My son, Evan.

Finding true love at 38 years old! [flash! we were married May 2002 read the romantic story here]

Rediscovering my faith in God. :-)

Joining my church, and singing in the choir.

Achieving my dream of obtaining my university degree. [I received my degree with honors in August 2004].

My dream of owning my own home. [I purchased my first home all by myself for my birthday after my divorce in August 1999].

My new found confidence in not getting lost driving in the Wash, DC metro area! [I survived an hour of HELL on Virginia's 495S...it took 1 hour on election day to travel a 30 minute trip...passing 6 car crashes].

My unswerving optimism and joy of life. [Do you hear that song..."I will survive..." ha, ha, ha]

Giving up TV and re-discovering my love of music, singing, and dance. ["Sing, sing a song, make it simple to last the whole night long..." I'm a 40+ ballet dancer back at it after 20 years away]]

For the ability to self reflect and be thankful for all the riches in my life. [AMEN!]

	By Maria Louise
X	Study the major religious beliefs of the world	in progress	Study The Classics (i.e. Iliad, Homer)
X	Study the Bible in more detail	in progress	Study Literature (poets)
X	Join my church choir	X	Study Human Anatomy
X	Study the teachings of the Great Greek Philosophers		Study The Solar System
X	Sing the National Anthem in public		Go on a Cruise
in progress	Write a children's book	in progress	Become a public speaker
X	Study Psychology	X	Study Western Civilization
	See the Grand Canyon		Study Botany
	Move to a warmer climate before I’m too old to enjoy it (i.e. Florida, South Carolina)		Travel and sleep on sleeper train
X	Study Child Development		Learn country dancing
	Tour the White House	X	Study Biology
	See a play on Broadway	X	Purchase my own home
X	See the Russian ballet	X	Adopt a dog
in progress	Learn the piano	X	Adopt a grandmother
X	Start a woman’s support group		Write an inspirational best seller
X	Travel to California (drive down the coastal highway)		See the Wonders of the World
X	Earn my degree	X	Have my own business
X	Take a refresher course in French		Join a theatre group
	Perform on stage as an adult	X	Learn to write with my right hand (legibly)
	Ride in a hot air balloon	X	Join a musical group
	Travel to Venice (Tuscany etc.)	X	Be a Reader at church
	Learn to ride a horse (with style)	X	Teach a course
	Visit Alaska	X	Visit a Southern plantation
	Visit Texas		Visit the Greek islands
in progress	Become an advocate for a worthy cause	X	Visit every country of my ancestry: Holland, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales

	Reasons
	to be
	Grateful