First of all, let me wish everyone a happy, healthy, safe New Year and every imaginable blessing in 2008!!

I don't have alot of play time this morning before work, but I thought it would be interesting to hear reflections on the year...
great blessings? regrets?

My only regret is that I didn't keep my weight down where it should be and need to diet again...it's just creeping up WAY too much!

My blessings are many...BT...the safe return of Amanda from Bonaire....how God has provided just what I needed just when I needed it in many ways, etc...

Donna nice starting tread.i agree with Your blessings hope they come true
God keep watching to the one we LOVE.Children grandchildren and Family and friends.etc

My Wishes for All where ever they are.
A Happy 2008.and GOOD LUCK.
A Healthy.2008.for me most important to give this wishes.and for many other people.
Lots of Love and sharing in 2008.
May You dreams come true in 2008
more peace in the world.for 2008
no hungry children in the world.
and more take care and sharing to each other.
WISH YOU ALL A BLESSED 2008.
GOD BLESSED YOU ALL.

Regrets:
I regret not making the most of each day. When I'm down it's hard to do.
I regret not making it to Bonaire in 07.

Blessings:
My husband Terry - Always a great guy.
My new job at the blood bank. In my little way I'm saving lives.
My kitty Ashlee - always loving and sweet.
Our lifestyle - nothing fancy, but I love living where we live.
Friends - can't live without them.
BT friends - on line and in person.
on & on & on

Linda

Linda Very nice words.
i forgot the most important thing.
Love to keep my son and grandson and his lady
in our arms.i missed them most since they not living here in de dutch anymore.
and wish one of my hubby and my dreams.to build our one house in Bonaire,
our one little paradise.
the first move we made .to buy a lot in Bon.
when to build the house.don"t now leave it in Gods hand,and safe money for it.
and thanks to the mods ,how make this possible to share things of this lovely island.
and to Jake Richter friends and family how make this possible.

I have regrets, all from the beginning of 2007. The year did not start out well AT ALL!
I will not talk about that.
But I do regret that we found out my dad has cancer in April. He was given 2 months to live and is still goin' strong!! That part I like! Now if we could just convince him to "LIVE" his life, not sit and wait for the worst to come... We could all do that, we are all terminal!

Blessings, I have so many! George saved my life. He brought ME back. I've spent such great times with my children. I've laughed so much with my mom. I found BT, learned to dive and went to Bonaire, TWICE! (All in that order!) I started painting again, and that has led to so much! I have to thank George and my BT friends for that!
I sprung Calypso from the pound! We got a new house, and it's OURS! I am living "the dream" that I always had!
And, I have a trip in sight for '08!!

Blessings - my son, his wife, my new job, family, friends, health.

Regrets - have quite a few. One of them is not able to pay -off my credit card. I am going to put it away and stop carrying it in my wallet. I have to start thinking about my retirement, need to save money, I don't want to be in my mid 70's and having to work because I have to work and I don't want to be a burden to my son.

Hugs with many

Regrets - sometimes worrying too much, sometimes not letting bygones be bygones, having 'too much pride', not enjoying the moment.

Blessings, I would be writing a novel right now.
#1 - My family, my kids, my hubby
#2 - my health, I can walk, I can see and hear, I have food, I have a roof over my head.
#3 - my friends, both near and far
Thank-you BT for another awesome year! Best wishes for the new year ahead!

2007 started out rough for me...too many worries about my brother and sisters and being eaten alive by "guilt" at moving away and having a great life when theirs are so awful. BUT, I got some help with that and have learned to cope better and better each day. (They have serious health problems, as in 2 of them terminal, or with very short life expectancies). Still have to deal with it in a hard way sometimes, as my sister wants to come and "stay" with me indefinitely and I had to say No, unfortunately. I just can't. I love her with all my being, but I can't do it. Saying no nearly killed me, but I just can't take her in right now. I'm working with her son to settle some of her issues. She's having a harder and harder time taking care of herself and not burning her house down,(seriously, she smokes in her house and has nearly burned it down about 5 times), and her speech is so bad she had to have my nephew call me (the strokes). (Why do these things happen at Christmas every year?)

2008 looks like a GREAT year in that the new biz is taking off like crazy, and I'm loving it. I'm surrounded by friends almost like a yah yah sisterhood, and we help each other reach these goals. I love that!

Larry and I will continue to travel and dive and enjoy lief in Florida to the max. And healthwise, I'm starting off with a clean slate as I had all the "old people" tests done (lol, that's what I call them - bone scan, EKG, stress test - you name it), and all is good but my cholesterol, so he upped my meds for that. It's looking good and I'm excited about the new year. There are some things I just have to deal with and pray about, but I also have to live my own life and watch out for my own health and happiness AND financial wellbeing. So that's the plan.

Go out and get the world everyone! BT is such a wonderful place and I have made some very good and generous friends.

No regrets here. Do I wish some things would have turned out differently, sure do! But I have to move forward and regret does not allow me to do that (I'm a dweller by nature).

I have goals for this year: more fun with friends and family, more fiscal responsibility. I'm not sure if those are compatible since the majority of my friends have scattered all over the globe.

I really want to take a road trip and visit either the NE coast BTers, the Florida BTers or the CA BTers, but not sure if that will work out. I hate not meeting you guys in person.

Kathy...I just (a few minutes ago) got the opposite news. My cholesterol is great! I was worried (dweller) but all is very good. The doctor actually used the word "great!" Can you believe it?

I wish to all of you good health and lots of happiness!

I can't say that I have many regrets in 2007. Maybe in that I don't get out of the house enough and take advantage of all that is available to me here. I haven't taken my 2 yr old granddaughter to Disney yet, and I have a silver pass - so shame on me!

I promise that in 2008 I will take the girls to Disney, and to the neighborhood park more often, and I will get out of my little shell here and do more fun things! Of course, being newly retired will help make all that possible. I was so bogged down in job burnout this past year, that I feel 2008 is just going to be a fabulous year! Since my hubby is a bit of a stick in the mud, I'll have to adjust to doing stuff on my own, and learn to like it! I am the controller of my own destiny, so it's about time I stepped up to the task, and live my life to the fullest!

Gail, While your up... come visit Terry and I. We're close to Clearwater.
Linda

I could just say Ditto to Tribs and Gail
- regrets, yes but I don't want to give them any more power than I already have... time to let them go and focus on the positive
- we definitely don't take advantage of all that Santa Barbara offers - all of it free for the taking. We're starting the new year off with a nice hike tomorrow as soon as Guy gets home from work

My blessings are many and I am thankful that I have always appreciated them.
I think 2008 will be the best year yet!

Not a great year, but we have loving memories of our young dog that passed on and we have a new beautiful Pointer pup who is as active and full of life as his predecessor.

I failed miserably to do anything with our pictures this year and my website is still in construction.

So our 2008 motto will be "Digitus Extractum" and lets get on and enjoy a happy life and leave a mark to say we were here. We are back in Bonaire in March for our 10th consecutive year and we thank BT'rs for their support this year and wish ever one here a happy, healthy and prosperous 2008.

Brian & Sue

(Message edited by brianl on December 31, 2007)

After serious & cautious consideration.....your contract of friendship has been renewed for the New Year 2008.
It was a VERY easy decision!!


My Wish for You in 2008

May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips! May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires and may happiness slap you across the face. May your tears be that of joy. May the problems you had forget your home address! In simple words ............

May 2008 be the best year of your life-so far!!!



Happy New Year!

Eileen...I could say DITTO to your entire post!!

I second what Donna said!