disappointment in 2007, so I'm looking forward to sitting here on January 1, 2009 basking in the glow of an SEC Championship, and a top 5 ranking.

Okay, so that's a stretch, but a girl can dream!!

What I wish most for those I love is a year of resolution -- letting go of the things that bind us to the past in an unhealthy way... health or peace in the absence of health for them and those they love... and a year of unexpected treasures for body, mind, and spirit.

Happy New Year!!