I can't express how much I am looking forward to this new year. I love a fresh start and this will be one for me.I am heading into the New Year thankful for so much! I am blessed. My family is happy and healthy, all are working (fingers crossed), all are growing.
Michelle and Family are doing really well. Michelle has gone back to college and is working toward a degree in public management. She had already completed 3 years when she quit, and with some guidance from the college counselor is headed back to graduation in the next couple of semesters. She came through this semester with success.Michelle also took control of her life. With good advisement from her doctor and the tenacity to push through difficult times, she has worked her way through to a weight loss of 127 pounds....all on her own. She has done it strictly with developing good eating and exercise habits. She is no longer diabetic and she looks like she did when she was 17, only lighter in weight. Yep, that's true! I'm so proud of her tenacious drive to make herself a healthy individual.
Michelle's year saw the graduation of Acacia, #2 daughter, and the entry of her #3 daughter, Jessica into college classes. She will graduate with a full semester and a half of college. A good start into her medical career goals. Savannah is being home schooled for this year only and doing quite well. She will begin high school next year. Isaac is 10 now. He is a delightful child and quite wonderful to be around. Amanda has moved out, but we see a lot of her.
Darryl and family are also wonderful. Chell works at home now. It's working out really well for her and surely cuts down on the gasoline and clothing bills. Also great for the kidsknowing she is there. It's a bit tricky, but she and Darryl have managed it well. They both compliment each other and have such a great marriage. Chell is the best! Darryl has been on the P90X program and has a website of his own. He looks wonderful and is in great shape. He is back into cycling now, and am not sure if he will be training for another race or not.
My family is wonderful! I am so proud of them and the paths they have taken.I am still dating Bob. He is a wonderful man and one of the kindest people I know. No, no plans for marraige (knew you'd be wondering). Right now with my job as it is and my life as hectic as it is, there is little time for developing much more than a wonderful and close friendship. I sometimes go several weeks without seeing him, but we do talk on the phone daily. FOR NOW, that's the best that I can do and he is quite fine with it. He is a wonderful support and I hope I am the same for him.
I've been writing goals on New Year's Eve for the past 30+ years. For some reason, if I write down what I want to accomplish in a year's time as a goal on New Year's Eve, I WILL accomplish it. Wed, 12/15/2010 I accomplished my final 2010 goal. I had the last "bodily" repair done, hernia surgery.
My goals for 2010 were totally fix-up goals.....for ME! This year saw me through sort of a Physical Restoration Program. I had eye surgery, hernia surgery, blood testing, etc. Found myself to be in need of total repair in order to go, healthfully, into the next year/s of my life, so figured I should get moving on with it. The hernia surgery was the final step.
Thirty years ago, I was diagnosed with a little fatty tumor on my left flank next to my kidney. I was told it was nothing important and would not likely ever have to be removed. Besides, insurance didn't pay for their removal. Well, it grew slightly over the next 28 years to the size of a small fist under my skin. Thinking it was a fatty tumor and insurance wouldn't pay for it, I didn't do anything about it. But, two years ago, it began to get larger and by this past summer, it had doubled in size. I knew then that it was probably more than a small fatty tumor. I had it checked and was told, after a CT Scan, that it was herniated. I had no idea what that meant. I was still thinking I had a fatty tumor. It turned out to be what is called a Lumbar Hernia. It's not common (par for my course!). I had it repaired on 12/15. Original Dr. orders called for an overnight hospital stay, but shortly before surgery I was told that most likely I could go home afterwards. Sadly, that didn't work out. I had a few problems and ended up staying over night, but am now on the mend. I am healing very nicely. He told me he will release me in two weeks since I do not have a manual job of lifting. That will be just in time for work.
So, I am headed into the new year with great blood counts, repaired bodily parts, better vision, etc.....most of all, I am headed into the New Year with a great family, good friends, a job and a warm place to call home. I am blessed.
Next year, I will be checking out a job at the community college. Taking on a fully loaded resource caseload this year didn't allow me to work another job, as there wasn't enough time in a day for both, but this next year I really have no other choice. I cannot manage without the extra dollars. I am so grateful for the job that I do have and the fact that I have a home and transportation. There are so many people struggling out there and I know that I am blessed at this time. I also know, from past experience that life can throw you a curve ball no matter what age you are, so I am trying to prepare. Another family member depends on me and THAT is the most important job that I have. I was offered a position at ASU, but am trying to not go back right now. I know I do well there, but it is like having another full time position and the stress is too much. The past two years have been very stressful for me. I have moved at work two times (contributor to my hernia) and have begun from the beginning with routines and systems for my students. I think by the summer, I will have it down. Community College will not have quite the stress that ASU would have.
Life is good right now. I look forward to a WONDERFUL New Year. I have great friends, a super wonderful family, and new things brewing in my personal and professional life. What else could be better?
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! 2011 looks to be a great year!
