Live Your Life on Purpose

While pondering what my New Years Eve blog should be I decided that I wanted to avoid anything too cliche and perhaps focus a bit more on the personal for 2009.

2008 has been a wonderful year for me, perhaps even one of my favourites. It has been a year full of opportunities, adventures and growth, family, fun and friends. In a sense, a near perfect year.

As I gaze upon 2009 there are some thoughts that I have for myself, and one of them is that I would like to be more forgiving. Learning to forgive through out my life has enriched me, my experiences and my relationships in so many ways that I can only be grateful for that first awkward attempt at real forgiveness - an action that brought my best friend of 24 years back into my life after two years of bitterness. All in all I think most people I know would call me fairly forgiving already... but it really is a "work in progress." Just before Christmas I heard a story on the radio about an Amish family who publicly forgave the man who killed their children AND went to his funeral. Knowing what resentment remains in my heart means knowing I have a long way to go to being a forgiving being. I'd like to work on this.

When I think of the people who inspired me in 2008 I find Randy Pausch and Barack Obama topping my list. What I learned from both of these people, for different reasons, was to believe in myself and dare to dream, for if you neglect the dreaming part of life you really can't get where you want to go. My motto for 2009 should be "follow your dreams, they know the way."

The source of my content joy and happiness this year has certainly been my family. We have all grown up in some fashion but have been able to grow together at the same time. Our bonds have grown stronger and that is something I would like to continue building on in 2009. Life has shown me that no matter what else you have going on in life if you don't have your family close to you there is no such thing as true happiness in your heart. This year I got a job that I thought was my dream job and was everything I had been waiting for, but when I saw how much time it was taking away from my family I chose my family. And that should be the case every time: Family First.

As I said so eloquently to Edmonton's Brittney LeBlanc, if I were to describe this year in one word it would be "Change - for good or bad, or perhaps even both, 2008 was about change." Now, as is the result of opportunity that change brings us, 2009 will be clearly what we make of it.

I wish you all a safe and peaceful year in 2009. Happy New Year!

Auld Lang Syne!

Our Family in Disneyland

This was the year I turned 34 years old – getting old, next year is the big 35! 2006 has been a fabulous year for me and my family.

NEW HANGOUT: Starbucks (We’re hopelessly hooked)

BEST GIFT: Disneyland for Christmas!

FAVORITE SONG: Sweet Neo-Con

NEW HOBBY: Photography!

BEST MOVIE: An Inconvenient Truth

BEST DVD: Cars

BEST VIDEO GAME: Animal Crossing Wild World

BIGGEST CHANGE: Wesley changed schools this year

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Finding family time among the demands of politics!

BIGGEST BLESSING OF THE YEAR:
New Family Member! Duncan's step Mom was able to join us from Vietnam this year.

MOST STIRRING POLITICAL ISSUE: I worked very hard on two Leadership Campaigns, Dave Hancock and Ed Stelmach, this entire year.

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and our Wedding Anniversary which is on 07/07/07 (hopefully the two events will coincide). Also – Order of the Phoenix!

PREDICTIONS FOR 2007: A smoke free Alberta!

LOOKING BACK: 2005 and 2004 and 2003

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
I wish you all the best for a happy, safe and prosperous 2007!

Auld Lang Syne!

This was the year I turned 33 years old, and it was a fun year (which was especially nice after last year!) This year we traveled lots of places, including: Banff in May (we stayed at the Banff Centre for the Arts); Devon in July (we visited the Kurimoto Japanese Gardens); Niagara Falls in July (it was 43 degrees Celsius!); Toronto in July (we celebrated our first wedding anniversary in the revolving restaurant in the CN Tower); Lake Louise and Bankhead in September (The Rocky Mountains - we also visited Banff, Cochrane and Calgary); Lethbridge in December (we enjoyed the coulees and the long train bridge); Elk Island National Park in December (Buffalo!); and now we end the New Year celebrating with friends at the "Estate" in Cochrane Alberta.

NEW HANGOUT: Second Cup or Jungle Jims (WEM)

BEST GIFTS: This year we were really happy to have Duncan’s Dad and my Mom with us to on Christmas morning for gift opening and breakfast. I think everyone was really happy with what Santa brought them but I must have been really good cause I think I got spoiled! Among my booty this year I got jewelry, a Kodak printer for my camera (and camera accessories), a Harry Potter replica/collectors wand, a HUGE suitcase for our upcoming trip to Las Vegas, The March of the Penguins (movie), books (including Michael Moore’s Will They Ever Trust us Again), a gorgeous Oak and Marble cheese serving display, and chocolates. Also, I am excited about reading the books I got for Duncan (The Dark Lord: Rise of Darth Vader, Rescuing Canada’s Right, Team of Rivals and the Secret Mulroney Tapes).

FAVORITE SONG: The Revenge of the Sith and Harry Potter Soundtracks (and anything my son plays on his flute).

BEST BOOK READ: I really enjoyed Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and both the Labyrinth and Revenge of the Sith. It might be worth noting that I also started an online Book Club this year!

NEW HOBBY: Scrap booking and Photography

BEST MOVIE: Kingdom of Heaven, Revenge of the Sith (first 12:01am showing and several times thereafter), Dukes of Hazzard, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (twice), Walk the Line, Munich

BEST DVD: Revenge of the Sith (and it’s documentary)!

BEST VIDEO GAME: Sid Meier’s Civilization 4!

BIGGEST CHANGE: Wesley went to Junior High this year and I am going on a doctor mandated Cholesterol Free diet starting Jan 1st. Yikes, that’s tomorrow!

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: This year was pretty good and seemed to fly by so any challenges were minor and easily faced.

BIGGEST BLESSING OF THE YEAR: Duncan and I were asked to stand as members of Brett and Beatrice’s wedding party when they take their vows in 2006. We are excited and honoured to support them in their love and commitment to each other!

MOST STIRRING POLITICAL ISSUE: As I have been contracted to work on a Provincial Leadership Campaign I have been focusing on leadership politics (which are very interesting). I have been avoiding federal politics all together!

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Our trip to Las Vegas, and a happy, healthy and prosperous new year for all!

PREDICTIONS FOR 2006: Liberals will win again.

LOOKING BACK: 2004 and 2003

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
I wish you all the best for a happy, safe and prosperous 2006!

Auld Lang Syne!

This was the year I turned 32 years old. It is also the year I went grey, the year I grew up, and the year I learnt the most about life. If you think it sounds like it has been a heavy year, you'd be right.

NEW HANGOUT: The Sugarbowl Coffee Shop (by the high level diner).

BEST GIFTS: Truly, having the family together for Christmas, including my Mom, Quynn and Mischief. But I did get awesome gifts – this Christmas I received a gift certificate for Dawns Bra Boutique (and a personalized appointment for a fitting), a Spa Package (with Massage!), massage oil (that comes with the promise of many more massages), Fahrenheit 911, The Passion of the Christ, Chocolate, teddy bears, candles, a coffee to go machine (for hectic mornings), and Duncan made me a very special present - a framed picture (him putting my wedding ring on) in black and white (but the ring is left in colour) with a poem:

There’s nothing I would rather do,
than to grow old with you,
the fun that being with you brings,
our memories made of little things,
the talks we have, the jokes we share,
the hugs, the kisses here and there,
what better reason could there be,
to ask you to grow old in love with me.

FAVORITE SONG: We chose Bryan Adams's "When You Love Someone" and Adam Sandlers rendition of "Grow Old With You" to play at our wedding this year.

BEST BOOK READ: This year I really enjoyed reading the Harry Potter Series again.

NEW HOBBY: Family Tree and Record Researching.

BEST MOVIES: The Notebook, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Fahrenheit 911, The Passion of the Christ.

BEST DVD: The Star Wars Trilogy.

BEST VIDEO GAME: KOTOR II and Metroid Prime 2.

BIGGEST CHANGE: Duncan and I were married on July 7th. I am now Allie Wojtaszek.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Dealing with the deaths, funerals and estates of three close family members.

BEST JOKE: It wasn't a very funny year for us...

BIGGEST BLESSING OF THE YEAR: Marrying Duncan!

MOST STIRRING POLITICAL ISSUE: We had many elections this year, with many good issues, but I would still have to say the same as last year, same sex marriage rights.

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Star Wars Revenge of the Sith, May 19 2005, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince July 16 2005

PREDICTIONS FOR 2005: More places with free wireless internet access and less places to smoke.

Here's Wishing my Friends, Family and Reading Audience all the best for a safe, happy and prosperous New Year. Here's hoping that in 2005 we learn to be a more peaceful and less greedy species.

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!!!!!

Auld Lang Syne!

This was the year I turned 31 years old. As with every year, it was packed full of excitement:

Space Shuttle Columbia
Invasion of Iraq
West Nile Virus
SARS and SARSstock
The War on Terror
Mad Cow Disease
Toronto Blackout
BC Forest Fires
Legalization of Same Sex Marriage
Saddam Hussein's capture
FBI suspects Almanacs Users are terrorists

NEW HANGOUT: Hooters, West Edmonton Mall.

BEST GIFTS: I was spoiled this year. I got great books for Christmas - Salam Pax's The Baghdad Blog, Lou Paget's 365 Days of Sensational Sex and Mitch Album's The Five People You Meet in Heaven. I also had a great birthday as well!

FAVORITE SONG: Fallen, by Sarah McLachlan

BEST BOOK READ: Jennifer Lauck's Blackbird and Still Waters

NEW HOBBY: Blogging! And Digital Photography!

BEST MOVIE: Without a doubt, The Return of the King. Also, Master and Commander, Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions, Finding Nemo, The Last Samurai, Kill Bill Vol 1, and X2.

BEST DVD:"The Adventures of Indiana Jones"

BEST VIDEO GAME: Knights of the Old Republic.

BIGGEST CHANGE: I became engaged!

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Moving to Edmonton

BEST JOKE: When George Bush said "Bring 'em on" daring Iraqi terrorists to attack American troops. Oh wait, that wasn't a joke...

BIGGEST BLESSING OF THE YEAR: My children's wonderful report cards (almost all A's) and their repeated excellent academic performance that earned them both awards of Distinction from their new school.

MOST STIRRING POLITICAL ISSUE: Same Sex Marriage/Equal Rights and The Invasion of Iraq.

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Schindler's List on DVD, our wedding, and a honeymoon!!!

PREDICTIONS FOR 2004: Stupid Bush will likely get re-elected. Where's a good regime change when you need it?

Here's Wishing my Friends, Family and Reading Audience all the best for a safe, happy and prosperous New Year. Here's hoping that in 2004 we learn to be a more peaceful and less greedy species.

Let me be a channel of peace,
that where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong, I may bring the
spirit of forgiveness;
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
that where there is error, I may bring truth;
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
that where there is despair, I may bring hope;
that where there are shadows, I may bring light;
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;
to understand, than to be understood;
to love, than to be loved.
for it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
by forgiving that one is forgiven.

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!!!!!