What a Year... a glance back!
This is the Andersen family last year about this time.
I like to reflect on the past year on the last day of the year and journal my feelings and thoughts. I usually write this out in my journal but since 2007 was the year of the BLOG, I felt it was appropriate to do that here.
2007 was a busy, exciting, frustrating, exhilarating and growing year.
We started off our year with a big road trip to CA and Las Vegas. I was one of the speakers for the Western Regional Candle Conference in Vegas and so I decided that we would take 2 weeks and travel down to SoCal to visit friends and relax and then hit the conference on the way back.
It was probably the best vacation our little family has ever had. We spent time with one of my dearest and oldest friends, Stacy, in L.A. She and I met when we were 6 years old back in Scobey, MT.
We also connected with our favorite Filipino family Cres and Claudine San Jose in Santa Clarita. They lived next door to us in our first apt. in Canyon Country when we moved to L.A. in 2002. They were angels sent from God to help us with our transition. In fact they even helped us unload our moving truck. I thank God for them often.
We also spent a whole day visiting friends at Galpin Motors. Collin worked there for almost three years and we have many friends and fond memories there. Bert Boeckmann continues to influence our lives by what he taught us and the kindness he showed us while we were there.
Galpin Auto Sports (GAS) from MTV's Pimp My Ride
We visited Solvang and boogie boarded at Avila Beach... my ultimate life destination... where I plan to live before I die.
Then it was off to Las Vegas for the conference and I brought my whole family up when I spoke.
In March, I held my 2nd Annual Montana Spring Candle Meeting and it was a huge success. My dear friend and team member, Gay Passano, hosted the event at her family ranch. The day was filled with great food, fun and lots of great training.
The next big event was in Cleveland, OH where I once again was a featured speaker. I spoke about Dreaming Big and both parts to that speech can be seen on my YouTube page www.youtube.com/kariandersen
While I was there, I toured the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Pete Canavan, company owner - Charlie Umphred and his girlfriend, Cyndi and John MacFadden. John knows everything about music and I learned a lot that day.
From May-September, I spent a lot of time hiking with my friend, Lori Dawkins. When I think back on the year, hiking with her held my dearest memories. She was a slave driver and pushed me beyond what I ever thought I could physically do. We talked and talked and I grew spiritually, emotionally and mentally just visiting with such a wise and intellectual woman. Thank you, Lori, for being such a gift to me during a really tough time.
One of our favorite trails was hiking up to the "M"
Lori and I
July was filled with lots of FUN IN THE SUN! We spent lots of time floating down the Madison River and boating on Canyon Ferry Lake with friends.
Collin even got a chance to do some dirt biking and he loved it even when he wiped out and scraped up half of his body.
I think the month that has the most consecutive days of fun was in August at our Annual National Gourmet Candle Convention in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
I traveled with a group from my Montana candle team and we were gone almost a week. The time spent with those amazing ladies will forever be one of the best times ever. I was a featured speaker at this event also and the title of my speech was Become Another Person: Extreme Dream Makeover. You can view that speech on YouTube also.
Here are some of the highlights of the trip in pictures...
My team members Cheryl Hill and Lori Dawkins were special speakers at the convention. I was so proud of them!
Cheryl Hill (Chill)
Lori Dawkins
I was also a speaker.
Island Night!!
RED NECK Montana BABES!!
September was special because my hubby and I celebrated our 13th Anniversary. I adore him and I'm so thankful for a man who can put up with me and also make me feel so cherished and loved.
One special night in November is my favorite one of all. My dear friend and best selling author, Jane Porter, came to Montana, went to Happy Hour at my grandma's house, had drinks and dinner with my best friends and stayed at my house.
We met online last March on cafemom.com. You can read my blog about Jane's visit to Montana HERE.
We decided that this year was going to be a ONE PRESENT CHRISTMAS. We decided to get a Wii as a family present and that was it. As you know, Wii supplies are limited and very hard to come by. I called over to GameStop in Bozeman and they said they had a shipment coming in on Black Friday.
So I stood outside the store at 6:30am in 3 below zero weather and waited for the store to open. I was 7th in line and I scored a Wii!! It was worth the frostbite... ok... that didn't happen but I was very cold!
We have had so much fun as a family with our Wii. I love to play golf and bowl. It actually gets everyone up on their feet and active. I wake up each morning sore from WRS... Wii Related Soreness!!
This year was so amazing and I learned so much. I turned 40 and had lots of feelings about that. I decided this year that I was going to do what I want from now on. I might have gone a little overboard with that but still feel more empowered than ever.
I probably spent more money than I should have this year but I had a blast and will spend some of this year making up for it. LOL! But I found an awesome book to help me do that and feel even more excited about getting our finances in order for an awesome future! The book is by Dave Ramsey called Total Money Makeover. http://www.daveramsey.com/ Collin and I read it together and put together a plan to get debt-free in a year! It's so thrilling to be in this together.
I really do appreciate all of you... my family, my old friends who I have found after many years, those who have joined my candle team and those who are my brand new friends. You are dear to me and I love getting to know you. I realize that making friends is one of my greatest thrills in life. I love people and I love to help them find a better way of life.
Let me help you this 2008!!!
Check me out on www.momsmakingmoneyfromhome.com
Kari Andersen
Bozeman, Montana
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