End of the Year ponderings

Okay so today is the last day of 2008 and so of course I am reflecting on all that has happened to us and all that I have learned, so you lucky readers get blesssed (aka: stuck) reading my reflections and ponderings.
2008 was the HARDEST year I have lived. There were days that I strongly disliked my life and there were days when I questioned everything that I originally believed in (mainly the wisdom of international adoption). However, 2008 is the year I grew the most in my faith...isn't that loving of our Father? Through our hardest most painful experiences, MUCH good comes of it, usually more good than our easy times.
Anyway, one thing that I have learned this year,(which is VERY helpful in this economy that we are stuck in) is to look for blessings in other ways than money. I have often equated blessings with money, but this year expanded my thinking. We make half (yikes) of what we made 2 years ago, but we are MORE blessed than before.
First of all, I have four HEALTHY kids (and a healthy husband) and as I observe friends in our lives who are sick with cancer, chronic pain, and HURT, I realize that God has given us an enormous blessing in the way of giving good health to us. I think if you were to ask ANY parent of a child who has cancer or a spouse of someone with a life-threatening disease, they would without a moment of hesitation, give all the money they had and more to see their child or spouse healed. Sometimes money doesn't matter that much and money isn't always the best blessing we have.
And secondly, we have salvation. I know it sounds cliche, but truly, who cares if we have NO money at all! This life is sooooo short and eternity is soooooooo long (in fact I heard it is FOREVER!;-) so truly, who cares if we live a few short years without some things. We still have more than 80% of the world!!! We have been saved from hell. Ponder that for a moment...our pastor said "Imagine if your child was about to be hit by a semi-truck and someone raced out and snatched them from death, is there ANYTHING that you would not give them, your house, your car, ANYTHING?" God rescued us from eternal death! I need to ponder that more, because when I do, I realize how MUCH I have been given.
Thirdly, my eyes were opened this year to the world around me. There is real, visible, touchable suffering that is happening in my lifetime. I do not have real, visible, touchable suffering, but others do. Because God has lavished blessings on me and taken care of me, I believe He expects me to do something with those blessings. If I have been given much (and I have) in ways that I have mentioned: health, salvation, happiness, etc. and then I hoard what I have been given, why would God want to give me anymore. I do live better than 80% of the world. I do have health and energy. I do have restoration and a relationship with GOD! so I better get moving and share what I have been given.
In conclusions to my ramblings, learnings, and ponderings (if you are still reading, thanks for hanging in there):
In 2009, if you see a blur, followed by 5 little blurs (LOL!) don't be alarmed...it is just me, rapidly doing my Dad's work!
The time IS short. My days are FEW. My blessings are MANY!