Goodbye 2008!!!!

I've been thinking of this post for the past few days. So much has happened in 2008, the good, the bad, and the ugly... At the beginning of this year, my resolution was to stay positive. For the most part I was, but there were some events which really tested my resolution.

So let's review: unemployed, no home, no income... whew! The one thing I know I learned was how to receive. How can that be hard, you say? I'm a giver by nature. Receiving is very uncomfortable for me. But, swallow your pride, put away your self image, and do what you need to do to survive. I think the hardest thing about receiving, is to know the right way to give. For years, being a giver was something I didn't even think about. If you needed it and I had it, it was yours. God was always there to refill my cup. But there is a clear and real difference between giving because you really want to help, and giving so you can fill your "charity" square on your bingo card of life. So many people helped us through this year. To many the giving was real, to others we were just a charity case, something they could tell people about, something they could throw in our faces when we least needed to hear it. I learned how easy it was for people to lie. But not to worry. I still appreciated it all and will never forget the help.

We were talking recently about how many times we dreamed out loud of better times and kinder people. I think if I say "when I win the lottery" one more time, Tricia will scream. LOL! (Hey, dreaming keeps you going some times.) We now know what it feels like to have an empty bank account and be living in a car. We know hunger. We know what it feels like to be treated like dirt and talked to like we were worthless. We know how peoples words can leave a scar on our hearts that will never go away. We know who our true family and friends are. It's funny, because I really believed some people when they said they would be there for us, said they were our friends, and gave, even when they rarely ever even saw us. I was amazed to learn how many people judged us by the money we didn't have. We learned unconditional love. Even when we were being judged by people not even knowing the facts, we kept praying and held our heads high. I will never stop praying...

I know our Lord was carrying us this entire year. I describe this past year as if Christ were taking us for a walk through a giant mansion. Each room held different experiences, some good, some bad. Some times things looked beautiful on the outside, but when you got into them you found everything to be fake. Yet Christ held our hands throughout the entire year. He opened our eyes to be able to see the true people from the fakes. He blessed me with a real and true friend, a daughter who never turned her back on me, and the two most wonderful grandaughters ever. He gave me realtives I will forever be indebted to. I am blessed!

The best part of this past year is knowing the future will be better. I pray you all have a beautiful 2009, learn to give unconditionally, love unconditionally, and keep your faithful loved ones close. It will be my year to say thank you to all the people who helped us. I know who you are and know I will be saying thank you loud and clear. Happy New Year!