Goodbye 2009

I think that I have finally settled into and appreciate my role as a SAHM. I have spent the last couple of days reading through Family Circle & Women's Day magazines while snowed in at my parent's house and the reoccuring theme that I am noticing is how to be happy in the recession, how to get organized, and how to be healthier. All of which, I think appeals to every woman...good targeting magazines. LOL! I am probably the happiest I've ever been, even though we have very little money, and have had to do without, we have taught ourselves a lot of things that I probably would not have learned or looked into had we not been faced with these challenges.

Over the last year, we have learned to cook a lot of meals that we used to go out for, such as Curry, Thai, philadelphia cheese steak, deep dish pizza, egg rolls, and Chinese dumplings and some excellent barbeque. We also went out and picked blackberries at a farm, and taught ourselves how to make blackberry pie filling, three different kinds of jam and we bought a few cases of tomatoes and made three different batches of salsa. It was an excellent summer of trying new things and figuring out what we can do to help lower our food budget. I also learned how to make my own laundry soap...both the liquid and the dry form. And just this week, I made my own dishwasher detergent.

I am thankful for each and every person in my life, and the gifts that God has given in in 2009. So ready to see the blessings of God to unfold in my life in 2010.