27 Sheets of Paper!

27 sheets of paper lay safely tucked away in a drawer beside our bed.  27 sheets of paper representing the 27^th New Year of this lovely little tradition of ours.  27 cups of tea later, we’ve dreamed of what we want to have, what we want to do, and most importantly how we want to be.  Bullet point by bullet point, written in alternating he and she script, these 27 sheets of paper chronicles the evolution of our marriage reduced to its essence. 

And it all started because we were broke!  Very broke.  No money, no savings, zip, nada, niente!  A very modest wedding behind us and a ton of growth before us, we were bound and determined to be intentional about, well just about everything.  Intentional before it was in vogue that’s how at ages 26 we began our lives together. 

Each year as we look back, we revel in the memories.

   1983 we needed to save money.  We also needed to earn some.

   1985 money saved we bought our first home.

   1986 we dreamed of starting a family.

   1988 dream came true when our first daughter was born.  Heaven!

   1989 husband becomes a teacher

   1991 the joyful anticipation of child number two.  Magical!

   And so it goes…..

Along the way there were trips taken, job changes, investments made, good health, bad health, first communions, confirmations, graduations, marriages, funerals, singing, dancing, births and deaths.  Year after year, adventure after adventure, we lovingly looked back at what was accomplished, what wasn’t, and looked forward to the possibilities of the coming year, but with this in mind.

You can be as intentional as ever, but be prepared for the unexpected.  Because all the planning in the world will never prepare one for the unbelievable depth of emotions, sadness, joy and love that come with lives fully lived.

And this year, keep reading.