What kind of year will 2008 be?

As most of you know, Jarred started the tradition long ago of "naming" our years with a theme. It all started with the "Year of Jarred" (YOJ) and has taken off from there. I told you guys about this last year, for sure.

For the record, for the past decade or so, almost every "even" year winds up being a YOJ, so, yes, that makes 2008 a YOJ. Frankly, Jarred deserves a real YOJ after the debacle that occurred with his relocation/new job/layoff. I think I had one YOL, but really, I want every year to be a YOL for me!

2007 was the Year of Positivity (I think I decided that after we had the 2 years in a row of "Year of Joy"). I think we did a good job living that out, as we have all remained upbeat despite things not always going the way we might have imagined them to.

2008 has also been named the Year of Inspiration (are you guys able to keep up with all of this!?) because I told Jarred I wanted us to work harder at not only providing inspiration but gleaning inspiration from those around us.

We still have a little bit of time before January 1 for you all to think about what kind of year you want to have in 2008. You can name it and claim the way we like to (I'd love you to share them with me!), or you can do it more quietly.

Times seems to go by more quickly each year. The older I get, the faster time flies. I am trying to keep up (or "maintain" as Jermaine would say).

Whatever works for you and allows you to live with purpose. Here's to a wonderful, healthy, and peaceful 2008 for all of us!

A Merry Christmas to All...

I hope that I will have the opportunity to spend time with some of you over the upcoming holiday. Please come see my parents and I on Christmas Eve!

I have some nice time off coming up, but it's broken up into two batches--Dec 22-Dec 26 and then Dec 29-Jan1. I'll actually feel better about it being broken up so I can "catch up" on e-mails and everything the two days I am in the office next week and then I can start the new year off with a clean slate. I have always been very weird about that (starting the new year off "clean" in every sense of the word in my environment and with myself and my interactions). I think I posted about it this time last year.

What has me and most of my co-workers baffled is that our company gave us Monday, Dec 31 as a company holiday this year, but did not give us Monday, Dec 24. I guess they didn't want to be seen as favoring one religious group over another, perhaps.

I hope you all are well and will be able to spend time with those you love. May you and your families rejoice in the coming of the infant King! God bless you and love you!

Be careful what you wish for...

So I'm the lady who always wants out of town guests. I think about having people come in from out of town and that I'll take a couple days off from work and I'll take them places and show them things and we'll have a grand old time. Who these people are that are coming in from out of town, I have no idea, but it's still one of those things that crosses my mind more often than a normal person.

Judy from Rutgers is coming today and staying until tomorrow, and although I cannot wait, just having someone come and stay for one night has me in such a tizzy I have no idea how I would realistically cope with people staying for more than a night or two. I have been trying to get the house clean and in order for several days and still am not finished (and I am currently at the Honda dealer getting an oil change and then going to grocery shop all before Judy comes, so who knows when I am going to finish working on the house before she arrives). My downstairs is always in good shape because that's where my guests usually are and that's the part of the house the "public" sees, but I have Christmas gifts and decoration containers in the very guest room Judy will be sleeping in. Sigh.

I'm no fool though, believe me. I fully realize that if this is my greatest stress this weekend, I am blessed.

Have a great weekend!