So long, 2008

So 2008 is finally over. I can't say that I'm sad to see it go. Like its buddies prior, it wasn't the best of years for me personally. Business-wise, it was borderline fantastic. But other than that, I'd like to send it off quietly into the night and forget it ever existed.

But because that's just not possible, I thought I'd try to come up with a list of things I learned in 2008. So here we go.

In 2008, I learned...

* ... that the laughs never end when you lock yourself in the bathroom naked. Just when you think the story has been forgotten, someone brings it up yet again. (And sometimes that person is you.)

* ... that God can give me a deep love for people I never before thought possible and make me an advocate for a cause I never thought I'd be interested in.

* ... that cloth diapers are super cute.

* ... that music makes me feel better.

* ... that a housing project you expect to only take a few weeks will, in reality, take about six months.

* ... that acupuncture needles hurt. I don't care who you are or what you say, acupuncture needles in my feet hurt!

* ... that my husband was in a bell choir and knows entirely too much about Riverdance.

* ... that when the adoption world says "a couple weeks", they really mean a few months at least.

* ... that I'm much more of a crunchy person than I ever thought possible and that as the years go by, the more I lean towards grace based discipline for our future kids.

* ... that God's grace is, in a word, awesome.

* ... that I'm a klutz in the kitchen, and really need flashing labels on my baking items and a zap collar to warn me when I'm about to use the baking powder instead of baking soda.

* ... that laughing at myself keeps me sane.

* ... that jewelry making is pretty cool, but photography has my heart.

* ... that I looove driving our baby SUV. Though I don't love parking it. The angels break out into song when I get it right.

* ... that I am very relieved I will never be pregnant. Like singing hallelujah relieved.

* ... that if voting really made a real difference, it would be illegal. (Thank you, dear friend, for that line. I still need my bumper sticker.)

* ... that it's hard to blog when I'm not doing very well.

* ... that I am stronger than I think, but weaker than I'd like.

* ... that somehow, even when life throws you one crappy suck year after another, it still goes on. And on. And somehow you know it just might all end up okay.