The end of 2008

Well, I definately can't say this has been my worst year...I think 2005-6 hold the record for that, but it hasn't been my best either. I am looking forward to the new year, full of hope and trust, that things will work out for us.
I would have to say, that losing my Mom this year, is top in my mind, of things that I will never forget about 2008...last year at this time, we had just put her in the hospital...what a difference a year makes. REMEMBER that, and embrace those you love! RIGHT NOW!

So that being said.....I am LOOKING FORWARD TO 2009!! It promises to be an interesting year if nothing else. I will be so glad to get our audit for 2005 settled, take out a loan...do whatever, but get er done...we have been fighting it since January of this year!! Life is wearing on me..can you tell? LOL

Again though, I have to remember the many, many things I have been blessed with!!
I have the best husband in the world...he loves me no matter what, and that is quite an accomplishment, especially lately! I don't know how I found him, or why I have been so blessed to have him..but I am THANKFUL! I love him with all my heart!

My Kids....they are a blessing to me EVERYDAY! The Love me unconditionally, and support us. Sometimes especially lately, I know they are leading, and we are following...I guess that means at some point, we lead right..right?

Marcus, what a true valiant person he is. He is so strong, and unwavering in EVERYTHING he believes...he is a wonderful husband, daddy and son. I am truely blessed to have him as my example. He is the eldest brother, in everyway setting the path for others to follow,including his Mom and Dad.

Kelli, what a blessing she is in our family...she is kind, loving, and thoughtful, a great wife to Marc, and a great Mommy to Kayla, and the best DIL I could ever have asked for! She has been there, to cart me to and from the airport, more times than I can count! Thank you sweet daughter!!

Kayla...My baby( I KNOW I KNOW...GET WITH IT MARRIED KIDS!!LOL)She makes me smile, everytime I think about her twinkling eyes, and sweet personaliy. I don't think I have ever been around a more loving or well mannered little girl. She even seems to find something to entertain herself, with this house full of adults..usually Unca "D" Unca "E" or SISSY..since they are all just overgrown kids anyway! I love her to death, and maybe when I come home from HELL as I LOVING call Phoenix...I can spend more time and be more emotionally able to be a better Grandma to her....I think all the time of things I should do with her, but just never have the energy, emotionally or physically anymore!

Dustin...What can I say, but how very thankful I am to have him. How blessed are we, to have gone through such hell, and come out on the other side with so much! Dustin will forever be an inspiration to us all, to NEVER GIVE UP, and to work forever on our testimony's of prayer, and faith. Dustin in a TRUE WARRIOR, and a great example to anyone who is lucky enough to know him. And as a Mom, all I can say is THANK YOU GOD!

Kelsee, what a beautiful daughter she is in everyway. Forever making plans for things for us to do as a family, to keep us close. Always being there, to encourage us, and to support us in everything we do. She has grown up so much, and I am so PROUD to say I am her Mom.

Ian...again...you make me LAUGH..that is a good thing!! He is a great person, and I am so glad Kelsee found him! He is her perfect match~and he is so good to her, and us, I could not ask for a better SIL!! He even put up our outside Christmas lights this year...I KNOW Bryan was thankful for that, as were Kayla and I!

To my extended family and friends.....thanks for being who you are, and always being there, at just the right times, with just the right words of help and encouragement.

So to end this, and get some things done...I just want to let my Heavenly Father, My Family and My friends know, that I am THANKFUL for the GOOD, THE BAD, and THE UGLY that we have gone through in 2008, and BRING IT ON...2009...I AM READY!!

BAH HUMBUG! I mean MERRY CHRISTMAS!;)

Thanks to Ian, we have lights outside!! Bryan, was however going to do it
(so he says), but we are SO thankful Ian did it....Bryan did break out the reindeer!
Got the tree up, and you can call it the lazy way to do it, but I was SO SICK of the same blue and pink tree, but since our living room is Blue and Pink, it was kind of hard to variate. BUT we went to the store yesterday, and took back the outdoor lights we had purchased,(because Ian also donated the lights) and got new ornaments. Here is also one of the little village houses I am going to do inside, but need to get some cotton! It is BLACK SILVER GOLD and PURPLE..I know kind of random, but sure is fun for a change! I will add pictures of the outside, when it gets dark!
SO BAH HUMBUG...I MEAN HO HO HO!!

THE MANY THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR!

I just wanted to wish everyone a BLESSED THANKSGIVING, and put down on paper (or computer) the things I am thankful for!

1. My Family, I have the BEST LOVING HUSBAND anyone could ask for, he loves me and puts up with me, through it all, what more can I say!

My oldest son Marc, is such an EXAMPLE to me, of unconditional love, and NEVER wavering in his beliefs, his wife Kelli, is such a sweetheart, much more like a DAUGHTER than a DIL, and such a GREAT Mom and Wife, every mother in laws dream for her son. My BEAUTIFUL Grandbaby...(I know I know, she is not a baby...but come on, you married kids...only you can fix this)! I love her, and she is the light of my life....I finally understand what people meant when they said,"the reason for having kids, is so you can have grandkids"! They were so right...she is so full of energy, and love, and is such a sweet little spirit! I LOVE HER TO DEATH!

My Son Dustin, he is my HERO, and I thank GOD EACH AND EVERY DAY, that I still have him here with me, for one more Thanksgiving...I have been very blessed, and he has taught us all, to try to appreciate each minute!

My Daughter Kelsee, she is my only Daughter, what can I say, but how much she has grown up, (how smart I have become, lol) and how PROUD I AM OF HER, she is as beautiful inside as she has ever been outside!! Her husband Ian....I love him as if he were my own son....and he makes me LAUGH..he is one in a MILLION, and is so good to my little girl, what more could a mother in law ask for?

My EXTENDED FAMILY...you are everything and more, that a family should be..thank you for always supporting us and loving us!

2. I am SO THANKFUL for my TRUE friends! You guys have been with me for better or WORSE...and the last few years have definitely been the WORSE! THANK YOU for loving me, anyway!! I hope that I can show you all in some way, sometime, how much you mean to me, and how much I have appreciated your love and support!

3. My crazy life..even with all the ups and downs, and aches and pains, and heart wrenching things I have gone through, and continue to go through, I am glad that I still am able to do the things I need to, to make it through everyday.

4. MY COUNTRY...and the freedoms that I have, living in it...how much I appreciate EACH AND EVERY SACRIFICE that EVERY SOUL has made to keep it this way!

5. My Mom, this will be my first THANKSGIVING without her, and I miss her, more than I can put a voice to, but she has taught me some very important lessons, that will be with me till I see her again on the other side..may I live my life till then, so that she will be proud of me.

6. My Faith...where would I be without it? LOST..I am so THANKFUL to know, that I have a HEAVENLY FATHER WHO KNOWS AND LOVES ME..and yes I DO BELIEVE THAT, and I love him...I am thankful for that knowledge, sometimes, especially through the last couple of years, my faith and religion are what got me through!


THANKS EVERYONE...and Have a WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!

Well, time to learn about blogging!

So My kids give me SHIZ all the time about MySpace, which of course they introduced me to, and I had a fit about them using, so now they are going to corrupt me further with blogging!!
Just remember, you are the cause of my downfall!!

All I am going to start with, is a simple, I LOVE MY FAMILY! THEY ARE MY LIFE! I miss them so, when I am in Phoenix working. Hopefully I will be able to come home soon!
Love you all,
Mom