A few of my favorite things

I've read some great blogs the last couple days. The new 2006 postings. Some great stuff. All kinds of soulful, intellectual, emotional, religious and political stuff. I want to write something, but I've gotta be honest here...I've got nothing. Especially compared to my blog friends that I've read recently. I've got to get lesser quality friends.

Nah, I'm just joshing with y'all. I love my friends, and I wouldn't trade them for anyone or anything. Well, I might trade tom for a million dollars and a kitten, but that's only because he has such poor taste in music.

Sooo, I've been thinking about what I liked about 2005 and what I'd like for 2006. Because of my memory impairment, I can't remember most of 2005. But here's what I can remember and what I'm grateful for:

The Kavanagh's ~ I'm starting with them because we'd just met them in November of 2004 on a cruise and Casey started dating Kayliegh Kavanagh. We fell in love with Kayliegh, and her mother, Kathleen, became a good friend of mine. I usually hate talking on the phone, and I'm not fond of people in general, but Kathleen always made me forget all that. I'm thankful for the Kavanaghs.

My friends; Katy, Mac and Terri ~ Best of friends, know all my secrets, have kept all my secrets and love me in spite of my secrets.

Casey got his drivers license ~ All my life (more like all my kids lives) I'd thought I'd be a nervous wreck when it came to my boys driving. I use to joke about stressing the benefits of riding a bike or mass transportation. But, by the grace of God, when it came time for Casey to start taking drivers ed classes, I had such peace. And except for the first day he drove to school (the first day of his junior year when I just drove by the school to make sure he'd made it okay), I've never had that first fear of his driving.

My job ~ Of all the years of being a substitute teacher, I've nearly always worked at the high school (grades 10 ~ 12). This year, Charlie's first year in high school (9th grade), I've had nearly every job at the Lowery freshman center. This is a big deal because Charlie has had a few problems in school, mostly for holding up for other kids (smaller kids, Hispanic kids...whatever). It's always made it hard for us to discipline Charlie, even though the school would hold him accountable for a no tolerance policy. In 2005 (when Charlie was in the 8th grade) he held up for a kid that was being pushed around...which ended up with himself getting pushed around. After he was hit, he hit back and a fight ensued and Charlie kicked this kids' butt. The no tolerance policy made it a police affair. Charlie is an honest kid, admitted to what he had done when asked, because it was in a football locker room and there were no teachers or coaches around. When he was asked what happened....he told the truth. We were given the choice of paying a fine and his taking anger management courses or going to court. The parents of the other boy, who had started it, chose paying the fine and going to classes so as not to have a record. We went to court. No one, not a teacher, coach or student, would come to court to testify against Charlie and the entire thing was dismissed. It taught Charlie a valuable lesson. Make sure what you stand up for is worth paying the consequences for. I don't think he'd changed a thing, and neither would we. We've always been proud of his moral compass. Working at his school this past year, his freshman year, has let me get to know his teachers and the office staff better. Somehow, their knowing me has helped them to understand Charlie a little bit better too. We share the same personality and sense of humor.

Mark's health ~ Although he started treatment in 2005 for Hepatitis C, we also got the best of news towards his results in 2005. For those who don't go that far back in my blog, Mark has had Hepatitis C since birth (we think), and joined an experimental study in 2005. After a 6 month check up, his viral count had gone down from 600,000 to under TEN. Not 10,000...I mean 10. They can't account for it, but we're blessed by it! At the second check up a month ago, it was still under 10. Thank you, Jesus.

Pat ~ Though I lost my mother in 1991, God brought Pat into my life via my father. Pat became a loving friend, filled a part of the hole my mother left in my heart and filled her spot as my kids grandmother. I'm thankful for her every single day.

Charlie's activities ~ For the first time ever, Charlie has found things that really interested him, wrestling and playing the guitar. He'd never done either before and picked up both quickly. He has amazed us with his guitar ability and his wrestling ability, too.

My blogging buddies ~ Though I've met a few that I enjoyed at the beginning and came to realize that their egos were just too big to fit into my schedule, there are many that I have came to honestly love and care for. I don't doubt that they know who they are because I'm honest with my feelings. I do want to acknowledge deb, who I consider a friend with every fiber of my being.

Our finances ~ By the grace of God, and Marks diligence, they are better than ever. Though we are far from rich (by the world's standards) we are better off than ever before. In our 21 years together, we've known financial despair, bankruptcy, foreclosure and having a baby (Charlie) without any insurance (sadly, these were all related to one another). So, we know what hard times are. I'm thankful that those hard times are a memory, and I'm grateful that it makes me aware of how blessed we are.

My Mom-in-law ~ We call her MamaCita. I use to be scared of her, then I felt inadequate around her. Then I let her into my life and I got to know and love her. She's one of my best friends, and the sweetest person I know.

And...for 2006? I'd like to know God better, to serve and share Him more. I'd like to be a better wife, mother and friend. I'd like to listen more and speak less. I'd like to make better use of my talents and less use of my laziness.
I'd like for Shawn to find his heart's desire (and to trust me more); for Wes to find White Devil; for Thomas, dzer and Mike to find real love with someone who would appreciate them for the great men they are; for Jerry to always have joy in all areas of his life; for Jan to have the life she wants with Bob; for kellie to have the life she's planning with J.; for sweet_hizzle to never change; for leesa to always have the courage to be her wonderful self; for deb to always follow her heart; for Nikki to get what she wants *wink*; for sable to find a forum to have his voice heard around the world; for stacy~d to always be a success; for tom to become a household name that people are more than willing to part with their money to see; for my cyber twin, tracie, to have a house she can run around naked in and a life where she smiles and laughs every single day; for wenchy to be surrounded by love and joy; for shannon to get out of that chair and chase greg around for awhile; for clay's success to continue and grow; for georgia_peach to never, ever, lose her voice; and for grace to find more self assurance (this is a joke, she's a secure and strong young woman!) and keep her mind focused on her goals.
For me, I'm thankful and blessed to have had all of you in my 2005 and hopeful to know you more in 2006.
I love you all.