1. Religion was important in 2006. God in one form or another seemed to be at the forefront of so many news stories and conversations. For me this year was the year that I made a vow to be more vocal about my faith with friends, family, and co-workers. This blog has been one way I’ve been able to work through some things I’ve felt for a long time and I’ve finally been able to put some language around my thoughts so that I can express them better. It has been interesting to see the many different reactions to my more vocal faith. I’ve made connections with many people that seemed to have been holding many of the same views but had not yet come to grips with what they were feeling. I’ve pissed a few people off as well as created some confusion as people wrestled to reconcile new ideas that contrast their neat little boxed in view of God.

2. In 2004 I gave up playing and listening to music and I’ve never felt such relief. In 2005 I gave up a profitable hobby of online poker (my vacation fund has suffered as a result). In 2006 I gave up another old hobby… golf. I didn’t really miss it. In many ways I’m glad this expensive and time-consuming preoccupation is behind me. I am an “all or nothing” kind of person, so when I don’t have a commitment to do something 100%, I tend to give it up completely. I don’t like being mediocre at things so the idea of occasionally doing something doesn’t really appeal to me.

3. Thanks to item #2, I read more books in 2006 than I have in my life.

4. We started our adoption process in 2006. I guess that had a big impact on me emotionally and probably accounts for why my focus has shifted from pursuing hobbies to pursuing hope.

5. I’m getting more exercise and eating better than I have in a few years. It still isn’t enough but I feel better as a result.

6. 2006 was the most financially rewarding year in my life. All my business ventures went better than expected. Most people start a family then figure out how to pay for it and then regret never following their dreams. I’m excited to enter a new phase in my life knowing that our patience, discipline, and hard work will free us from the usual stress associated with finance problems and regrets.