The last page of the chapter of 2007

I am glad to see 2007 coming to a end. This has been a difficult year for me emotionally, financially, and spiritually. I thought 2003 was bad when I lost my dad and grandma within months of each other but this year has proven to be just as difficult but in new challenging ways. I could sit and whine about all the troubles the year had but that's not really me. I much rather talk about how it caused me to challenge myself to grow. I have been faced this year with some situations that I did not create but had to either clean up or walk away. Interesting during these issues I did not realize how strong of a person I can be but now that I am reflecting back on them I see that I have more inner strength than I think. I believe we can overcome any problem we are faced with as long as we acknowledge and move forward. By acknowledge and move forward I mean we must address that it is a issue and chose not to sit in it. The easy way out is to just sit in it and have a pity party with the hopes that someone will either join you or fix it or show you which way to run from it. The tough way which also helps you grow as a person the most is to face the issue and see how you are going to fix it. I know that sounds impossible to just say fix it and sometimes we can't completely fix it but we can put a bandage on it and slow the bleeding or apply pressure till the bleeding stops and we can figure out where to go from there. For example, my husband created a situation this year that rocked my world and not in a good way either. This issue was bad enough to challenge a marriage and would bring some to their knees. It definitely knocked the wind out of me and had me doubting every good feeling I ever had about him BUT before I made any life altering decisions I took some time to evaluate what I was going to do. I had to do massive amounts of soul searching to determine if I could stay with him and move past this. We have this marriage rule that when we argue we can only bring up the current issues and not dredge up the past so I had to ensure I could really move past this cause I wouldn't be able to resent him and bring it up later. Just a rule we made because we both have a past that can be brought up when arguing that can add to much fuel to the argument and then we lose might of the issue at hand and say things that cause way to much damage. So after doing some soul searching and creating a two column list of the pros and con's of which way to go I decided that I had to much invested in my love for him to walk away. That doesn't mean he got away clean free because his actions caused hurt to others and he definitely lost a part of me that it had taken him years to reach. He knows this and has in return learned many lessons from this and made huge improvements in his character. Had I made the decision to leave I would have missed out on seeing him grow in such positive ways and I would have missed out on the lessons I have learned. Not every issue may be worth staying but in this case I thought it was. If he hadn't learned from the issue or ever recreates the situation again then there will be a different outcome. I have learned plenty this time around and don't believe in repeating the lesson.
On a lighter note another valuable lesson in 2007 that I wasn't prepared for was a puppy. Why aren't we given instructions and a warning label when you get one? I bought this little one as a birthday gift for the hubby in the late summer and my life has been different ever since. I have so much more respect for people that have children now that I have a furry four legged child. It is a joy to watch them explore this new world and enjoy the wonders like the first snow fall and a clean new squeaky toy. It's not so much fun teaching them what NO means and keeping them safe from harm. Why wasn't I warned they are slow learners when it comes to the word NO and that they are not picky on what pair of shoes they chew on? The puppy listens much better to my husband which apparently I have been told is because he knows that my husband is his pack leader. I apparently am to much of a softy with the puppy and in return the puppy thinks he is the leader of mine and his pack. I don't remember signing up for a pack! And why does this puppy know all he has to do to melt my anger is look up at me with those cute puppy eyes and wag his tail. Could this be a learned trait from watching me do that to my husband when I am trying to explain why I have another pink bag from Victoria Secrets in my hand? Dang I think he should just listen to what I say and not do as I do. I guess I will have to work harder in 2008 to become the pack leader.
Ah, yes 2007 has had some difficult challenges but I have learned plenty. My life isn't easy but if it was then I wouldn't have the chance to challenge myself to grow. I have learned that financial security shouldn't be my whole world, I learned I must have a balance between to work and play, I learned that people you love will let you down but it doesn't mean they don't love you, I learned that anyone can change if they really want to, I learned that I can survive a really tough challenge that hurts me to the core and still make it, I learned that I must not completely hide who I am from people I love, and one really big thing I have learned is puppy teeth hurt even though they are small.
Happy Years and hold on tight for the adventure 2008 will bring..........