HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Well, it's officially 2013!

While the last year was a pain in the ass,

it did show me a few different things

1: I have the GREATEST friends and family in the world. - Let me explain that one.  When we found out that Ruben's paychecks were going to be garnished, thus we'd have less money coming in, we had friends and family come out of the woodwork to help us.  They'd either loan us the money, or they'd find some random job that we could do.  Ruben painted models for a friend.  I cleaned houses for friends.  We both helped some people move.  And it always had the best timing.  Literally, we'd be freaking out (or at lesat I would) that we wouldn't have enough that month, and someone would call.  Seriously, most amazing friends and family in the world.  You guys are awesome, and I am beyond blessed that you are in my life. :)

2: I am a lot stronger than I previously thought.  - Yeah, I've had friends tell me that forever.  Yeah, I've survived a LOT of things that would have broken most people.  But it took me waking up one morning completely numb from the waist down, and getting a preliminary diagnosis (we aren't going to finalize it until after the new year so I can get insurance without the pre-existing condition battle that won't go away until 2014) of MS.  Honestly, at first, it scared the CRAP out of me.  The fear of the unknown has never been something I handle well.  So I came home and read EVERYTHING I could find on it.  EVERYTHING.  I asked someone I know about it, and we still talk about how we are both feeling, etc.  I found a few blogs that I read of people that are struggling with it - Either actually suffereing with the disease, or a family member dealing with it. And after reading on it and finding out the actual numbers, i don't feel so scared.  I am stronger.  I have learned to say "no, I can't do that today" and not feel bad about it.  Just figuring out that each day is an adventure, and it's about how you handle it and not about what's thrown at you.  And the good thing about it is that I know I'm ok.  Thanks to amazing supportive friends, family, and random people I am able to make it through each and every day just fine. :)

3: With the garnishment and being completley and totally broke all year long, we learned to enjoy the simple things.  The zoofriends pass and the one time investment that's all of 70 bucks, we were able to go to the zoo whenever we wanted to.  So while it wasn't FREE, it definently pays for itself.  We learned to enjoy wandering around downtown/ the water canal.  We finally got our library cards and we've got the girls reading every day.  I picked up folding stars, making bendy dolls, and crochet to help myself stay busy, and they are all pretty darn cheap.  You learn to enjoy the things that you probably never would have done if you'd had the money to go do something else more expensive.  So yeah.  That's a good thing, and I'm sure we will keep it up even when/ if we finally get caught back up and DO have a little extra money.

4: I am TOTALLY not into politics.  I mean, I have opinions and views, and I understand the system and why MOST of it is in place and acts the way it does.  But living in one of the reddest states in the nation, and not having the same views, can be a struggle.  And trying to explain WHY I feel the way I do about a certain candidate, or why I back something they said, or don't believe something another said, etc, is EXHAUSTING.  This election was one of the more nasty ones that I can remember, with each side saying horrible things about the other person.  And truthfully, nobody is perfect.  No presidential candidate is ever going to be perfect.  They ALL make mistakes, and say things that aren't always true.  That's politics.  And people going "Yeah, but HE said THIS" and "She said this" and "You're wrong for feeling that way" just pisses me off. 

My new quote this year goes towards a LOT of things.

"You can worship a rock for all I care.

Just don't throw it at me"

You can vote for whoever you wanna vote for.  You can back guns, or want to ban them.  You can believe your religion is the only right one. You can be against homosexual marriage.  You can be anti-abortion.  Frankly, I'm happy that you have an opinion, and something to believe in.  That's a good thing.  Having faith and passion means you're alive.

BUT

THAT DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO BELITTLE ME BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THE SAME WAY!!!!  You aren't going to hear me telling you that you're wrong.  I will sit and listen to WHY you believe a certain way, and i may not agree, but that's YOUR opinion, and i have mine.  And as long as we can have an adult civil conversation, we can talk about it all day.  But the moment you tell me I'm wrong because i don't feel the same way, You lose all respect.  So remember that, k?

5: I get irritated when people use tragedy to push their own agendas.  Like the shooting at Sandy Hoook elementary causing people to get all up in arms about gun laws, and mental health.  Instead of letting the town, and friends and family, of those who passed actually mourn.  Push your agenda another way.  It is just heartbreaking.  Like any of the other shootings.  Yeah, some people suck.  Yeah, life really does suck sometimes.  Yeah, people do horrible things.  But it's just that.  PEOPLE do horrible things.  PEOPLE.  A gun can't load itself and kill someone without someone behind the trigger. Now, don't get me wrong, semi-automatic and automatic weapons are completely pointless and really should be banned.  BUT, just because something is banned doesn't mean it's safer.  Yeah, it'll help lower the rate things happen, but it won't wipe it out completely.  And I just wish people would remember that.

And last but not least

6: I will never be able to repay the kindness of the people in my life.  Yeah, I can repay money.  I can return favors, etc.  But I can't show people just how much it MEANS that they did the things for me.  I know I need to find a way to say thank you to the person who bought me a drink and pizza while I was waiting in that god-aweful line for toys for tots, but I don't even really know her name.  I do know her daughters name, and where she works.  But I've got to figure out something appropriate, since I don't actually know her, ya know?  Any ideas? 

I have been so blessed this last year.  Yeah, some part of it SUCKED ROYALLY.  And I just wanted it to be over during that time.  But now that the year is over, and it taught me so much, i am excited to see what this year has in store.

And we are 30 days and counting from my 30th birthday. I am ready for it.  I am going to go out of my way to be sure I can actually have a REAL birthday party!! SOOO, yeah.  I guess we will see what happens, haha.

For now, I am gonna go straighten house a bit, and put some chicken on to thaw so we can do dinner soon.  Then I'm gonna curl up with my blanket and watch some more Lost Girl on Netflix.  LATERS!

LOVE YOU GUYS!!!