A Look Back at 2008

These are some of my highlights of 2008:

1. I lost 30 pounds and have kept it off for 7 months by eating better and exercising regularly at the gym. (I guess that stuff really does work)
2. One of my daughters and son-in-law sold their house and are now building a beautiful new one.
3. Another daughter and son-in-law bought a beautiful house in the neat neighborhood of Oakhurst in Decatur, GA.
4. My grandson, Will, earned a golf scholarship to Auburn University and started his freshman year at college.
5. My granddaughter, Kristen, was one out of only 400 in the U.S. , accepted at Brevard Music School for the summer.
6. My stepson Andy, sold the store where he had worked for 26 years and started a new career as a driver with Maverick Truck Lines.
7. My son, Kirk, was involved in a car accident, broke his back and spent three months in the hospital in Birmingham this summer but pulled through and continues to amaze us with his courage and spirit.
8. My husband, John had quintuple bypass surgery in Birmingham and had to spend several weeks at home recuperating and has recovered in spectacular fashion.
9. My hometown basically lost its entire hosiery industry to South America - an industry which has employed several thousand people in Fort Payne since I was a young girl.
10. Barack Obama was elected President of the United States. (Four years ago when I heard him speak to the Democratic Convention, I turned to John and said, "One day that man will be President of the United States." )

This has been an eventful year - not without some trials and stressful times - but I have been blessed with the most awesome family one can have and they are always my source of strength.

I look forward to 2009 when I turn 69 years old and plan for the celebration of my 25th wedding anniversary with a fabulous trip to Italy! Ciao!