Goodbye 2008

It's about 3 1/2 hours until 2009 arrives so I thought I'd take a few minutes to say goodbye to 2008. All in all I think I can say that 2008 was the worst year of our lives in many ways. However there were definitely good things about it too.

On the bad side, illness played a horrible role yet again. I watched my husband deteriorate so badly. A couple of hours ago we sat and talked. We know we can't control our illnesses but maybe, just maybe we can change the way we react to them. This is something we hope to do next year.

My beautiful daughter had her own highs and lows and came through everything with such grace. She now holds two certificates in childcare and is qualified to run an after school care program. Next year she will start university and be on her way to becoming a school teacher.

Two people affected our lives in very bad ways this year. One, I will never speak of again. The other was a a woman who I had *thought* was a nice person but who in fact turned out to be a paranoid weirdo. She not only attacked me but my daughter as well. It takes a hell of a lot to make me angry but this woman really made me shake my head and just thank God that most people are not like that. Strangely enough I haven't even thought about her until I started writing this recap of 2008 and from this moment I shall never think of her again.

On the good side of things. Well I have met some wonderful, incredible, beautiful people this year. They have touched my life in very profound ways.

Sadly and completely my own fault...I didn't keep in contact with any of my other (older) friends this year. That will change next year and I just hope they will accept me back. I did what I had to do to keep my sanity. I left my normal "online life" and embraced some new things. I had to do it and my real friends know why. Some bad stuff happened in the early parts of this year and I retreated. Next year I will leave it all behind and not let it consume me any more. To my old friends, I am so sorry for stepping away. I may have been out of sight but all of you have remained in my heart. I haven't forgotten a single one of you.

On another good note, I reconnected with some members of my extended family through Facebook and am so delighted with that.

I lost two very dear family members this year. My Aunty Annette died and a couple of months later, her husband, my Uncle Dick died. Their deaths have left such a huge hole in all our lives and some things will never be the same again. All my love goes out to my family in Ireland.

Last week my daughters friend lost her mother. Two years ago her father died. So now my daughter's friend and her young brother are left without both parents. Such sadness. My sincere condolences to Amy and Ashton and their entire family.

In my last post I mentioned all the things I hope to change next year and I'm still hoping to achieve those goals as well as a few others.

I guess that's all I really want to say. So I shall now wish you all a Happy New Year and I hope that 2009 brings you all everything you want. May God bless you all.
Love Lynn
xxxxxx