My goodness! Well Christmas came and went. Nothing too exciting on that front. Presents were great this year: a subscription to Vogue Knitting, lots and lots and lots of Manos (btw, did you hear that Fairmont Fibers is introducing a Manos DK silk blend of 70% merino/30% silk–SQUEE!!!!!), money (always good) and some new knitting books. Totally off topic, but I really want to get my hands on some of this. I played with it at a yarn store in Asheville and it is absolutely as soft as it looks.

I have been off from work on sort of a mini vacation since last Thursday. I can’t stress how much I needed this. Without boring y’all with the details, I had some resignations in the department that week and when I return to work on Wednesday the department will be short staffed. I figure I won’t get to go on an extended vacation again for a while, but boy do I already have one planned!!!!! This summer is gonna be great!

New Year’s Eve is here again. When I go back to work Wednesday it will be exactly a year since I started my new job. Looking back this has been an incredible year that flew by. Before I know it, Mike will be here permanently and will be teaching. 2008 will be the year all debt is paid and then 2009 will be the “Year of the House.” My contract ends in June 2009, so I don’t want to look at homes until I am offered a new contract (I am not worried that this won’t happen, but I hate tempting fate).

This year also brought new and wonderful friendships, as well as strengthened old ones and ended a few. I learned more about myself than I have in a long time and became a better and stronger person. I learned to value my family more than I ever have and home took on several new meanings.

I saw the beauty in simple pleasures and the joy of quiet. I learned that alone can be really wonderful, but being together is ten times better.

Looking ahead, I hope that all the good continues and that I have the strength to deal with whatever bad crosses my path. I wish good health and happiness for everyone I know.

2008 is already looking like it will be a year filled with wonderful events: babies, vacations, weddings, love, and lots of life.