Since I’m still adjusting to the new year, it should come as no surprise to you that I’m also still processing the old year. And one of the things I’ve been thinking about are the “firsts” I experienced in 2008. Now, you should know that I’m a stick-in-the-mud averse to change usually content with things staying the same. I’m not highly adventurous or spontaneous. So sometimes I have to pay special attention to the fact that I AM trying and experiencing new things…so I don’t feel all stodgy and boring and utterly lame.

And since you read my blog, you’re stuck reading about them. Sorry.

So anyway, some firsts for me in 2008:

My first ski lesson. Even though I only posted about it yesterday, the lesson actually took place during the final days of 2008. I’m glad I did it, glad I didn’t break any bones in the process, but most of all, I’m glad that I was able to share that little adventure with C..

Baking homemade bread. I’m pretty sure I’ve admitted here that I’m afraid of yeast. I fear that any yeast dough I attempt will fail due to water that’s too hot or too cold, insufficient rising time, pathetic kneading, or any other of a slew of possible baking errors. But the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day promised me foolproof dough. And they were right! Chad and C. regularly request more homemade bread, and C. thinks I should start my own baking business based on artisan loaves. I don’t know if they’re quite “all that,” but I love that the bread turns out well every time. And I’m glad I finally gave homemade bread a shot.

Tech team at church. Starting in August, I became a member of the Tech Team for Kids’ Praise at our church. That might sound fancy, but basically, it means that I oversee the technical part of the singing portion of Sunday School for the 1st-4th graders, twice a month. A couple 4th-graders actually do all the work — putting in the music CDs and running the PowerPoint slides that contain the lyrics. I’m just there to make sure they have everything they need and someone to turn to if everything goes wrong. To be honest, I love it! In part, because I like the job (I’m a behind-the-scenes kind of girl). But mostly because I get to serve with my husband. He just so happens to be the teacher on the same weeks I work on the tech team. This is the first time we’ve served in the same area at church and it has been really wonderful.

Reading The Hiding Place. I mention this because The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom was probably the book that impacted me most this year, aside from the Bible. Though I’d heard or read parts of the book before, this year I read the whole thing and am so glad I did. It may have been my first time reading it, but I doubt it’ll be my last.

Learning WordPress. In November, I moved my blog from Blogger to the WordPress platform. There was definitely a learning curve, but since I am a bit geeky, I actually enjoyed the challenge.

Our first remodeling project. It was just one year ago that a contractor stopped by to “check out the cellar” and see what could be done about turning half of it into living space. February through May of 2008 was filled with workers, noise, decisions, headaches, dust, paint, and countless trips to Home Depot. But in the end, we ended up with a great space — part playroom, part TV room, part exercise room, part escape room. We survived… but I think it’ll be a long, long time before I’m ready to take on another remodeling project!

So what about you? What was new to you in 2008?