So we're about to head into 2010
 

What has changed for you since 2000? How is life different? Better, worse? How have you changed and grown?

What are your hopes and dreams for the next 10 years?

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

Since 2000??? Everything has changed!

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

:thumbsup

True.

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

OK, not really everything. I'm still a husband (of the same wife!) and father of 4 great boys. Still a wise guy. Here are some things that have changed:

1. Lost my brother to cancer in 02.

2. Quit tithing, and am still waiting for the curse to hit!

3. Transitioned from Pentecostal Christian, through stages, to agnostic with deist leanings.

4. Joined AFF and *ahem* another forum, where I'm an admin now. ;)

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

Since 2000:
Moved to a new state
Bought a house
Got a new job... at least five times
Got ten years older
Gained some nieces and nephews
Lost Grandpa C and my grandma and grandpa S.
Lost a good pastor.
Joined AFF and several other boards/discussion groups. Quit several groups.
Gained a few pounds... lost them, found them, lost them, found them.... and they kept bringing more friends each time they came back!! :heeheehee

In the next ten years, I hope to:
Move back to MO (yes, yes, yes, yes, yes...)
buy a house in the country
Learn to live partially off the grid
Get married (oh, where is that man??)
Adopt at least one child
Reconnect with several old friends
Get my masters

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

My life has changed drastically in the last 10 years.

10 years ago I was literally making less than my bills were. I was mired in debt with a big mortgage and a big light bill etc.

At the end of the decade I am not yet fully out of debt but I am mortgage free and only have a car note and a few credit cards left to get rid of.

As for the next decade I plan to complete my goal of releasing myself from the cares and toils that this world compels us to place upon ourselves and move closer to a life that relies more on God's works and wonders than mans.

God is good. All the time.

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

D4T - have you ever seen the Backwoods Home magazine? I love that magazine. That's the life my husband and I hope to have some day.

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

My wife and I have been talking a self sustaining lifestyle. We have a small place with some acreage in Northwest Wisconsin, but my job is in Louisiana and my youngest is a junior in High School this year and wants to graduate with his class.

Backwoods Home, Mother Earth News, Grit, The Backwoodsman, and other magazines are great.

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

In 2000, I live in Michigan

So in the last decade I have:

Moved back to my home town in late 2000
inherited family home
divorced my husband in 02 final in 03
mortgaged my home to survive and pay off debt
went back to work full time
saw ex and the father of my girls go to prison
changed churches from home church to progressive upc
then from the UPC to non denominational church
saw a sister survive cancer
watched my babies turn into young adults and the oldest leave home.
truly feel like I have become born again in the last few years...a totally new person spiritually.

lol there is so much drama in the above that I am so looking forward to a new decade.

Starting of this year has a lot of significance to me... I am looking forward to some promises this year...and can't wait to see what God has in store for me.

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

2000 decade for me:

Divorced
Lost my mother
Sold our home
My dad remarried
My son married
My daughter married
Bought a home
Found out I'm going to be a grandmother

It was a big decade of change for me!

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

Happy New Year AQP!

I'm not ignoring your thread. Just don't feel like thinking that deep today!


:newyear

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

BHM is a great publication.

I love it.

That is also the life we hope to have some day.

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

I also like Mother Earth News. I will have to look into the others.

This sentence stood out... "My wife and I have been talking a self sustaining lifestyle."

Talk it.... when it doesn't happen... keep talking it.

We are seeing some successes but they came after years of talking. The talking shaped our mindset until we were able and ready to make a move.

Talk, talk & talk some more. It keeps the dream alive and makes us hungrier than ever.

Some say... that's all you do is talk... Yep... so far... but you just wait. :)

RevDWW... may you & yours realized your wildest dreams in this area.... in God's time.

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

Lehman's is also interesting for off-grid or self-sustained living, among other things. (Anything "country" can be found there as well. They started out serving Amish in 1955.)

http://countrylife.lehmans.com/about/
http://www.lehmans.com/

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

Since 2000 my Son received a Non Related Bone Marrow Transplant (2004) (Fanconi Anemia) and has survived to go onto college. His first semester A's and B's.

Our married life and relationship with our kids is great, our son's went from elementary school to high school and college.

Changed Churches from the hardlined standards to a non-harlined standards church. I have not lost my salvation nor have my wife and I divorced.

I have made over a million dollars (not bragging - just the truth) and developed hundreds of friends and contacts in my business life.

I started out being very politically motivated, but now I am fed up with any of the politicians. My political views are Pro-life and take less of my money, Period!

I have lived in the same house the entire decade.

My goals for this next decade:

1. I will not borrow another cent.
2. My house and all non-expense related expenditures will be paid in full.
3. I plan on writing a book.
4. My marriage will remain strong.
5. I will direct and encourage the success of my son's into the field of their choice.

From here on out it is a road to be directed of the Lord and where that leads is faith filled and ready for any turn he directs...

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

In the year 2000, my husband and I took our second church. At the time, we were super-conservative UPC'ers with one goal in mind.......to have a thriving church and save souls.

Now, we no longer pastor at all, left the UPC and are much more liberal thinkers.

My, how things change in 10 years....

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

Northwest Wisconsin RevDWW that is great land and great place to live!!

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

ILG you are non the less saved or out of step for it! There are great things ahead for you both!

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

Wow! I have to think...

A decade ago I was in the rental biz but wanted out. I have sold nearly all and put my energies into making my chimney/fireplace company more profitable. That worked out very well and we are practically free of personal debt.

My wife was a Fulltime RN at the hosipital and went from that to part-time then quit in in 2004 to work full-time in our office and homeschool the kids.

OH - KIDS! at the end of the last decade we had one baby. Now have four - the newest baby - a boy!

Grandma Horst passed away at age 93. We had funerals in Indiana and in Pennsylvania. Her direct decendants and those they marriad number nearly a thousand.

My father passed away more than a decade ago... but, well... I think about him always when I reflect and remember.

I gave no serious thought about retirement ten years ago, but now have established IRAs and 529s (college plans) for the kids.

Spiritually, I believe we have shifted our focus a bit away from church and more towards our spirituality within the family and home.

Going on TV in 2007 was fun and proved to be inspirational to us and some others who saw the show. We were invited to share about the experience in churches of our own UPC denomination and others.

Enjoyed travels to Germany & Paris and swept chimneys in London England. Then in 2006 we attended an international festival for chimney sweeps in the Italian Alps - Raduno Spazzacamino Italia

It has been a good decade for the Hoover Family.

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

I gave up my Ordination with the UPCI and went to a Community Church where I was Ordained with their Organization.

Bought an office building for my business.

Bought a motor home and traveled whenever possible. 2 trips to the East Coast plus several trips to the Midwest and Oregon.

Youngest Daughter and SIL both earned their masters, had two children and moved to Germany.

Have had three grandkids marry and added great grandchildren to the family.


Sold our 2 story home and bought a single story because of my wife's health.

Lost my wife of 53 years. Almost killed me, still grieving.

Joined a couple of RV clubs.

My wife's sister introduced me to one of her friends, no romance intended.

Pastor at the Community Church resigned and I left.

No romance phase ended , romance phase began.

Because she was employed with UPCI headquarters I went back to UPC but kept license with other organization. mI really have no use for Ordination but it doesn't cost me and I might want to do a wedding sometime.

Started writing the story of my life, up to 140 pages and growing, I may even finish it before I die.

Remarried October 2007.

Dividing time between Ca. and Mo., love both states.

Joined AFF.

Didn't vote for Obama.

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

:thumbsup

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

Well for you folks that can't count, it has only been 9 years. 2010 will be the tenth year once completed. :)

The last nine years I have moved out of town to the country, quit working for pay, published two books, lost a bunch of Uncles and Aunts and a few cousins.

Raised a garden the last coupe of years. Changed churches, still in same organization. Preached out some.

Bought a house, sold the old house. Praise the LOrd!

God is good!

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

It takes more than counting. It takes deductive reasoning.

Step 1 - When did the decade begin?

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

This last decade was one of constant change for me-
New Year's Day 2000 remember the Y2K scare! Well my BIL was rushed into emergency surgery that day! Scary, but he survived- Later that year, my SIL had surgery and did not survive. The same week my mother suffered her first stroke.
The rest of the decade was a whirl wind. I met the love of my life and married. Retired from my job after 30 years and settled in to being a homemaker. My brother married and divorced. Survived a church split and changed churches. Bought and sold a house. Bought a second home. Learned how to camp- and visited Alaska, Minnesota, Wyoming, and Maine and states inbetween. Completed a goal of visiting all fifty states. Lost my nephew. Through all the changes, God has been my comfort. I have had the time to study the Bible and really look at what it says- without the filter of previous teachings. I have found that many of the things I was taught were true. I am focusing on living a principle focused life rather than standard based. He is faithful and true!

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

LOL - - that's what I was going to say!

Here's the math Esther:

2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010

Looks like 10 years to me!

It's like the day of you birthday you finish that year - - if you are turning 54 - - on your 54th b-day you have LIVED 54 years and the day after your birthday you are starting on your 55th year.

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

If a person were born 1/1/00, how old would they be tomorrow? :D

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

I was thinking the exact same thing!

I knew so little in 2000!

Now, I know even less!!!

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

Indeed.

And it is also the same reasoning by which we find ourselves in the 21st century although we are not to year 2100 yet.

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

The last ten years have been a whirlwind of change for me. Good, bad, and ugly.

Major life events include:

Divorce
Raised teenage girls as a single mom while working three jobs
Sister lost battle to cancer
Dad lost battle to cancer
Job loss due to corporate downsizing
Mom diagnosed with cancer - in remission
Remarriage
Survived church split and changed churches
Became a granda twice
Husband was injured and has suffered major health issues
Was released from a new job after training/probation period
Filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy
Went through foreclosure on home
Started a business
Stood and saw the goodness of the Lord

God is good - all the time!

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

Tamor I prophecy that the Lord will undue all the struggles you have overcome and lead you and your husband towards a blessed next 10 years!

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

Thank you Neck, I accept that!!

We have had a very bumpy few years but no matter how hard things get, we have each other, and we have our faith in God. I'm just ready to see EASY for awhile - talk about refiner's fire and I can testify!!

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

:lol

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

Pop quiz: what was the first year of the 21st Century?

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

Let's see In 2000, I was a stay at home Mom in Oregon and I had a 7 and 3 year old.
Since then-God called my husband to Law School
we moved across country to VA
I went to massage school
became a massage therapist
became a massage therapist instructor
Hubby went to law school
Hubby spent summer in Europe with John Ashcroft and Jay Sekulow (longest we have ever been apart)
I went back to college while working
Moved to DC for Hubby's internship
quit working to homeschool
Hubby Graduated
Son went to Costa Rica on a mission
Put the kids in Christian School where I went to work
Hubby passed DC Bar
Son went on another mission to Romania
Hubby went to work as contract attorney
I was elected VP of Comm honor society
Hubby opened own office
son got driver's permit
I Interned for a summer at Sirius XM kids radio with a bunch of younguns
Hubby changed offices


Other significant things in the 2000-2010 decade-
I lost and uncle to Aids, an uncle to cirrhosis, hubby's grandpa, and hubby's aunt to leukemia
My Best friend since the age of 12 (who has been married for 16 years) went through 3 years of IVF, finally found out she was pregnant, lost the baby, and is pregnant again due on April 4th!!!

I got a cell phone
Hubby and both kids got ipods
HDTV
PS3
YouTube
AFF

Kids are 12 and 16
I may add to this as I think about it

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

2000

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

Ha! Then what was the first year of the First Century? :D

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

No, no, no, you count 2000 as the and not the beginning. 1 is the beginning.

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

The first day of the year 2000 to the end would be the first year, wouldn't it? Just like your first birthday means you've lived one year?

So 2000 to 2001 would be the first year?

When I turn 10, I've lived 10 years.

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

the past decade brought events that absolutely broke my heart and events that caused me to shout with joy. God provided all that I needed in every event and I know He'll continue.

Re: So we're about to head into 2010
 

And... even if it is 1995... the past decade is STILL the past decade. We are not required to wait until 2000, 2001, 2100 or 3052 to use the term. :)