New Year, new beginnings

Let me start this by saying that I've never been that eternal optimist that finds the silver lining in everything.  I've grumbled and moaned as much as anybody.  Sure, I am a true believer in the power of positive thinking but I'm also a guy that can feel sorry for myself if I don't watch it.  I think that those that are eternal optimists are really people that are just self aware of those creeping doubts and they have a great coping mechanism for keeping those feelings at bay.  At the closing of every year we all hope for great things for the new year, as we should, but it can come off as sour grapes for the year past.  This is especially true when the out-going year was full of disappointments or just utter disaster.  2008 brought economic turmoil, international conflict, political struggle, and for some personal battles.  It is easy to say, "God please make 2008 go away and bring me a new year with a new beginning".  Let's instead take inventory of our blessings from 2008.  I'll go first...

Thank God that Jennifer had the Stage I Lymphoma when at one point they thought it was Sarcoma.  We went from a surgery that was going to remove a portion of her thigh, at least a year's worth of physical therapy to get the leg functional, and still a scary prognosis to 3 chemo treatments, 20 radiation treatments, and then CURED!  That my friend is a blessing.  I have two beautiful, healthy, trouble making boys and at one time Jennifer and I didn't think that we would ever be able to have kids.  I remember one day a few years ago when we were just starting off in our marriage.  I was one of the baseball coaches in Hobbs, NM.  The local little league was hosting the state tournament so the other baseball coaches and I went up to some games to make an appearance.  There was a former player at the college that I played at who was a few years older than me but had stayed in town and was now raising his family there.  His youngest son was there at the game and he couldn't have been any older than 6 and he was a mess, but in that great little boy way.  I remember watching him eat a handful of dirt and I thought, that's what I want a little dirt eating boy.  Well, I have two of them now.  Oh, and Dana that little boy was yours by the way and I'm sure you're not a bit surprised.

I have so many more blessing in my life but it's time for our Mario Cart tournament to begin.  That's where my life is now.  I'm having Mario Cart tournaments on New Year's Eve with Jennifer and the boys and I wouldn't want it any other way.  May God continue to bless each of you in 2009.