2008 :: Year in Review

After my white-knuckled drive in a snowstorm last night (it took me an hour and a half to get home), I thought, do we really need another 6 inches of snow? I mean that's half a foot! I heard on the news today about record December snowfalls all around us. I guess it's good to end the year on top (of a snow bank, that is).

I seriously cannot believe 2008 is drawing to a close already. We always say time flies, but it really does, doesn't it? I look back and say life is not so different than it was a year ago at this time, but it is. We have more experiences, we have learned more lessons, we are older (groan) and we have even more blessings!

Here are a few takeaways from 2008:

Young at Heart: It's true when they say age is what you make of it. I had the attitude that I was going to embrace 40 -- and I did, with quite the birthday extravaganza, I might add.

Flight Preparations: My oldest stepson, a senior in high school, is readying himself for college. This is going to be a tough spring as we see him get ready to leave the nest (even though he only occupies it part time). Next year at this time we can wear one of those "I'm a college parent" sweatshirts. Yikes. Maybe not.

Out of Control: Speaking of teenagers, we have had a trying year trying to get the middle son to change his attitude about school -- or at least attend more often. We are realizing quickly that we can't change anyone or control their thinking in any way. But we are not giving up. No one said parenting is easy. No one said it could be this hard either, but we wouldn't have it any other way (well, maybe a few changes).

Fore! I had this sinking feeling I was the world's worst golfer but now I know it was just the clubs I was using. (Now I'm just in the bottom 5%.) I had a wonderful time this spring and summer breaking in my new clubs from Santa last year. Actually got to golf with hubby and some friends (and even Carter) more than the last two years combined. Still not enough, but we can build from there in 2009.

Career Builder: It seems my job at work keeps evolving. For the last few years (since my dream job shipped out) I have not been allowed to land in a comfort zone for long before my responsibilities change and I find myself working with a new group of people and/or on different magazines. I'm getting pretty good at adapting to change but I am hoping 2009 will bring a bit more stability. Yep, I know that's asking a lot in these times. Maybe I better just get working on that best-seller of mine. (By the way, Jim says his New Year's resolution is to win the Powerball. That would help, too!)

Frequent Flyer: While my travel for work was limited this year, it was the quality (meeting Ponch), not the quantity, right? I did enjoy my personal travel -- two trips to Texas this year -- and am so glad Jim got to go on his family tree quest out East. Jim still will have plenty of work trips in 2009, but I have a feeling our personal ventures will be sticking a little closer to home.

Growing Up: We were warned about this. Our little baby is growing up -- and fast! Carter just continues to amaze us and, sometimes, it's kind of scary to see what we created! Nothing like looking in the old fun-house mirror of dysfunction now and then! It's not too late to get the quirks out, is it? My biggest challenge as a mom was allowing our 10-year-old some independence this year. It seems so logical that the more independent he becomes, the less dependent he is, but that doesn't make it hurt my heart any less knowing that he doesn't need us as much. I don't see that improving in 2009 or any year. But I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world, not even a winning Powerball ticket.

I hope each of you take some time to identify the blessings bestowed on you in 2008. Granted, it was a tough year for a lot of people. But, if you are reading this, that means you are still here, right? That's a good sign. Why not start with that and move forward...

Happy New Year!

Tuesday Tidbits

Bedtime Stories: On our last vacation day yesterday, Carter and I went to the new Adam Sandler movie Bedtime Stories. Good movie. We both really enjoyed it. My girlfriend Becky was there with her son, too, so that was a bonus. Later, I did find myself on the couch again watching Ellen (I'm going to miss watching that show!) but only because McDreamy was on there. Now that's a nice bedtime story.

Another Snow Day: Was proud that I hit the snooze only three times on my first day back to work. Saw we got an inch or 2 of snow overnight and was thrilled I'm going to work and not on shoveling detail today. Then remembered I had to drive in it. My thrill was short-lived. Made it to work OK, though.

Christmas Wishes: While catching up on Christmases with co-workers, one of my friends said she has already forgotten Christmas because so much has happened since then. Her husband was rushed to the hospital with stomach pains on Sunday and they'll find out today whether he has colon cancer. How awful! When people ask what I got for Christmas and I say, "I'm just happy to have my health," I really do mean it! We can't take that for granted. Please add Joe to your prayer lists.

Alone Time: Hubby has off today and tomorrow to stay home with Carter. However, Carter is off to a birthday party/sledding day/sleepover so Jim gets the day to himself to do whatever he wants. I know he has to put a part on the snowblower, but then I hope he has some fun. Oooh, and we get the evening together alone, too! (Yes, the phrase "together alone" makes sense. Ask any parent!)

Diva Diet: Our cat Sylvester had her annual check-up today. Perfectly healthy! In fact, our fluffy little princess actually is down a quarter of a pound since last year. How is it that she can lay around and sleep 20 hours a day and still lose weight?! I am changing my diet plans for 2009!

Black Monday

Today, in football circles anyway, is known as Black Monday. When the NFL employees with less-than-stellar performances this year (like the poor, winless Lions coach) get the axe. I just call it Black Monday because it's my last day of Christmas vacation!

A week can go by pretty quickly when there's Christmas gatherings and traveling involved. Even with that, I can see how a person can go from career woman to couch potato in 10 days. Not hard to do. Now granted, I did get some exercise on purpose a couple of those days. Plus, I either snowblowed or shoveled (or both) on probably 7 of the 10 days.

And, as I hoped, I listened to more Christmas music this season than probably the last 3 combined. Mostly on the car radio, but that still counts. Plus, I did manage to see at least a half-dozen Christmas movies (maybe closer to a dozen) and am on my fifth holiday book. So yeah, the couch potato transformation can be done with some effort!

I'm not looking forward to putting on "normal" clothes tomorrow. Now I know why they call these "lounge" pants! I'll probably catch myself glancing at my feet to make sure I'm not wearing my slippers, either. Wow, this really is Black Monday!

I should probably make sure I do something fun and relaxing today to keep up my reputation. But, unfortunately, I do have some work that has to get done, some writing, and then there are all those cleaning and/or organizing projects I didn't get to (guess I ran out of time).

So maybe today is more of a Transition Monday. Trying to transition my butt off the couch and into the office chair. Trying to transition those cookies into carrot sticks. And trying to transition my brain from holiday mush to 2009 business planning mode so I can be productive at work for two days before having Thursday and Friday off.

Hey, I never said I was rushing into anything!

Feeling kind of Sunday...

There's this super-fan commercial for the NFL that has some song about "feeling kind of Sunday..." that always gets stuck in our heads. I'll hear Carter sing it (at random) and then I'm joining in. Whether it's Sunday or not, it puts us in a Game Day mood.

Today was a big Game Day for us Vikings fans.

Of course, we awoke to another couple inches of snow. That doesn't get old, does it? So we tackled that task right away. The snowblower officially pooped out on us and a guy came and hauled it away -- but not before plowing us out with his truck. That was a bonus. We got the snowblower back later. It just need a good carb cleaning. Gotta watch those carbs!

The Vikings-Giants game started at noon but didn't air here. The stinkin' Packers take precedent on our FOX channel (and we care about the Packers-Lions game, why?). However, that did not stop us from getting decked out in Game Day gear -- including my new Viking socks from Santa. (I guess they're lucky.)

It really is hard to sit and watch the Packers and keep glancing at the ticker for our score. So I made some chili and put it in my new crockpot for supper and then made some banana bread. Carter had a friend over and they played outside while hubby and I listened to the last quarter of the game when we found out it was on the radio. Cool.

Nail-biting ending, which I hate. But it's OK when we come out victorious. First division championship since 2000. Whoo-hoo!

I tell ya, nothing warms the heart and tummy on a Game Day like a bowl of chili, banana bread fresh out of the oven and a Vikings victory! Now I'm feeling kind of Sunday...

No place like home....

Whoever wrote the lyrics, "There's no place like home for the holidays," knew a little something about ice, snow and slick roads around Christmas time.

Before heading Up North for my family celebration Friday, we had to snowblow yet another 3-4 inches of "white Christmas" from our driveway. Some of the road conditions were challenging but, all in all, it was an event-free trip up.

Part of my comfort level (yes, I tend to be a nervous passenger when roads are slick) was due to that fact I was in the back seat. I let Casey ride shotgun. Plus, I was watching my Mamma Mia movie on the new portable DVD player Santa brought. That works slick! Time sure goes by a lot faster -- and my mind was totally off the road.

The only bad part about the trip was that there were only 4 of us instead of 5. Clay couldn't make it at the last minute. That was very disappointing. Later, when we had our annual family program, we coerced, er, recruited my twin to do his part. She did an admirable job for not having participated in the dress rehearsal. (Just kidding. It was not a big production!)

All in all, it was great family gathering as always and, as always, we missed those who couldn't make it because of distance. We gathered in the fellowship hall at a retreat center just up the road from my parents'. The last time we held it there, my nephew Tony, who was home this year on leave from the Army, had just been born on Christmas Day. My other nephews, now grown and bringing wives or girlfriends of their own, were all around 4-7 years old and nearly impossible to contain! My how times change.

One thing that hasn't changed is the love we feel when we are together as family -- all 30-something of us. My parents said it best when they remarked, "What a blessing it is to look around this room at all these people and we can say 'They're ours!'"

After the party, we headed into Luck -- through thick fog and icy roads -- to the hotel. This morning, we met my parents for breakfast (my sister stopped by, too) then hit the road early. We knew it was going to be cooling off at some point today and it was predicted the roads would ice up quickly. Somehow we missed that, thankfully, so we were home in just under 4 hours. Pretty good timing.

As I unpacked and stared at the extra cookies and treats we took home and don't need, hubby was up on the roof chipping away at ice in the gutters. Ahh, there's no place like home...

Christmas Surprises

One of the fun parts about Christmas is the element of surprise. Maybe there is some gift you've tucked away that a person isn't expecting. Maybe a person is surprised because they actually got something they wanted. Or the giver is surprised how much the receiver likes it. I just love the smiles that surprises bring -- especially on Christmas morning.

Our first surprise today is that we started our day later than we expected. Nice. We had told Carter last night that no matter how early he got up, he could not wake the older boys (naturally late-sleeping teenagers) before 8:30 a.m. What a surprise that Carter actually slept past 8:30, too! That was a nice surprise for all of us.

Now the older boys are tough to surprise. We take them shopping and they pick out what they want so they know what they are getting and are happy with it. Sometimes they might forget one thing but that's about it.

Last night at Grandpa and Grandma Austin's they were drooling over some new jackets that both Daddy and Grandpa got from our aunt and uncle's bar called Austin's Pour House. Very cool black jackets with their names (Jimmy and Johnny) stitched on the front. I heard both Casey and Clay mention they were going to put that on their list for next year. So we were quite pleased to see their looks of surprise and delight this morning when they each got one, too. (Of course, I got one for me, too. How could I not?) Carter did not get one because he would outgrow it too soon. We told him it was because he didn't have a Y in his name. Whatever works, right?

Carter was surprised at some of his gifts, but really only had one item on his list -- a Nintendo DS (handheld video game system). He got that and was thrilled. But not really surprised. He thinks his new Vikings shirts and T-shirt from Pepe's in Texas are cool, though.

I got a big surprise around 3 this afternoon when Daddy and Carter remembered a gift they hid under Carter's bed when I was gone on my Sisters Weekend in early November. (So it was kind of a surprise to them, too, once they remembered.) That same weekend Jim took Casey down to UW-La Crosse (my alma mater) for a campus visit. They didn't dare leave town without a UW-L sweatshirt for me. Yay.

Jim and I got a wonderful surprise from Carter, who is getting pretty good at keeping secrets. We received a special hardcover book, his autobiography, which looks back over his life (as it says) and shares some of his thoughts and goals. Very, very cool. I will be sharing that with anyone who will look at it! That's the best kind of surprise. The kind that makes you so happy, you cry. Nothing tops a gift that truly says, "I love you, Dad and Mom," and, in his words in the introduction, "Thanks for always being there."

I hope everyone had just enough surprises to make your Christmas merry, too!

White Christmas

I'd like to find that person who dreamed of a white Christmas and give him a piece of my mind. I mean this is getting ridiculous. A nice dusting of snow is fine by my standards for a white Christmas, but we've had to either snowblow or shovel about 2 out of every 3 days for the last few weeks. Crazy.

So to cope, I plopped in my new White Christmas DVD this morning and was sort of watching it while multi-tasking with a few last-minute gift wrappings, etc., around the house. Then it was time to brave the elements.

We got an additional 3-5 inches overnight and the plows (the poor drivers) hadn't gotten to all the roads yet by the time I ventured into town for 1 p.m. church. It was a slick drive, but I wouldn't miss it.

Usually I go to the early afternoon service (there are 2 later in day) and it is not so full. But this time it was packed. Good to see. As always, I get a bit teary-eyed singing those Christmas songs and thinking how blessed we are.

After church, I headed home and we were out the door again within the hour, heading to the in-laws in town. Jim's mom wanted to eat early -- like 4 p.m. -- so you know what that means... the boys (well, Carter) want to open presents by 5! We made him wait until 6. We're tough, I know.

Tonight the big boys are staying with us. On the way home, we drove around looking at Christmas lights. And I will admit, they look prettier reflecting off the snow. When we got home, we played our Bustola dice game and laid out the stockings. Carter left some eggnog and his homemade "pretzel doughnuts" out for Santa.

All is quiet in the house and hubby and I are about to embark on the fun part of Christmas Eve -- helping out Santa. Then we'll see who gets up first in the morning!