I'm Moving

I've had enough of xanga being blocked in so many places. So my blog world is moving to a new location. You can now find me at:

http://ilovecoffeeandchocolate.blogspot.com/

If you have me bookmarked or linked, you can now go ahead and change the link.

3rd and Final End of the Year List

I wanted to sort of recap all the things that have basically made this year what it was. It was an interesting one. Not one that I am necessarily itching to leave like I have some years, but not one I would necessarily want to stay in either, if we had some sort of control over that sort of thing.  I guess overall I’m pretty neutral about leaving 2007. But I’m pretty excited about 2008, for a lot of reasons. Hopefully you’ll read about some of those reasons as the year gets going!

So here’s a list of the highlights of the year, in somewhat of the order that they occurred, though that’s a little difficult with things that are continual. But I tried. They are not at all in order of significance or importance.

Top 13 Most Memorable Things (Events, People, Places, Etc) of 2007:

-Watching Kennedy develop into this beautiful little girl; watching Katie become who she was always meant to be-a wonderful mother.

-January retreat in the mountains with friends

-Mug and Bean, May 1^st

-A deepened friendship that I really didn’t see coming, that is now one of the things I cherish the most, even though the circumstances that lead to its growth were sad and hard to deal with at times

-Random day in Atlanta with friends

-Luke turning into the smartest and cutest 2 year old little boy in the world

-Caroline arriving and now being this precious, beautiful little baby girl who smiles and talks to you in her own little baby language

-October Beach Trip

-Catering

-Time spent with friends who don’t live close to me (that includes trips I’ve taken to see friends, and friends who have come here)

-Several clear defining moments in my life (that dealt with everything from a song to relationships to cooking and baking to coffee to several other things)

-Healing that God is doing in several areas

-Miracles-truly miracles, 2 in particular-that have occurred just over the last few weeks

There it is. 2007 summed up in a short list. It’s hard to put 365 days and all that they entail into a list, isn’t it? That’s about the best I can do, I think.

End of the year list #2-Songs

It makes me nervous to “complete” my list of favorite songs from the year, because what if it isn’t complete? What if I’ve left something off? There’s a good chance I have. I keep a playlist going all year, but I know there are times I forget to move something to it, or it’s a song I don’t actually have, just one I love to hear on the radio, and I don’t write it down. But I guess it’s as complete as it’s going to be for this year. I got quite a few new CD’s for Christmas, and I’ve been listening to some, but I am not allowing myself to include anything from those CD’s. Some of those songs will be my first favorites of 2008. As usual, not all of these were new songs in 2007, they were just either new to me, or for some reason important to me during the year. Here they are, in absolutely no particular order:

Almost Honest-Josh Kelley

Tim McGraw-Taylor Swift

Leave the Pieces-The Wreckers

Stand Still, Look Pretty-The Wreckers

One More Girl-The Wreckers

You Just Forgot-Mindy Smith

What If You-Joshua Radin

Over It-Katherine McPhee

(You Want To) Make a Memory-Bon Jovi

Seat Next To You-Bon Jovi

Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore-Bon Jovi and LeAnn Rimes

Are You Alright-Lucinda Williams

Sober-Kelly Clarkson

Way Back Into Love-Hugh Grant (From the movie, Music and Lyrics)

It’s Not Over-Daughtry

The Way I Am-Ingrid Michaelson

In the Ghetto-Elvis and Lisa Marie Presley

I Really Want You-James Blunt

Same Mistake-James Blunt

One of the Brightest Stars-James Blunt

Aimee-Damien Rice

9 Crimes-Damien Rice

Fidelity-Regina Spektor

Please, Please, Please-The Smiths

Yes, if you ask nicely, I’ll make you a CD.

End of the year post #1

Today you get some of my Favorites from the year, but not all. And I have a hard time getting all the way down to just one in each category, as you can see. But they are my lists, so I don't have to!

Favorite Movies:

From those I saw first in the theater: Waitress; Music and Lyrics (Tied)

From those I saw first on DVD: Miss Potter; Stranger Than Fiction is a close 2^nd (but not a tie)

Albums: James Blunt, All the Lost Souls; Bon Jovi, Lost Highway is a close 2^nd (but not quite a tie)

Fiction books-The Kite Runner; The final Harry Potter (Tied). If it had been a year without a Harry Potter book, the Kite Runner would have been the only winner. As it is, it must share.

Non-Fiction books-Me, Myself and Bob (by the guy who started VeggieTales); The Innocent Man (by John Grisham). Two very, very different books. Both really good.

Favorite new artists I was introduced to this year: Ingrid Michaelson and Regina Spektor

Check back over the weekend for the list of my favorite 20 or so songs, and general highlights of the year. Hope you have a nice weekend!

Currently Listening Carnival Ride By Carrie Underwood see related

Merry Christmas to All!!!

I hope you’ve all been having a Very Merry Christmas! We have! We had a great weekend in Thomasville. Luke and Caroline are the cutest kiddos in the world J The Christmas Eve service at 1^st Pres last night was wonderful. My dad’s side Christmas time at my aunt and uncle’s after church was great as always, with lots of good food and our newest little darling-my new cousin Zta Kate, who is 5 days old and has more hair than any other newborn, ever. She’s precious! Today we had my mom’s side family time here at the house, with more good food and lots of gift exchanging. My mom and I are getting ready to go watch P.S. I Love You and then I’ll be headed back to Hixson for another week of housesitting. Tomorrow I’m going to do just a tiny bit of after Christmas shopping and a good bit more resting before heading back to work on Thursday.

If I can find xanga access over the next few days, I’ll probably be posting some end of the year lists. Stay tuned.

Currently Listening Greatest Hits By David Gray see related