Bringing 2007 to a Close and Embracing What 2008 Has in Store...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! LET'S BE GREAT IN '08!

I haven't posted since Christmas Eve and I have lots to say with regard to visits throughout Christmas with Frieda, all the things I'm thankful for in the past year and what we all have to look forward to in 2008.
There are a lot of funny and wonderful events that happened with Frieda during all the Christmas visits. I will share those in various posts over the coming days. I think you'll find them impressive and uplifting.
As for now, I wanted to write my final post for 2007 with some reflections.
First of all, if you are reading this, you are still alive and hopefully well. That in itself, I have learned is a major feat as a result of my own personal experiences with family and loved ones this year.
Secondly, I am so very thankful for my family. We have a close knit, loving family and we support each other in ways that sometimes are just more than I can believe. I appreciate you and love you all very much.
I am grateful for my friends. Again, this year had been a year of uncertainty, medical trauma, life and death situations, hospitals and all the ups and downs that occur in those situations. My best friend has been seriously ill since July and I am inspired each and every day as she fights her way back from two massive strokes...regardless of what doctors and others says she can or cannot achieve. Frieda keeps that fighting spirit of hers moving forward and working hard. I LOVE YOU FOR THAT FRIEDA! You're a simply amazing.
My daughter will enter her final semester of college in January. I can hardly believe that, but I am so very proud of all she has accomplished. It's both exciting and frightening to realize that she is indeed "an adult" and about to enter an adult world. I am so sure she's going to do great things. Her heart is SO big and she is SO giving and nurturing. I know Marah will touch a lot of lives.
As for all of you reading this, EACH of you hold a special and dear place in my heart. Some of you are family, some are friends I know personally, some professionally, some of you, I have never met and we only know one another via emails regarding this blog. However I "know you," always be reminded that you hold a special place in my heart and I'm wishing you and your families all the very best that 2008 has to offer.
Years fly by so very quickly anymore and I think it's important for all of us to take pause on those thing that REALLY matter. I mean REALLY matter. I'm not talking about the disappointments we all have from time to time, I'm not talking about when the internet goes down or the cell phone breaks or you have a dropped call. Those are silly inconveniences. My hope is that we can all MAKE time each and every day to give thanks for all we have and all we are blessed with. Indeed, even with all the problems the media says America has, she is still the greatest land in the world and we would do well do focus on the GOOD in our country and stick together as AMERICANS first, and then issues such as divisive politics and political parties can find a place way on down the line. We are AMERICANS. We were AMERICANS before George Bush, before Bill Clinton and before anything else, we should embrace that. That would be my wish for my country this year...that we could be a COUNTRY again.
Watch less news and help a neighbor in need. That's how it used to work and it worked well. No politics were involved reaching out to another. Just food for thought.
I wish you all a safe and happy New Year's Eve celebration. I wish you all success, GOOD HEALTH, prosperity (in all forms) and most of all I wish you blessings, peace and love!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! LET'S EMBRACE ALL 2008 HAS TO OFFER!! IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD YEAR FOR US ALL! I JUST FEEL IT!
With love and many well wishes,
Annie

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