Happy New Year!

I wish I could say I'm glad to see the end of 2007. It has been a horrendous year. But I have learned in my life that when I say I hope next year is better, unfortunately it can always be worse. But let's recap and see how 2007 shaped up.

I would have to start with New Year's Eve last year. The day before that, my oldest daughter found out that her soon to be ex husband had cheated her out of custody of her two daughters. So we all decided to try to have a good evening despite our broken hearts. At the time we thought we could fight him. But without a tremendous amount of money, we couldn't hire an attorney to do that. So my two daughters, their men, some friends and my date went out to celebrate. I have to admit that night was quite a bit of fun. Not something I want to repeat this year, but fun. Wow, maybe I'm getting old, cuz I'd rather go to bed and sleep the new year in.

Possibly the high point of the year was my flight to see Chris and his family. I hadn't flown since he was six months old, so that was exciting. But even more so was to be with him and his family in Alabama. My oldest granddaughter had a special birthday while I was there. And they took me to the beach in Florida. Chris couldn't believe I'd never seen the ocean. I guess he takes for granted all the traveling he has done in the military. Wow, the ocean is awesome. I want to be a beach bum when I grow up! I even brought some sand back with me.

And then we get to the low point. In August my middle son and family were in a terrible accident. The truck he was driving blew a driver, went across the median, rolled and was hit be a semi truck. Nick, his wife and their two year old daughter were killed instantly. By some miracle the 7 year old was saved. Although she spent a few days in the hospital and several more with a neck brace, she was able to attend their funeral. How something so devastatingly tragic and sad could in turn be so spiritual was very surprising. The whole family showed up at the hospital with different ideas on where she should live. Now we're talking two sets of grandparents and altogether 15 siblings. Within 24 hours most of us knew where she was to live. Although nerves were frayed and tempers were strained, most decisions were easily made. We were able to have her come and spend a weekend with us this fall. She is the spitting image of her Daddy which is both hard and a blessing.

I have been blessed with my job this year. They were so good in giving me time off for the funeral and the time I spent in the hospital with my granddaughter. And they were good at both listening to me talk and knowing when to be quiet when I got back to work. And let's not forget being able to ignore my tears and red eyes on occasion. I got my yearly evaluation in November along with some wonderful compliments and a hefty raise. There are indeed days that getting up and going to work saves my sanity.

So I end 2007 in some ways the same way I started it. I still have five children and thirteen grandchildren. I just say that some of them live in heaven. I have made some wonderful new friends, kept some special old ones. I am still single and probably always will be. But I'm more ok with that then I was a year ago. I am able to look back and see the changes and the growth I've made, not just in the last year but in the last several years.

So despite all the ups and downs, I am saying goodbye to the past and hello to the future, to 2008, a new year full of possibilities and challenges, full of both joy and sorrow. Part of me is an optimist and hopes that somehow I survive to new years eve a year from now still looking forward to another year, able to see both the good times and rejoice, and the bad times and see the growth I have made. Until then, HAPPY NEW YEAR!