The Christmas Letter...

It's Christmas time... And instead of sending out Christmas cards, I'm going to do a Christmas blog.

It's been a hard year this year. Alot more bad than good. But, like I always say there's always something good about every day even if you have to make it up. That means that there's 365 good things that happened (or will happen) this year.

I'm a firm believer that Christmas letters should be happy commentaries on the year as it's been. But as it was pointed out to me, ignoring the bad won't make it go away. It's important to include it, but to emphasise and dwell the good.

So, without further ado...

I managed to make it through the 06-07 snow season without wrecking my car. It did have a small collision with some ice, but I wasn't driving at the time. My family wasn't so lucky. 3 deers committed suicide by running into family's vehicles. They were able to fix 2 of them, but mom's Taurus was totalled.

Things were going pretty good up until March. My aunt Joyce took ill and ended up developing bacterial meningitis. She passed away a week after taking ill. My last conversation with her happened shortly before she took ill when we were celebrating my Grandma's birthday late in February. We chatted about random things, but before we left, she told me that she was praying for me to find a good husband. 2 weeks later, and she was gone. I take comfort in the knowledge that I'll see her again in heaven and that she's finally happy and at peace.

My sister and her husband divorced this year after 13 years of marriage. I can't honestly say that I'm surprised. I'm happy that My sister can start over and hopefully be happy now. I love my ex-brother in law, but he was difficult to live with.

Physically it's been a tough year. I've had several flare ups of the Celiac Disease and other assorted allergies. Things seem to be going well and then I'm knocked off my feet. I should buy stock in the tums, benadryl, and Imodium companies. But on the plus side, I kept my new years pledge to myself. (I don't make resolutions.) I've been dieting and exercising and have lost 42 lbs since January. I went from a size 18 to a 10-12. Yeah Me!

I became an aunt again this November. My older brother and sister in law had a baby girl on November 21st. (Narrowly missing opening day for white tail deer season.) They named her Susanna Joelle. As you can tell, she was named after me. I can't tell you what an honor that is, to have a child named after you. Especially when it's your niece (or nephew.) I love Susie and her sister Leah more than life itself. There isn't anything that I wouldn't do for those girls. Leah is a joy! I love watching her learn and experience new things. I love how she loves her stuffed bunny and shares all her new experiences with him. I can't wait to see both girls grow up and become the people they are destined to be.

I didn't forget my mom and my little brother. Mom and Jon are both doing well. Mom got a new job and seems to be flourishing there. She's worked hard at both her new job and the rotary and other than being tired seems to be really happy. Jon is doing well at his job as well. He is so talented in everything that he does. He is steadily moving up the corporate ladder and deserves all the blessing and rewards that he gets. I am so proud of my family. I am blessed and honored to be a part of it.

Hunting season went better than well this year. Everyone in our party got at least 1 deer with my dad and brother Bill getting 2. I got a large doe and the boys all got bucks. I got mine at 7:15 opening morning. Spine shot. What an answer to prayer. I was happy to get something bigger than an appetizer and more than happy that the guys did as well as they did. It's more important to me for my dad, brother and uncle (and sister in law when she goes out) to be successful than it is for me to do well.

Work is the same old same old. It's still work, but I love it. It has its ups and downs, but it would be boring without them. I love a challange, and each day at work presents one.

So that's it. My Christmas Blog. My year as it's been so far. I know it's a long long long post, but you'll forgive me since it's been a long long long year. Happy Holiday's every one! All my love; Always and Forever, Joelle "Refhater"