20 Highlights of My Year 2011

No particular order... here are highlights of my life in the year 2011:

1.  My relationships with my daughter, Niccole, and my grandson, Izic, grew stronger and much more meaningful.

2.  My 15-year career as a technical writer came to a close. I was offered and accepted a position as an IT Project Manager at Adventist Health.

3.  I had a couple of very painful dental surgeries that netted me two dental implants and a whole new appreciation for flossing.

4.  One of our beautiful German Shepherd dogs, Jade, decided she was no longer happy living with us in Roseville. She moved up to Auburn, California where she got to live on a horse ranch with our friends Kathi and Randy. That didn't work out either, though, and now she lives in Southern California where she's happy and well-loved.

5.  Brian and I completely gutted our very out-dated kitchen. Then we installed the first half of a complete remodel -- gorgeous new cabinets, beautiful new Cambria quartz countertops, a new large stainless steel sink and faucet, and new Bosch appliances. The remainder of the new kitchen will be installed in 2012. I've never had a brand new kitchen before, and it's really fabulous!

6.  Several friends of mine and I participated in a weekly book study together. We read The 12 Steps & The 12 Traditions, from the perspective of learning how to apply our common principles in all our affairs. It was a wonderful study and a very special event for me.

7.  Martie and I met and have become good friends. She's an important person in my life now, and I'm very grateful for our friendship.

8.  My precious friendships with Tim, Kari, and Bethie have strengthened and grown. I treasure them, probably more than they know. Tim celebrated 8 years of sobriety and fell in love with Mitzi; Kari became a barista and grew spiritually by leaps and bounds; and Bethie lost 100 pounds and participated in half-marathons!

9.  I failed to be a good friend to four people in 2011: Alice, Kevin, Laura, and Jan, at least according to them. And if they believe I failed, then I obviously did.

10.  I celebrated 18 years of continuous sobriety on May 17, 2011. Thank you GOD.

11.  I began therapy, in order to face and hopefully deal with some hard-wiring issues that have plagued me my entire life.

12. I had arthroscopic surgery on my right knee to repair a badly torn meniscus.

13.  Giants Opening Day in 2011 featured Brian Wilson raising the World Series Championship flag at AT&T Park. Our Giants got their World Series Rings, and we got to be the champions all year long. It was awesome!

14.  Our gorgeous German Shepherd dog, Niko, turned 3 years old in March 2011. She's beautiful, funny, personable, healthy, and full of energy, and she's a precious family member. We run her about 3 miles on our bikes regularly and take her for walks whenever possible. She's well-trained and obedient, for the most part anyway! I love her.

15.  Brian and I -- okay, mostly Brian -- built a beautiful new porch onto the front of our house. It's a fantastic new living space. It was a TON of work, and Brian did a meticulous, perfect job. It's not quite finished yet, but the bulk of the work got done by the time winter arrived. The rest will be finished in the spring of 2012.

16.  I spent Christmas with my daughter, Niccole, for the very first time in 2011. Niccole, Izic, and I had a relaxing quiet weekend together. We watched movies, enjoyed crackling fires, made yummy lasagna, walked to the park, and enjoyed each other very much. We had our pictures taken together, too, and gave them to friends and family members as Christmas presents.

17.  My "little brother" Kelly Stocke passed away this year, sadly.  Also, my uncle Bud Dirksen passed away.

18.  I have launched on an all-out effort to learn how to cook, and it's been fun and rewarding. I don't hate cooking nearly as much as I thought I would.

19.  My relationship with Brian has grown stronger and more loving as time passes. He's genuinely a wonderful man, and I love him dearly. I'm blessed to be in a relationship with such a good person.

20.  God and I continue our journey hand-in-hand. I remember when I used to think that the point was travel TO God; now, I know that I must travel WITH God.


With love,
Karen

Twenty Major Events in 2010, in no particular order...

1. My grandson, Izic, turned one year old and has been growing and changing and amazing me all year. We celebrated his one-year birthday at McKinley Park.

2. Brian and I took several trips:

• Austin, San Antonio, and Texas Hill Country - attended convention in San Antonio and met many of my dearest on-line friends there, including Jocelyn, Trish, Steve, and Jim.
• Las Vegas - attended a White Sox/Cubs Exhibition Game with my favorite Cub fan friends and others who I hadn't seen in about 20 years. Plus I got to see my little sister Bobbie and her family again.
• San Francisco - spent a fun-filled weekend attending Giants games and enjoying the city by the bay.
• Virginia and Washington, DC - toured all over Virginia and D.C. Got to meet on-line friends Jennifer, Russell, and Bill.

3. My sponsees filled my life, my heart, and my soul all year long. Got to take steps, present birthday chips, laugh, cry, study, learn, pray, and grow together. Life changing moments for which I will never stop being grateful.

4. My friends Dana McLeod and Andy Wheeler passed away. So did Mary Anderson's mother.

5. Bought a new Toyota Camry SE.

6. Our German Shepherds, Niko and Jade, turned 2 years old. Jade moved out in November, and is now living with our good friends Kathi and Randy in Auburn.

7. I attended my 35th high school reunion, and got to see friends I haven't seen in, well, 35 years!

8. I got to spend an entire afternoon with my best friend from high school, Cindy (Wood) Clark and her family.

9. Brian and I bought bicycles and started riding bikes to work as often as possible.

10. I had major dental surgery.

11. I was Project Manager for the HealthStream Enterprise Implementation project at work.

12. Brian and I got to meet the Cash Cab guy, Ben Bailey, and catch his comedy act.

13. Went camping at Fallen Leaf Lake with Brian, Niccole, Sonny, and Izic.

14. THE GIANTS WON THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!

15. Brian, Bill, and I built a really cool "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" payphone and phone booth for the Leoni Meadows IT Conference.

16. I celebrated 17 years of continuous sobriety, and grew closer to God because of it.

17. I attended Alex's Eagle Court of Honor.

18. Enjoyed a meaningful spiritual retreat in September with friends.

19. Bought a new refrigerator.

20. Did I mention the GIANTS WON THE WORLD SERIES???!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011: Ready or not, here I come!!

One Option

"It's a "before and after" scenario. Before your rescue, you could easily keep God at a distance. Sure he was important, but so was your career. Your status. Your salary. . . .

"Then came the storm . . . the rage . . . the fight . . . the ripped moorings . . . despair fell like a fog; your bearings were gone. In your heart, you knew there was no exit.

"Turn to your career for help? Only if you want to hide from the storm, not escape it. Lean on your status for strength? A storm isn't impressed with your title.

"Suddenly, you are left with one option: God."

~ In the Eye of the Storm, by Max Lucado

Top 10 spiritual lessons I have learned while riding my bike to work

10. Steep hills don’t last forever. Eventually, I make it over every crest.

9. Scenery is much more enjoyable when I take the time to actually look up and notice it.

8. Saying a little prayer before tackling a really steep hill doesn’t hurt. Dare I say it even helps?

7. Resistance is honestly the only way to build strength.

6. Sometimes it’s necessary to shift clear down to first gear in order to make any progress at all.

5. To get where I’m going, I have to keep moving. And as long as I keep moving, I don’t fall down.

4. When I make the mistake of focusing on an obstacle up ahead on the road, darn if I don’t hit it -- every time!

3. Tackling hills can be challenging and rewarding, but nothing beats a long, straight, gentle downhill coast.

2. It certainly doesn’t hurt to smile, especially when the going gets tough.

And, the #1 spiritual lesson I have learned while riding my bike to work:

1. The journey really is very beautiful and joyful, but it’s all about my perception and attitude.

School again

Back to school today. Only one class this semester - Computer Production/Graphic Design (AAD0061). Back to Sierra College campus. Feels familiar.

I've been chipping away at a 2-year degree in Communication/Graphic Arts for about three years now, one or two classes a semester. I choose not to cram more to my already-busy schedule. I still have several more classes to go after this one. My 2-year degree will probably take 5 years.

I'm maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and that's important to me, but only because I hate to ruin a perfect record. If it drops, I'll mourn the loss for a day or two, and then I'll get over it. I do like to do my best, though.

I remember the first day I started working on this degree. It was a rainy January day, just like today. I was scared because I hadn't been on a school campus in years. And it was pouring rain. I arrived in the parking lot at least a half-hour early, and sat there trying to calm my nerves. Miraculously, the rain suddenly stopped! I took advantage of that stroke of luck, and hurried to my classroom. When I arrived, the clouds burst open again. I choose to believe that God gave me a break that morning.

I'm not the oldest student on this campus, but I'm a member of the club, if there is one. I would guess about 90% of the students are, well, student-age. 18 to 25. Really, really young. But there are adults, like me, who have decided for whatever reason to go to school.

I like school, but I don't like homework, tests, and pressures. I used to think I'd continue my education well into my senior years, just because it's good for me to exercise my mind and hone my skills. But now I'm rethinking that original enthusiasm. I want to spend my golden years traveling with Brian, and I simply can't do both. Traveling wins. I'll finish this 2-year degree and hang up my backpack for good.

Oh, by the way, I'm not actually enrolled in AAD61. It's a full class. I'm here hoping I can add. If I can't, well, I don't know... I'll probably try to find a math class I can take, or I'll just choose to take off the semester. We'll find out in a few minutes.

That's all for now...

Karen

Too precious!

I know, I'm an insufferable grandmother...

But C'MON... this is just too cute for words!!

A second in time

Today is the only day it will happen...

at 56 seconds past 12:34 today, it will be:

12:34:56 7/8/9

I'm going to do something very special with that second in time.

Haven't figured out yet exactly what I will do, but it will be special. I won't waste it.