HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I cannot believe that one year ago--I was still in the midst of the jungle. I believe it was the BEST New Year's I've ever had. At midnight--we were on a boat in the middle of the Amazon River--a few of us jumped in the river to ring it in properly! :0) It was an amazing opportunity for which I am so very grateful. I think part of my heart is still there with the people and in the jungle! Someday--I'll be going back---someday! ;0)

January 1 is always a day of reflection for me. A look at the past year and what has happened. I will have to say that 2007 was an extremely eventful year for me with both highs & lows. Well...of course, I started it off right while celebrating in the Amazon! ;0) I met Wangari Maathai (Nobel Peace Prize Laureate), I graduated college, my Dad had a couple of surgeries, the twins were born, I moved to Olathe, I began nannying for the twins, I moved back north to KC, I attended several friends' weddings, we lost S. Gervase, I paid my first rent, Rosie was given back to us (apparently she needs to pray more--there was no light *smile*), I took my first graduate class,the list could go on and on with the events this year provided, but most of all, I learned a lot about myself in these past 5 months, especially. I am not one for making New Years resolutions---so I won't even attempt---but I do know that this year looks as though it might be just as eventful as 2007--I guess that's the way life should be. I am grateful for chance of a New Year--hoping that I can take what I've learned in the past year and make this lows for this year and change them into highs for 2008

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year! May it bring you happiness & peace of heart. I've realized the latter is ever so important for a fulfilled life!

Happy 2008!

Picture: Allison & me in the Amazon celebrating New Years with some of the children in one of the villages. It is tradition to cover each other in corn startch--wishing each other luck for the New Year! They also had another tradition I thought was rather neat and interesting--everything from the past year that represented something bad, hurtful, or unpleasant for them, they threw it into a communal pit and at midnight they lit it on fire--representing the burning of the past and the awakening of a New Year! It was pretty neat to see.