As I look forward to 2009, I have so much to be grateful for in 2008:

• A healthy, happy year.
• Lots of fun travel around the US to give speeches
• losing my job and starting my own business
• a new gym opening by my house
• a bountiful garden
• new friends, reconnecting with old
• a new coffee pot with a self-timer
• big dreams
• increasing my savings account by 850%
• another great year with Diene
• a trip to San Francisco to visit my BFF
• lots of good books, my two favorites of the year: Middlesex and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
• joining a freelance writers group that meets regularly
• making some serious progress on my book
• living the golden year after turning 29 on the 29th
• tutoring elementary kids in math and reading
• learning that people are not always what they seem
• lots of friends who had healthy babies
• the vegan cookie-postcard exchange
• a growing number of published clips in my portfolio
• a great year of taking pictures with my sweet camera
• winning a tripod at a photography class
• new cross country skis
• my sister moved to Madison
• my brother’s football team was the conference champ
• fun road trip to KY
• the blog and all the fun I’ve had writing it