Happy New Year!!!

I just finished knitting an Ipod Hoodie for Emily's Ipod and figured I'd post while it was in the washer felting.

There have been a lot of ups and a lot of downs this year, but, by far, the changes that have occurred over the last year have been for the better. Here are some that I can think of:

• I got to spend another year as Jim's wife....who could ask for more?????
  
• Emily moved out (now we get along much better because of it)
• Christopher got stationed here.
• Christopher married a lovely young lady,
• That lovely young lady gave us a BEAUTIFUL granddaughter.
• Jeffrey came home from Iraq Christmas Eve.
• Richard got confirmed.
• Jim's mom and I got closer.
• I cut off all ties with my mother.
  
• I got to spend another year with Jim.
• Tory came back home.
• Tory came back home.
• Tory came back home.
• Jim's meds seem to be helping him.
  
• Richard is 'getting it' when it comes to integrity and maturity.
• My therapy has made leaps and bounds.....quite a few breakthroughs
• I have really progressed in my knitting....I never thought I'd knit lace...but it's so easy!
• Grandpap Jim turned 100 years old!
• We got rid of the van and got a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid....I LOVE IT!!!
  
• Jim and I are reconciled with Diana....I now consider her a friend.
• Phoebe recovered from the brink of death......literally.
  
• Greg got stationed far away.
• Our yard got fenced in!
• We got cupboards and a sink in the garage.
  
• We got Franklin Butthead Tomcat (aka Frankie, Frankie B.)
• Emily graduated!
• Emily started college!
• We met (just yesterday!) Jeffrey's girlfriend...I really like her and she has a sweet 2 year old daughter.
• ALL of our children made it here for Jeffrey's homecoming and Christmas.
  

That's all that I can think of right now....but I know there are many more things......my life gets better every day...........I am now married to the man of my dreams and learning how to become a 'normal' person and not a crazy bitch that flies off the handle at the least little thing. I want normal SOOOOOO badly!!!!

Now for the bad things that I can think of:

• My beloved Brenda Miyamasu passed away. That is by far one of the saddest events in my life
• Rich and Tory's grandmother June passed away....it was what she really wanted though.
• Christopher is having to deal with the ramifications of being in a war zone for a year and a half. He's having a rough time of it.
• Jim has been battling depression this year....it completely overwhelmed him over the summer. He's on meds and he says he's feeling better.
• Phoebe's illness cost over $800 and almost killed US!!!!!

Isn't it wonderful that I can think of so many GOOD things and only a few BAD things????? Brenda's death far overshadowed every good thing for quite a few months. She was the most wonderful person I've ever met and I truly love her with all my heart. She was someone who I aspired to be like, she was someone who had class, she was someone who CARED and she was someone who loved.
I miss her so much.
OK....time to stop before I start crying harder.
Happy New Year.