I love fresh starts. Being a planner by nature, the beginning of a new year is a great opportunity for me to set goals. Steve and I are going to take some time tomorrow to reflect back on 2008 and look ahead to where we want to be this time next year. As we think about how we’ll get there, we’ll break it down to practical monthly steps. We’ll ask God to give us His wisdom as we plan, because we only want to do the things He wants for us. I think I get a little more into this process than Steve, but he’s a good sport who is also goal-oriented. I just enjoy writing it all in calendars and charts a little more than he does.
Before we get started making plans, we have our tradition to carry on. Every New Year’s morning we begin the day with breakfast at San Francisco’s historic Cliff House restaurant, followed by a brisk walk on Ocean Beach. We did this when we got engaged in 2000 and every year since then. I’m already getting sad thinking that this will be our last New Year for this tradition. If all goes as we’re planning, we’ll be living in another state by 2010. Until then, I wish for all of you a wonderful and happy 2009!