Goodbye 2006!

And good riddance!! I've had the worst year of my life and I'm looking forward to putting it behind me.

The one good thing that happened this year was that I met Johnny - the man I love! Yay for me. I never would have thought that David leaving would have a good outcome, but it sure did. Funny that you can't see the mountains when you're so deep in the valley, and I never would have expected to meet someone so sweet, funny, and caring as Johnny... Boy, I'm glad I did because I couldn't imagine being without him....

I'm looking forward to 2007 and getting back on our feet. I hope and pray that there are great things in store for us, because after the hell we've been through this year (financially), we deserve to come out on top.

So here's my year in review:

January - I started a new job
I became single after 7 years

May - I met Johnny :o)

May - September - Payroll issues

August - Went to Michigan and got to scrap with lots of wonderful ladies!!

September - Lost my job and still hadn't been paid in 2 months
Electricity was shut off
Turned the ex-boss into the Labor Board

October - Got a temp job

November - Turned 25
Water was shut off
First Labor Board hearing - he didn't even show up
Found out that my temp job will always be a temp job (they don't hire their temps)
Our first Thanksgiving together

December - Our first Christmas together
Cable/Internet shut off
Celebrated our 6 month anniversary


So, it's been a crazy year and I'm hoping that 2007 brings many many changes for us. I've got my next hearing with the Labor Board on Jan. 8th and I'm hoping it brings good news for me... And I've got my eyes peeled for a new job, something closer to home so that I'm not spending so much time and money being out on the road every day.

We're going to spend the evening surrounded by our friends, ringing in the new year with the ones we love. Here's hoping that you do the same, and have a safe and blessed New Year. Love you all *hugs*

Some days

Some days I just wanna pack up my Johnny and my babies and go.... go somewhere far, far away from here. Get away from everything. Leave behind the cell phone so I don't get any more calls from creditors. Leave behind all the bills I can't pay. Leave behind all the drama and chaos. I can't take anymore. I just wanna go....

Christmas Re-Cap

All went well, rather smoothly, without too much craziness or drama.... We ended up with 17 people and 4 dogs at our house on Christmas day (3 of them ours - but Molly has a new little boyfried!!) Tons of food, tons of catching up, tons of family and friends. We had a great time but I was completely exhausted by the time everyone left and I got the kitchen cleaned up.... I was in bed at 9! The bad part was that I had to get up and work the next day...

Johnny goes to the dentist tomorrow to have 2 molars pulled, a root canal and a crown put on.... My poor honey. He's been in such pain for months and now he finally went in to the dentist and that's the verdict. And $1800 later.... Thank God for payment plans... Somehow, we'll manage. We'll just be living even tighter....

I keep meaning to sit down and do a "year in reveiw" kinda post, but don't seem to find the time when I'm at home.... always something else to do to keep me busy. I hope everyone had a great Christmas and if I don't post back before New Years.... Have a safe, wonderful and happy New Year!!!!

Please take a moment

There is an amazing group called Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep that specializes in infant bereavement photography. Please take a moment to look at their site here.

Then, if you feel it in your heart to do so, please sign the petition here to help raise awareness of this service.

I first heart of this group a while back after joining ScrapJazz. There are a few of our own photographers on there that have signed up, that they may be of some help for a family that has lost one if it's little angels.

Sarah had also signed up... But as she said, she didn't realize that the first session she would do would be for her own little angel. The strength that it takes to be able to be there for a session like that in the first place is amazing, but for it to be your own child. Wow. I can't even begin to imagine.

Sarah was so kind enough to share a few of her photos with us, her extended family. You can find them here and here. Please, continue to keep her in your prayers as Christmas comes.

I've started sleeping again, finally

But, I've been having some pretty intense dreams. Dreams that completely freak me out and I wake up in a cold sweat.

The wierdest part is that I don't normally remember my dreams upon waking, but these last 2 have totally stuck with me.

I just hope that I can get a peaceful night's rest tonight.

It's been a long week....

With all that's been going on with Teegan's sudden passing, I've found myself praying a lot lately. Mostly for Sarah and her family, that they will be able to find peace in all of this. That they know how much they are loved and how truly affected we all have been by these circumstances. That they know that we are here for them, even if it's only to provide an ear or shoulder. And I've been praying for Amy a lot too. That she would continue to be strong for her friend, who needs her now more than ever. Amy posted that Sarah actually got some sleep last night, for the first time since this all happened. What a relief. With the services being yesterday, I'm sure that she's able to finally slow down and just breath. I still can't imagine the pain that they all feel. But they are on my mind constantly and I just wish that there were something I could do...

I had expected to get quite a bit done today, with Christmas just around the corner. We'll be having all of Johnny's family over, as well as some friends. I wanted to get the house cleaned up, carpets cleaned, kitchen mopped.... all of it done now, so that as the big day gets closer, I'm just able to spot clean. I did get the kitchen mopped, but once I got the vacuum in my scrap room, I got distracted and ended up cleaning up in there most of the day. Went through some of the stuff I've been wanting to purge. Think I sold a QK font. Yay! And then as the day wore down, I ended up scrapping... So most of the day was spent in my scrap room. But, I was productive while in there, so I guess it's not a big deal. I'll just have a lot more to do tomorrow, which works out because Johnny will be home to help... :o)

Anyways, not much exciting going on. Just felt the need to post something. Think I'm gonna go pop a movie in and head to bed... Nite everyone.

Please say a prayer

For my friend Sarah... Her baby daughter Teegan passed away this morning. It was completely unexpected and is a huge blow to her family, as well as her extended family, us Jazzers.

Amy posted "The preliminary autopsy results are in. Teegan passed from a very aggressive viral infection in her lungs. They told us that it most likely set in within 12 hours of her death. It was so massive that it eventually filled her poor little lungs with mucous and suffocated her. She passed due to a severe viral infection, the type of virus is still unknown at this time.

Sarah and Grant were up with her at 3am and brought her into their bed. She snuggled into the middle and passed surrounded by the immense love and concern of her parents. Please hug yur babies tonight. Like Sarah said, "I want my yesterdays back." Do not take a single moment for granted."

Just keep them in your thoughts and prayers, it's greatly appreciated.

It's finally Friday!

Woohoo!! I live for the weekend! And it's been one heck of a week...

Attended Blanca's funeral yesterday. It was beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time... I've never attended a Catholic funeral before, and they went through a whole Mass, which was very interesting... And from what I could understand of the service, it was lovely (it was conducted in spanish and I only got bits and pieces of it). After the serivice, they had a procession out to the burial plot, where there was a small Mariachi band and they played some of Blanca's favorite songs. It tore my heart out to stand there and watch Mary laying against her mother's casket, singing along.... She cried during the entire service but overall seemed to hold up well. She only broke down a couple of times - and each time that she did, Tani and I broke down too. I can't imagine the pain that she was feeling, that she still feels, knowing that her mother, her world, her everything is now gone. It just makes me so sad.

I'm looking forward to the weekend - Tani and John are coming over tomorrow evening and hanging out with us... Food, drinks and games galore! I always love hanging out with them and I'm even more excited this time because 1.) they'll finally get a chance to hang out with Johnny and get to know him better 2.) it's been nearly a year since we've done this - last New Years was the last time we hung out and 3.) I really miss Tani now that we aren't working together.... We're both so busy that we don't get a lot of time together and she's one of my closest friends, we've been through so much together in the short 3 years we've known eachother.... I really miss her. So, I'm super excited! And, she's bringing her fur-kids too, so all the munchkins will be busy playing and entertaining eachother! It'll be crazy but it's always fun.

Have a great weekend everyone.... Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post once the weekend's over.... **hugs**

It's gonna be one of those days...

Slept in too late (hit that snooze button 1 too many times) and didn't make it into the shower... Fortunately I took a shower last night, but didn't wash my hair... This morning it's all greasy feeling and staticy...

On the way into work, spilled coffee all over my center console in the car... Now everything is sticky and gross, not to mention that my car was already filthy, so you mix dirt and dust with sticky coffee.... Nasty.

Then, get into work and go to make my oatmeal in the kitchen... Spill oatmeal all over the counter...

It's just gonna be one of those days, isn't it?! **rolleyes**

"Holiday" Trees

Warning.... Rant to follow....

I was on my way home yesterday and passed by a sign that said- "Fresh cut Holiday Trees". When did Christmas trees become Holiday trees????

I don't care what religion you are, whether you celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus or not.... But the foundation of this holiday is based on His birth and is a celebration of Him. If you choose to celebrate the day as just another holiday, then that is your choice. But it's unfair for people to be so butt-hurt over the season that we are now forced to say "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas" and now we've even gone so far as to re-name the Christmas tree as a Holiday Tree..... Where does it end?? I'm tired of everyone trying to be so politically correct so they don't step on anyone's toes....

Can't we all just learn to live peacefully together even though we have different beliefs? Why is that so difficult? Just because I believe one way and you believe another does not mean either of us are necessarily wrong. Why is that so difficult to understand? Don't most religions teach you to not pass judgement on others? So then why are we so offended by something so simple as a Christmas tree???