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

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 got to attend 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