I have recently started to work seriously towards improving my chess.  I realize that learning from my mistakes will be key.  Here is my first ever attempt at analyzing my own game.  Please feel free to comment on the game, or on my analysis if it seems flawed or lacking.

You were correct that 7.Nbd2 was a better choice, but your concern over locking in your bishop wasn't stupid. In any case, now you've learned something

I've made the smae kind of thinking error that you made on move 9, but never with quite as disasterous a result. I think there's only one way to avoid this kind of mistake: Once you recognize that a move is absolutely forced (like 9.gxf3), make it! Don't start thinking about other things, or what you'll do next; if the move is forced, make it! Unfortunately, after 9.Nd2, the game is essentially over.

And yet by move 20 the game is completely level again! You have risen from the grave like Lazurus. The following endgame should probably be a draw. Black's pawns are weaker that yours, but the Bishop is probably the better piece in an open position with pawns on both sides of the board. Sillman's book is very good, but one endgame fact you should already know is that with few pieces left, your King is a very powerful fighting piece! If you have no other plan, just marching your King to the center of the board is a good start.  So 24.Kf2 stands out

I prefer 30.Ng6. If you leave your Knight of h8, you're playing this ending practically a piece down.