Wednesday, January 7, 2009

2009 "The Year of Hope"

Happy New Year! I hope the first week of 2009 has been kind to everyone! My year is off to a reasonably good start and I am feeling better than I have in a long time. It is nice to be off all the hormones, not have a million doctors appointments, and to actually be feeling a little more like me.

Honestly, the holidays were better than I expected. Family was very supportive and kind without being overbearing or full of 'assvice'. My mom went overboard for Christmas and bought us a Wii. It is seriously the best thing ever! She was so sweet when she gave it to us. She said, "I know we were cutting back this year, but you are so sad and broken hearted. I knew I could not fix it for you, but I could at least bring a smile to your face." That she did! It was also a long over due gift. I begged and pleaded throughout my childhood for a Nintendo system and she never, ever gave in, until now!!! Sean hooked it up Christmas morning and the four of us (Sean,me & my parents) laughed harder than we have in a VERY long time. My parents had a holiday open house the next night and it was definitely the hit of the party! Sean & I have had a ball with it and are completely addicted to Guit.ar Hero! I can't wait until the Wii Fit is back in stock!

New Year's Eve was fun as well. We invited
Amanda and her family over for a slumber party. We made tons of appetizers, played Wii and drank an adult beverage or two or three or maybe more ;) It was a great way to start off 2009!

As far as resolutions go, I only made one and it is to use my time more wisely. By doing that I will also be reaching more of my goals - planning my meals, cooking before I leave for work in the afternoon, getting in some exercise, staying on top of home projects etc... I feel my life will have more balance if I am making better use of my time. So far, so good. I have cooked a yummy, healthy meal every day before I leave for tutoring. The house is stocked with healthy foods, I have packed Sean's lunch daily and even checked a thing or two off my master to do list. Life is good in our house this week!

I have been hearing 2009 referred to as "The Year of Hope". The man behind me in the grocery store was making small talk with me and the cashier and he was the first to say it and tie into Obama. It struck a chord with me immediately. I told him how much I loved it and thanked him for sharing it with me. It reminded me of something that happened on Christmas morning. Sean & I had agreed to keep our gift giving very low key this year. We have a bad habit of going a little crazy with gifts for one another, so this year we agreed to keep it small and meaningful. We have a tradition of buying each other a personalized ornament every year for the holidays. I had a hard time picking one this year and told him we should just pick one together. We never got around to it, but on Christmas morning he had an ornament for me to open. It was an old-fashioned white mortar and pestle that you would see in a pharmacy. It has a red ribbon and it says in glittery red lettering 'Rx'. Sean had it personalized to say '
HOPE ~2009~' It took my breath away and I started bawling! Before the New Year had even arrived, Sean had already coined 2009 the year of hope.

Then, during Oprah's Best Life Week show on Monday, she also called 2009 the year of hope, the year hope will triumph. I seem to be noticing it every where.

I have decided to make this my mantra for 2009 - The Year Of Hope. May it be a year of hope for all you - may you find the hope that may be fading and grab on to it with all you have. May hope triumph over fear in 2009.

In honor or our President-Elect, in honor of the Year of Hope and in honor of each of us, some quotes~

"Hope – Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope! In the end, that is God’s greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation. A belief in things not seen. A belief that there are better days ahead." ~Barack Obama

"Hope is not blind optimism. Hope is not ignorance of the difficulties of the task ahead or the hurdles that stand in your way… It’s just the opposite." ~Barack Obama

To better days...

26 comments:

bb said...

Happy New Year!!! I am definitely very hopeful for the things that 2009 will bring to all of us.

And OMG, I LURRRVVV my Wii. LOVE. It is just so much more fun than I could have ever thought, and fun to play with the hubby too!

(also you probably know this, but you can download all the old Nintendo games from way back too (for small fee). I love to play the old Mario Bros.!)

Lisa said...

This post made me smile and sit up a little straighter and taller. Ther Year of Hope. What a wonderful thing for us to look towards!!

Mo said...

To Hope then. For 2009. Not a bad way to orient ourselves. Good post : )

Mo

Bee said...

This was such a wonderful post. So beautifully written in the sense that I feel so many of the same things you do. I am on board for your year of hope mantra and thankful that we're still in a place to feel that way. Full steam ahead!

Petrucia said...

I love your post. cool that you guys are enjoying the wii. fun.
I love the story of your ornament, and that you see hope everywhere for this year.
Thanks for the quotes. The really resonate with me right now as well.
Good to see that you are doing better. :)

ashley said...

Your posts are always awesome. Your words motivate and inspire us all. I think I've said that before but it's so true. We got a Wii just before Christmas and it is so, so cool. It's the neatest thing and you are absolutely going to love the Wii fit. It is honestly the funnest way to work out and it really motivates you. I hope your "year of hope" brings you everything you have always hoped for.

sweetpeanme said...

You said it!! The Year of Hope...definitely has a good ring to it!!!

I LOVE Wii too! We don't have one but my friends and family do...yeah I was the next American Idol on New Years Eve...Oh yeah... :o)

Just Another Mother said...

It's probably a good thing I don't have a Wii, I would be so addicted. What a great gift!

Hooray for hope and 2009.

Anonymous said...

So glad you had a good holiday season - you deserve it. The year of Hope, eh? I can live with that.

Leslie Laine said...

I think it might be these birth control pills I'm on, but your post brought a tear to my eye. I love it. In a season when I've really struggled with the concept of hope, your post really inspired me.

Thanks for writing it. I am going to try and remember your words.

Happy NEW Year.

Melanie Routhier said...

Thank you so much for this post!! What a wonderful way to start a new year. I know I can certainly use some HOPE this year.

MRS. ERIN SMITH said...

A beautiful beginning.
Wishing you peace in `09.

E

Meinsideout said...

I love it - I will embrace 2009 as the year of hope too.

Wii - love it - having two coworkers over for a bowling tourney next week.

So glad you are feeling okay.

Anonymous said...

To Hope it is... Happy New Year!
I am hopeful that 2009 brings each of us the bundle of joy that we are looking for!

Lost in Space said...

Another inspiring post, Emily. Hope is a hard thing to always hold onto through this journey and this is a great reminder to keep moving forward.

2009 - The Year of Hope. Love it!

bunny said...

you gave me chills reading this. a great (and hopeful) way to start the day- thank you!

poppy.f.seed said...

I totally agree! In fact, the holiday card I made this year has the word "hope" on it. I'll send you one, do I have your address?
I love that S gave you that ornament. And, your Mom and the Wi, so thoughtful!

Jill said...

Great post-you always have a great way with words, Em! I think 2009 will be a great year for all of us!

Glad you have the Wii-let me know all about the Wii Fit when it is back in stock! Sounds like such fun!

P.S. Finally dropped my boxes of Endometrin in the mail to you!

MRS. ERIN SMITH said...

Emily,

I have to let you know, you are the only person to ever commented on the music at my blog. I love "Time for me to Fly." The lyrics are so bittersweet. I have had enough, and it does hurt to say goodbye...

Thanks for caring!

E

RMCarter said...

I loved this post. I thought about you several times throughout the holidays and I am happy to hear it went well.

Hope seems scarce around here lately. Your inspiring post is greatly appreciated. :)

Virginia said...

seeing our future president quoted (with merit) warms me to my soul. THanks for this.

DAVs said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog.
And thanks for reminding me to still have hope for 2009...sometimes it feels ridiculous, sometimes it feels lost, and almost always it feels like a longshot, but in the end, hope always feels good.

Amber said...

Amen. Let's raise a glass to HOPE!

Anonymous said...

I love it, the year of hope. Happy New Year!

sweetpeanme said...

So ready for the Ravens game!!! But...also...so a 'Skins fan!! :o) (too bad they suck!)

The speeding ticket may have had an error...like they charged him twice for the same offense. We're gonna look into it...still totally stinks though!! *sigh*

M. said...

You have quite a way with words, Emily! Thanks for sharing your thoughts -- I love that you are so hopeful. And this really is a year that's full of it :) I'm praying that we all have hope in our hearts this year.