Stop and Think About It

Just read these questions on my daughter's blog, Morning Coffee, and thought they would be worthy of my reflection.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Joined facebook--and found friends I had not seen in decades.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Didn't really make resolutions, but I did make decisions about things I wanted to do. For example: I decided to use only one word for each of my sermon titles. DID IT. Write regularly on my blog. DIDN'T DO IT. Wear my preaching alb every Sunday that I preached. DID IT. (Before 2009 I wore the preaching alb only on special Sundays like Lent and Easter and Pentecost and Advent and Christmas.)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I can remember. Our youngest grandchild was born in December 2008.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Close in distance--no. Close in fondness--yes. Our friend, Henry Martin, in Nashville died suddenly and unexpectedly shortly before Christmas. The fact that he was younger than I am, probably makes this death have an even greater impact on me and Thomas.

5. What countries did you visit?
Went to Texas. Does that count as a country?

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
What would I like to have in this year that we didn't have in the last? World peace. Seriously, were are the peacemakers?

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Was there one? I treasure the days we had during Thanksgiving week with all our family together--in-laws, "out-laws," and grand kids. That was memorable, but not a specific date.


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
What did I achieve this past year? Was faithful in my responsibilities to the church and to my husband. Or at least I think I was.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not living up to the expectations of the church and my husband! [A good analysts would have a heyday with that!]

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Had to have C-scan and an MRI only to discover a benign hemangeoma on my liver that does not have any responsibility for my excessive abdominal weight gain. I was really hoping something would be identified. My annual mammogram declare me still cancer free.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I bought something? Oh, yes, the batik dress I ordered from the women's coop in India.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I baptized 3 people this past year--a man, a woman, and a 12 year old boy--and I celebrate each of those decisions and the joy their commitment to the Lord brought them. Their behavior merited celebration.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
One of the members of our congregation that took offence at something I said and decided to leave and go to another church. Makes me very sad, but not depressed.

14. Where did most of your money go?
House payments,insurances, school loans, car payments, utilities, food... the usual. A tithe went to the church, of course.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Was excited to witness the historical inauguration last January.

16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2009?
My 'songs' tend toward hymnody--and old American hymns, at that. Nothing in particular stands out. No, wait! I thought of something. The new lyrics that Debbie and Andy put to the Hallelujah melody from Schreck for our Advent and Christmas celebration.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
* Happier or sadder?
I don't know. About the same. Perhaps a little more aware of how fragile life is.

* Thinner or fatter?
Heavier--and I can't blame it on the hemangioma. Bummer!

* Richer or poorer?
Probably a bit poorer from the point of view of money. But wealth is measured in more than material possession--so in that respect, I am richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I sincerely try to live consciously so that I have no regrets. However, there were times when I wish I could have been cloned because I needed to be at two places at once.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Maybe what I wish I had done less of is not exercising. (Should that have gone under the "wish you'd done more of" question and the answer would be--exercise more.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my husband, watching a movie, enjoying the snow from the warmth of our living room, sipping coffee and watching the birds... Talked to my Daddy in Texas and our kids scattered throughout the USA.

21. How many one-night stands?
Oh, I have two night stands--one on each side of the bed. [smile]

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Nothing stands out. I sleep through most of them. But, you know, I sort of got hooked on Wheel of Fortune when we lived with Grandma Minton.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No hate.

24. What was the best book you read?
I am enjoying the series Feasting on the Word edited by Barbara Brown Taylor. A companion to the lectionary approaching the weekly readings from four perspectives: Theological, Pastoral, Exegetical, Hermenutical,

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
No musical discoveries.

26. What did you want and get?
Wanted nothing and got everything!

27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Enjoyed Avatar.

28. What did you do on your birthday?
What did I do? Thomas probably took me out to eat. May have even taken me to a movie.

29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Challenged because of the weight gain. I enjoy layers and loose jackets. And would not be without my Birkenstocks.

30. What kept you sane?
Working in the yard; walking in the woods, occasionally; and primarily having quality time with a gracious and patient husband.

31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Probably the Obama family--but I'm not sure what 'fancy' means.

32. What political issue stirred you the most?
Affordable available health care with health insurance reform--but I don't consider this a political issue. In my thinking it is a moral issue that should have been addressed decades ago.

33. Who did you miss?
Are you saying I'm not a good shot? Is that what you are implying? The very idea, 'Who did you miss?' If I shoot, I hit. [smile]

34. Who was the best new person you met?
Not just one. I was invited to join the LIA House board and am glad to know each of those board members on a more personal level.

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Life is very fragile. Express your love often. Treasure the moments you have and use them wisely.