Happy New Year

As 2008 draws to a close, I am taking a few minutes to reflect on things. I took on many new adventures this year which kept me quite active and left very little time for boredom. I have learned that life is way to short to worry about the little things and am trying to live each day as a new adventure. I have spent many fun filled adventures with Paul, Margaret, Gene, and the Sam Grow band. It has been so much fun "hanging out" with my friends again. We lost Apollo on 18 January and still mourn him today but for every dark moment a bright light is also cast. In September we added Shelby a giant Maso to our family. She is pure joy. Her antics keep us laughing for hours. Burger is getting around as good as can be expected for a dog her age but we are confident that she is living her life to the fullest. Simon is still my spoiled baby and is equally annoyed and excited by the new addition.

If I have any regrets..which I try not too...it is that I have not spent enough time with my family. We all live such busy lives and the distance makes it very hard to see each other regularly.

I have several friends that are serving overseas in areas such as Afghanistan and Iraq and pray for their safe return. Without their selfless service, I would not have the freedoms that I so much enjoy. I try to remind myself each day that if not for our Soldiers we could not say and do the things we take for granted. I am truly blessed by working for an Agency that understands the importance of our Soldiers and strives to ensure that they are taken care of in a manner befitting their sacrifices.

I am looking forward to 2009 on so many levels but most of all I am praying for the health and happiness of my friends and family.

So in closing,

Wishing you peace and happiness in 2009

Love,

vicki

Here is the latest update on the Donaldson family. On Saturday December 20, 2008.... 3 very important people celebrated a birthday. My friends Lori and Suzanne and of most importance to me...Paul. Paul and I welcomed in his 50th year by celebrating with a group of very dear friends. We hired a limo and took the party on the road to Annapolis. We all had way too much party but managed to show up a few of the young ones on the dance floor. Hangovers when you are older take much longer to recover from and it was all worth it. The holiday season has begun...Paul's mom is in town for about a week from Staunton VA. Many of you know that I purchased a new Chrysler 300 C hemi on December 1st..well my mother in law has been looking for a new car for over a year. So yep you guessed it...she is now driving a brand new Chrysler 300 C hemi...They look really pretty next to each other...hahah we are celebrating Christmas Eve with Paul's family at Tracey's house and then off to see my family on Christmas day. In between the family adventures...we always make time to stop in at a few friends to pass on Christmas wishes. Social time will be shortened this year because in addition to our 2 big babies...we added the newest addition to the family. Shelby is 4 1/2 moths old and already about 55lbs....she is the sweetest thing. So we don't stay away from home for long periods. In closing, Merry Christmas and Happy New year!!

Happy Holidays

Good morning everyone,

This is my first blog and I am using it to learn the fine details of blogging. My Grandmother has starting blogging and has asked me to make her blog pretty. So I created this test blog to see if I can figure it out. If anyone out there in cyberland has any helpful suggestions I am always willing to listen.