Counting The Blessings of 2009

I like to count my blessings. Doing so reminds me that I'm indeed blessed, no matter what my circumstances.

Here they are for this past year, as they come to mind:

• Losing 23 lbs and keeping off 18 (I'm shooting for another 30 in 2010!)
  
  
• Celebrating 18 years of marriage
  
  
• Witnessing the celebration of my in-laws' 50 years of marriage
  
  
• My oldest son getting great grades in his first year of high school and attending the Phenom camp in San Diego and a few local basketball camps, leading to his name popping up on a few national lists for his class and his first Varsity games
  
  
• My middle son getting accepted by lottery into the Science Magnet school of his choice and exploring his "Mad Science" yearnings
  
  
• My youngest, prekindergarten son showing an artistic bent in photography and drawing
  
  
• Not sleeping a day on the streets nor missing a meal despite coming painfully close at times as we await the release of God's blessings for us
  
  
• Continued employment
  
  
• My critique partners
  
  
• A used laptop from one of my critique partners who heard my cry
  
  
• Millions of words, in the form of the 130+ books I read
  
  
• Free books from publishers, publicists, review sites enabling me to indulge my voracious reading habit in exchange for my opinion
  
  
• Writing encouragement from fellow writers, bloggers, critique partners, agents, family, and unexpected places
  
  
• Creditors who would normally not give a flying fig about my circumstances who offered me options and on occasion prayed for me
  
  
• The health of myself and my family
  
  
• My mother's continued life; 88 years and going strong
  
  
• Reconnecting with old friends and making new ones through Facebook and Twitter
  
  
• The smiles, hugs and laughter of my children
  
  
• The love and respect of my husband
  
  
• A determined, if, on occasion, deterred spirit
  
  
• A renewed, less fearful, more patient faith
  
  
• An ever faithful God

For these things, and many more, I'm thankful as 2009 draws to a close. I look forward to the promise and blessing of 2010.

Happy New Year!

For what are you thankful?

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Reflecting

It's the end of another year. I didn't have any personal goals written down anywhere that I can look back at so I'm thinking about the blessings that came our way.

• We all celebrated another birthday. My mother celebrated her 87th birthday and one of my sisters celebrated 50.
  
  
• My oldest receive nearly a full scholarship to attend a private prep school in the area. He's completed his first semester, with nearly all A's, including ones in high school Latin and Algebra.
  
  
• My oldest is playing JV basketball, one of only two 8th graders to ever do so at his school. (The other is his best friend. They made history together.)
  
  
• My middle son graduated from pre-kindergarten and began kindergarten. He is learning to read.
  
  
• My youngest was given a three-year reprieve by his cardiologist at his last checkup. (He had surgery in 2006.)
  
  
• We traveled to Atlanta to visit the in-laws. My oldest stayed for a month and attended a basketball camp.
  
  
• I traveled to Destin, FL for the Faith & Fiction retreat, where I put faces to some names, met some of my favorite authors, made a few friends, and had a great time.
  
  
• I never gave up on losing weight, even if I didn't accomplish much by way of the scale. But I learned just how hard I'm going to have to work to make any real dent in my weight loss goal. Knowledge is power.
  
  
• I learned that I was severely anemic and vitamin B-12 deficient. I now take supplements for both and have lights years more energy than I used to. Again, nothing like a little knowledge.
  
  
• My middle and youngest sons got involved in competitive sports, playing two seasons of Pony baseball.
  
  
• We went to the beach.
  
  
• We visited Christmas Lane, a holiday light and decorations extravaganza in our area done out of the goodness of a homeowner's heart.
  
  
• We survived another hurricane season with very little rain in these parts.
  
  
• My brother had two car accidents. He survived both.
  
  
• We struggled financially but praised God as He made way after way, which He did EVERY time.
  
  
• We linked up with a new church organization from which we are learning some organizational and operational things that will be implemented when we resume our own services.
  
  
• I started this blog and continued my writing blog.
  
  
• I began writing a novel that feels like it's all over the place right now and won't turn me loose until I finish it. Things to do in 2009...
  
  
• I placed among the 12 finalists for a writing mentorship sponsored by a literary agency.
  
  
• I volunteered for the Obama campaign and knocked on hundreds of doors, something I never thought I would do. (He won.)
  
  
• I became an elected official myself when I ran unopposed for precinct committeeperson. (Whatever it took to help Obama. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what I'm supposed to do.)
  
  
• My husband had a short-lived but well-received Christian radio program locally. Listen for more from him in the year to come.

There's so much more I could say but this sums it up, I think. What do you have to be thankful for in 2008?

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia