Happy New Year!

As 2009 approaches, I felt the natural urge to reflect on 2008. It was an AMAZING year for me - amazingly wonderful and at the same time amazingly sad. I am sure everyone has their share of good and bad stuff happen in their lives, but this year seemed to have extreme highs and lows for me. So where to begin?

Let's start with the good stuff - Ella is growing into a proper little girl with such rapidity that it astonishes me. She is nearly completely potty trained, is speaking fluently (even some spanish, thanks to Dora the Explorer and her cousin Diego) and loves to play with her friends at daycare. Her mommy is the most amazing mommy EVER, and I give her all of the credit for Ella turning out to be such a wonderful little chick. Ella also has her mean streaks, stubbornness, and meltdowns...all of which I attribute to me.

I have reconnected with SO MANY folks from my past via Facebook - and I am very thankful for that. It is amazing how time flies and people leave your life without warning. Having you all back in it is a great gift.

I changed jobs this year, which was the best professional move I could have made. I am SO happy at my new place - my techs are AWESOME, the staff in general is great, and it actually feels like my opinions matter and my work is appreciated. Now I just have to get Angela over there with me...

My grandfather has been battling esophageal cancer for the past couple of years...and is winning the fight. So far, he has made a miraculous recovery, and we anticipate him being around for a LONG time.

Of course, the highlight of the year has been the marathon and all of the attention that came along with it. Who ever would have thought I would have been in magazines, newspapers and on TV? I met so many awesome people - including my new favorite news reporter (Monica) and a couple of Big Losers (Jim, Dan, Coleen) - who have been incredibly encouraging and supportive. All of my friends and family have sent me tons of messages of support which helped me through the rigors of training, and I had EVERYONE on my mind as I was running those 26.2 miles. I will forever remember 2008 for this reason - I have never felt more special or loved than I have this year. I thank EVERYONE for that.

Now, the sad stuff. We lost more people this year than in any year I can remember. From an unborn child at 8 months of gestation (a colleague and friend's daughter) all the way up to my 98 year old great-great Auntie Hannah, the loss has been devastating. My friend Tara, who I dedicated the marathon to, will always hold a place in heart for as long as I live. Jessica, the twin sister to Alyssa, who grew up 2 doors down from me also passed away almost exactly 1 year after her mother did, leaving Alyssa and her dad shocked and horribly saddened. Another guy from high school, who I wasn't actually friends with at all, but was in the same class as his sister, just died as well. My heart is heavy with the fact that I will never be able to meet this little baby who I was watching grow inside her mommy's belly. That I will never be able to talk to Tara or Jessie again. That I will never hear Auntie Hannah yell at me that I am too fat (or more recently that I am too skinny), yet feed me till I was about to pop.

Also, another good friend of mine, who along with his wife has spent the last 3-4 New Years Eves with us, had his life turned upside down this year. They were overjoyed at the news that they would be having a baby this year...yet at a routine ultrasound, found out the awful news that their son had fluid building up in his brain. After an emergency C-Section and several tests, he was found to have a rare tumor attached to his brainstem, which was removed, yet he has been going intensive chemotherapy ever since and has barely been able to leave the hospital. Another heartbreaking story of 2008, yet luckily he seems to be responding well, and we all have our fingers crossed for a complete recovery.

Time stops for no one, and life goes on - who knows what 2009 will bring? Hopefully more of the happiness and less of the sadness of 2008. Maybe I'll have my own talk show? Doubt it. In any case, here's to hoping that 2009 is a year full of life, love and prosperity.

Loving you all!

-B