Merry Christmas Everyone

I am not sure who reads and who does not. My Aunt Louise will shoot me an email occasionally after reading. Kerri talks to me about some of it on the phone or if she comes over for a visit. Other than that, no clue.

That being said, and I say this meaningfully yet blindly. (In hopes that more people are reading than I think....I have some people in mind.) I hope that you are having a very blessed Christmas. God has been so great in our lives, and I hope that he has in yours. I know as most of you that times are tough right now. He knows it too. Only He can get us through.

The list of my gratitudes are forever long, and there would be NO WAY to list them all here. Generally, the friendships that I have are UNbelieveable. I found that out this year. The number of people who cared enough to do what they could, say what they could and hug when they could during my Dad's ordeal this summer was overwhelming. I love each and every one of you.

I have also rediscovered friendships in people who never left my life, the state maybe, but not my life. Life is too short to let the "little" things get between us. My relationships are on the road to recovery, and for that I am grateful.

The relationship that I have with Kevin is the BEST it has ever, ever been. I cannot thank God enough for giving me the WHATEVER I NEED AT THE TIME to continue this relationship. This could not have been possible without many, many things coming before: the Intervention I was apart of in grade school, the introduction of Al-ateen, the commitment of relatives to take me to meetings when no one else could/would, the sponsor I have, the 2 DWI's our family has experienced, and numerous other accounts. If God had not interceded when he did, Kevin and I would not be happily married today. Thank you.

My children are a blessing. I so enjoy playing with them, hugging them, kissing them. Sometimes, I wish their "ears worked right" though. I suppose those get fixed naturally about the age of 23. (That seems like a good age, huh?) Each of them is a blessing in thier own way. James will eventually benefit, I hope, from Emma's bossiness. Emma will one day realize that James is a great brother. He loves her so much.

We have jobs. I today's economy, some don't. We do. They pay is not great, but we have jobs. Our bills get paid. We have health insurance, and a home to call our own. Life is good.

Life is short. Appreciate the small things. Take notes; you'll want to remember all these memories one day. Photograph. Smile.

I love you.

Merry Christmas, Everyone.