Every year I say that time flies faster every year and 2009 has not been an exception. It seems as if it was yesterday that everyone was wondering what 2009 would bring. It wasn't the greatest year for us. There were a lot of deaths in our family and in the family of our friends. Some were not unexpected. My mother was 96 and we knew that she would not live much longer but it is always a shock when you lose a parent. A lot of our friends also lost a parent and there were also some sudden and unexpected deaths. Two of the deaths were very young people. I sent more sympathy cards out this year than in the rest of my life total.

This was also a year when many of our friends developed cancer. This disease still has the power to strike dread into the hearts of those diagnosed and the ones who love them. Another awful disease is Alzheimer's. We have four friends and two cousins living with this and it is awful. The disease robs you of your memory and the connection you have with friends and family.

On the positive side, we took my sister out to Calgary to visit our grandchildren and the Rockies. This was a real treat since we had been out west in 2008 and usually can't go every year.

We also had some awesome landscaping done in the backyard. Although actually GETTING it done was frustrating, the final product was lovely and should get better every year.

Despite a car accident and having to move unexpectedly, my daughter went back to school and completed the first semester of an 911 emergency response course.

What are my hopes for 2010?

Well, first I would like to do more reading and writing and spend less time on Face Book.

I would like to be more proactive in my community. There are many needs all around and although we do help out now, I think there is more that we can do.

I also want to pursue a new ministry at our church. One of the groups I am involved in has been very challenging this year. I need to talk to one of the "leaders" and see just what is going on. She seems to discount all my ideas and seems to be angry (in a very subdued way) with me all the time. I may be wrong but I feel there is something wrong between us although I have no idea what it could be. If we can't work this out. I may need to move on. I have already put out feelers for a new ministry with a couple of our pastors and they seem to be supportive.

I would like to publish some of my stories, poems and devotions in book form. I know I would have to self-publish but I really want to pursue this idea.

I also am going to work on developing better ways of reacting to events that annoy me. I realize the world does not revolve around me and my needs but sometimes when I am tired or in a lot of pain, I do not react well to unexpected challenges and disappointments.

I guess that's enough food for thought for me!