A Fresh Start . . . . . Tomorrow

But today is 'old year's day', the last day of this year and the end of multitudes of chances and opportunities, some taken and missed, some not taken, and some taken and made successful. I won't go into everything that's happened or not happened - besides, I prefer to think about the positve things, so here are my favorite things in 2008:

We've apparently got my dad's meds straightened out, and he hasn't had a hospital visit since April - PTL!!!

We celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary in July by purchasing our Trikkes. I love mine, and took to it like a fish to water, and can ride rings around my hubby. In the first 6 weeks of regular trikkeing I lost about 1 1/2 inches in my waist. Sadly, there's nowhere I can ride it here at home, so I don't get to ride it as often as I'd ike, but 2009 is a new opportunity to go out and find new trails!

I made new friends! Many online buddies through Scrapbook.com (Linnny, Jamie, Irene, etc.)and various blogs and recipe forums. Two very special friends I met on the QVC recipe forums are Nancy and Jane, and I was so fortunate to get to visit Jane at her mountain home and she cooked us an incredible meal! Also, I met Tish through sb.com, and she lives a mere 20 minutes from here, and works only 5 minutes or so from my home. We've had several cardmaking play dates already, and she and her hubby came for dinner a couple of weeks ago. She's such a sweetheart, and has become a very special friend in a short amount of time.

We had four week long vacations this year - a first ever for us! Of course all of them were camping trips, but we had a great time on each and every one!

In May we visited Reed Bingham State Park near Adel, GA, and spent a lot of time paddling on the Little River which flows through the park, the Santa Fe river in northern Florida, and Banks Lake NWR near Lakeland, GA. We estimated we paddled about 25 or more miles total - a lot for us!

In June we visited Boone, NC and explored surrounding areas for a week. It was our first trip into the NC 'High Country', and we loved it!

In October we visited Richard B. Russell State Park near Elberton, GA. That trip was in the height of the gas price explosion, so we stayed pretty close to the park that trip, and enjoyed reading and playing games and just being lazy!

And Thanksgiving week we spent at Skidaway Island in Savannah, GA. We really love Savannah, and here's so much to do there! We had our Thanksgiving meal at Barbara Jeans restaurant on Wilmington Island, and it was delicious! We also visited a couple of NWR (National Wildlife Refuge) areas, and in one just south of Darien we picked up a huge bag of the most beautiful and huge pine cones I've ever seen. They are in a basket on our hearth right now!

We had the best, most peaceful and drama-free Christmas I can remember in recent years. We celebrated what means the most, and let the other stuff fall by the wayside, and let the families know that was how it was going to be!

What does 2009 hold? Well, I'm guessing there's a lot we won't know about until it happens, and that's just fine with me! But what I do know is that I'm going to work harder at

• Finding a new church home
• Loving, laughing and learning more
• Stressing, wasting and being idle less
• Spend more time working on our home
• Get out more and do stuff just for me
• Quit letting other people's actions and attitudes change the direction of my days
• Start trying to sell my crafty wares and see where that venture takes me

I want to share some pictures of the things I've already got made toward my 'stock'. I've only started recently, but I've got a lot done already.

These little cuties I made in the wee hours this morning when I couldn't sleep. The heart is a lavender sachet.

This is my favorite one to date! That dark purple ribbon and lavender ribbon rose match the fabric perfectly!

A few of the gift tags.

Price tags - I got a bundle of 100 and am inking and stamping them on one side. Some say smile, hello, and some have little birds.

I call these cuties 'change purse mirrors. They are about the size of a quarter!

These are all made using vintage (50+ y/o) chicken feed sacks from my childhood.

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So, that's it from me for this year. Now what are your goals, hopes and dreams for 2009??? After all, that' what mean the most - resolutions are made for failure, but goals, hopes and dreams can come true! Have a blessed end of 2008!!! Becky