Grateful

Sitting here on New Year's Eve 2011, waiting to go out for the night. It's the eve of what I anticipate will be the best year of my life, simply because it is the year 2012. My birthday is 2/12, and I'm convinced 2012 is my year. :-) Over the last couple of days I've been reflecting, and I started a list of amazing opportunities and experiences I've had in my life. Experiences that most people will never have, especially not all before the age of 28. I am grateful. Here's the list... in no particular order:

I have danced with Warrick Dunn at a bar

I have walked the entire length of Charlotte Motor Speedway in my pajamas at 2am

I have eaten gelato in Venice

I have thrown a coin into the Trevi Fountain

I have performed Brahms Requiem at the Berlin Philharmonie

I have eaten a steak in Sydney Harbor

I have enjoyed a pale of “voodoo juice” in St. Thomas

I have snorkeled in Cane Garden Bay

I have eaten lunch on St. Peter Island

I have sailed on a 40 ft catamaran yacht from Tortolla to go snorkeling at The Baths

I have laid in a beachfront hammock in Fiji

I have performed solos in front of NFL players, CNN News anchors & Grammy-winning Christian Artists

I have hiked on an active volcano in Hawaii

I have walked along the cliffs of St John's Bay, Canada

I have been to the top of Mt Ranier, Washington

I have been a part of a Gaither Homecoming choir

I have walked an entire day around New York City in 4 inch heels

I have shopped on Rodeo drive

I have enjoyed a beer in the gaslight district of San Diego

I have bought tequila in Tijuana

I have had a coffee on Grafton Street in Dublin

I have toured Old San Juan

I have experienced 110 degree heat in Fresno, CA

I have seen how beautiful the view is flying into Salt Lake City

I have eaten a Beniet in the French Quarter

I have stood at the site of the Tea Party in Boston Harbor

I have eaten a crab cake in Baltimore Harbor

I have visited Niagara Falls in the rain

I have stood on the beautiful Atlantic coast of Ireland

I have ski'd on fresh powder in upstate New York

I have laid on Gulf of Mexico beaches from dawn to dusk

I have fished trout streams in the Carolinas

I have eaten Skyline chili in Cincinnati

I have met Bobby Bowden on two occasions

I have taken a picture with Justin Timberlake

I have experienced the physical presence of the Holy Spirit 

I have performed the National Anthem in Philips Arena

I have floated down the Chattahoochee on an air mattress

I have tailgated at 6 Jimmy Buffett concerts

I have helped rebuild roofs for hurricane victims in Mississippi

I have shopped along the Riverwalk in San Antonio

I have eaten incredible seafood in Vancouver

I have seen nights when the gulf was nearly still as glass

I have had amazing seats at a Braves game

I have watched the sun rise over the ocean

I have watched the sun set over the ocean

I have been spit on by Steven Tyler

I have made multi-millionaires nervous

And there's still so much to be done.  :-)

Cheers & Happy New Year! 

M