Looking past 2008 to move forward in 2009

Happy 2009 and Good-Bye 2008! I am thankful for the year 2008 and looking forward to having this baby in 2009 (if all goes well, that is). According to Dr Nik, at the next check-up on 8th January I will get the last of my progesterone shot, making that a total of 6 this time around. With that last shot, the pregnancy should be stable i.e. less risk of a miscarriage given my track record of 3 miscarriages between Munirah and Zarif.

Career wise, 2008 was an interesting year and accorded me many opportunities to learn, improve myself, lead a larger pool of staff, extend my expertise across the organization that outweighs the frustrations, disappointments, stumbling blocks and stressful situations.

The list of good things in 2008 were, in no particular order, and not necessarily comprehensive :

1. Attending the Advanced Risk Management Program at the Wh*a*t*n. I feel very privileged to be able to attend such a program with the COO, CROs and other C-level positions from organizations around the world. Thank you again Pn NI for the support and GR for the endorsement.
2. Appointment and Promotion to the C*st*d*an position, right after the revised employee package, which brings my salary to a level I never thought possible when I started working 18 years ago earning RM200 short of RM2K. Again, thank you to all that made this possible.
3. Being appointed as Bo**d member of three subs. I am still thinking whether this is good or more of a liability, but I am looking forward to the experience.
4. Having a good team that have tirelessly worked in multiple departmental, divisional and sector level initiatives, sticking their necks out (and the principles that we propagate) when all odds are against them, and just being able to work things out as a team despite my involvement in other company level risk management efforts. Well done, everyone!
5. Being invited for the first time to speak at a Risk Management Convention at a neighbouring country and again at the G*R* Asia Risk Management Convention.
6. Just the prospect of a new something that I can't discuss publicly but has been mentioned to me by several people.
7. Working on the PCP role profiling and ruler revisions gives me the satisfaction of returning to this organization that has provided me so much 18 years ago.

In my personal capacity, mostly on the home front, the good things in 2008 that I am thankful for are :

1. Ability to spend tickets of all sorts of performances starting with Harry Connick Jr, Anuar Zain, Beauty and the Beast, MPO performances for the kids, P Ramlee the Musical (with Abg Ujang and spouse), and to top it all recently was Mamma Mia courtesy of I*a.
2. Improved grades for Munirah in her final year exams, courtesy of her handphone in the custody of the discipline teacher, Cikgu Hasnan her BM and tuition teacher, and I don't really know how she studied actually.
3. Good friends are hard to come by and I am so fortunate in having these friends. P*l, Ji*, A*i, A*a, In*, A*i, you guys are the best!
4. For the comfort of our home
5. One week vacation in Indonesia in August and the kids enjoying themselves immensely.
6. Improved Science grades for Zarif.
7. The little2 and big things around the house that my husband does and his constant reminder on my priorities.
8. That my maid of 7 years decides to stay again for another 2 years...(trying to convince her to stay longer)
9. That beloved husband is ever so supportive of my work (despite the snide remarks that I get from time to time)
10. The S*n F*an*is*o coffee and the guys there without fail, knowing my usual coffee...
11. That my kids have been safe, whether at school or at home...(recall Aliah's disappearance)
12. For the benefit of having a driver to ensure the safety of my kids going to school and back, and a whole host of other programs such as Co-Curriculum, tuition, piano, times when both of us can't get back in time to fetch the kids.
13. That Zarif survived his thyroglossal cyst surgery and circumcision in one go...and when I say survived, I don't mean in a deathlike situation, just that he healed beautifully.
14. That God gave me another chance to look back at my past mistakes with the first three and perhaps apply the lessons learnt with the new baby (Insya'Allah)
15. The patience of my husband in dealing with all sorts of kerenah that morning sickness brings, like eating out and finding that mee bandung that I wanted so much.
16. The list goes on and on......Alhamdulillah...........

Going forward in 2009, my doa-doa are :

1. That this pregnancy is a smooth one and that the baby is healthy
2. That this place where I work does not cut salary
3. To exercise as much as I could in this pregnancy
4. To be a better wife, mother and leader and that we are closer as a family
5. Munirah does well in her PMR exams and holds true to her commitment key and living above the line
6. Zarif and Aliah gets better grades as well....and I would like to get them involved with one sport
7. That I am able to lead myself and my kids in getting closer to Allah
8. That my good friends find what they seek to find, that they are bestowed with happiness, health and wealth....
9. That my relationship with my mother improves
10. That I don't get so annoyed easily and see the good in everyone....