Goodbye 2008

There are but a few days of 2008 left, and what a year it has been. We started 2008 off by getting engaged, then I graduated school, then we welcomed our first neice, and then Maurice graduated! And dare I say, 2009 is shaping up to be an even bigger year than the last.

Each year on my birthday (January 8th), I always take some time to write a little bit, and think about what life looked like for me on my last birthday, versus the way it looks today. It's a great way for me to indulge my nostalgic side, but mostly to gain some perspective about how far God has brought me, the ways that He has blessed me, but most importantly... the things that I have learned.

So I figured today that this seemed like the perfect time to reflect, and share the things, both great and small, that I learned in 2008:

- That life after school is every bit as wonderful as I imagined it would be.

- That "Jon and Kate plus eight" is possibly the best show on television.

- Not to take my family for granted... because before long, I will probably miss them terribly.

- How much money you can save by cutting frivelous purchases (fast food, starbucks, etc.) out of your spending.

- The importance of taking a day off to get away and invest quality time in those we love.

- That I am much more capable than I give myself credit for.

- That God's best for me is better than my own idea of what is best.

- How good it feels to push myself beyond what I thought were my limits.

- To always go straight to the root of an argument with a person, because you are many times upset or frustrated about the same exact things.

- What it means to truly love another person above myself.

- That God's love for me is much more profound than I am able to understand.