Some years are defined by big events—the happy ones:  births, marriages, big vacations, new homes….and the ones that are hard to bear:  illnesses, accidents, deaths.  So many of you will look back on 2009 as a period of great struggle.  A few of you will define 2009 as a year of little joys.

I’m not sure how to categorize my 2009.  There were no new little people brought to being in my family (unless my sister has Baby Niece before Midnight tonight.)  There were no vacations.  There were no house projects.  Thank the good Lord there were no illnesses or losses.  It seems 2009 will be remembered as a quiet year, and I am grateful for the quiet.  Little lessons were learned, quality time was spent in simple ways, jobs were maintained, family was preserved.  All in all, a successful and happy year in the Zanduba Family.

Goals for 2010?  I have a few, but none so earth-shattering as to be worthy of note here.  I will simply hope and pray for “enough.”  Enough patience, enough strength, enough support, and enough joy to endure whatever comes my way in 2010.  Oh, yeah….and that lottery win.  That would be nice.

Happy New Year my friends!  May 2010 be a blessed one for you and your families!

Just feeling the need to check in on all my blogging buddies.  The flu is running rampant in these here parts.  I don’t know many families not affected at this point.  So far Mister had a “flu-like illness” about three weeks ago which he got over quite quickly, followed by Big Girl who came down with the full blown down-n-out “probably swine flu” flu a few days later.  Poor girl was down for about 5 days, then recovered enough to go to school and rejoin her volleyball team, but hasn’t been able to kick it entirely.  Tonight she’s slipping back into fever, achy chest, and a sore ear.  Secondary infection, here we come.

So far feeling very thankful that we’re doing as well as we are.

Hope you’re all doing fine, and staying healthy!  Just give us a wave in the comments to let us all know you’re alive and well!  If you’re not, the rest of us can send some good thoughts or prayers your way.  *MUAH*

So, I’m not real good at keeping up these days.  Sorry.  So, I will give you the low-down in bullet form to catch y’all up. 

• The Book is awesome!  Finding Jemmy’s storyline incredibly fascinating. 
• The Balloon Fest was a bust—too much wind, too much fog, too much wind again, and then rain. Bummer.   I may have a few foggy photos to share, but nothing spectacular.
• I *still* haven’t gotten around to buying new underwear for myself.  So much for  me and my “great ideas.”
• Oh, yeah…and that “getting-back-to-photography” thing?  Not so much yet.
• Been running to Big Girl’s Volleyball games.  She made the modified team and is Captain.  WhooHoo!
• Lots of visiting lately…and cooking.
• Another Carlos’ Bakery delivery…jeans getting tight.
• Having a pool guy come Monday to “discuss possibilities.”  We’ll see.
• Hating that Fall has arrived.
• Wondering how women can stand to wear clothing once perimenopause strikes.  (Everything I own for the cooler months feels either too scratchy, too hot, too heavy, too tight, too slippy…just uncomfortable.  Any advice?  Please don’t tell me it’s time to go buy some stretchy waistband polyester pants…I will die.)
• Finished editing Caring for Children web pages and waiting for feedback.  Holiday push starts soon.
• Attempting to cut my monthly household budget nearly in half.  Sucks.
• Toying with the whole Disney in spring idea, but feeling the money crunch.  A Pool? Disney? Or feeding and clothing the kids? Decisions decisions.
• Officially gave up my PTA Treasurer position yesterday!  Whoo Hoo!
• LOVING Glee!!!  Best best best show!
• HATING Russell and Ben on Survivor….Evil incarnate.
• Thought poor Chef Ramsay was going to have a coronary this past week.
• Got my New Moon tickets already…Girls night out with Daughter, Sister, Neighbor, and Neighbor Daughter planned.
• Sick of running to the Orthodontist already, and my family has many more years to go.  *sigh*

Okay…enough already.  You get the picture.  Life is good, life is busy, life is stable, and I am content.  The only thing I would change right now is my ability to wear a sweater for more than five minutes without wanting to claw my face off.  Oh, yeah…and money.  Lots of money would be nice.  😉

If you hadn’t already noticed, I added a new link over on my blogroll, “Adventures on the High Seas”  awhile back.  I highly encourage you to check it out.  An adventurer named Roger is writing blog entries as he and another gentleman (named Dave) sail the Caribbean and Atlantic.  Absolutely fascinating!  Here is the first entry.  Enjoy!