Happy Holiday's!

I cannot believe the holiday's are here! 2008 is right around the corner and I for one am ready! 2007 has been a great year for my business. Each year it just gets better, so I cannot complain one bit! I am very blessed and am thankful everyday. But I also realize that everything that has happened this past year did not just fall in my lap, it come from hard work, determination and a goal to succeed!

I have to admit I am drivin and I knew from a very young age that if I wanted something I better figure out a way to do it because I was the only one that knew how bad I wanted it!

I never expect anyone to do it for me so I always make a plan and set a goal and make it happen. This comes from alot of how I was raised.

This past month I have been faced in watching my grandmother get older and that I have to face the reality that she will not live forever. I don't want to think about it and I won't talk about it much with family. She is my hero and I love her dearly and I really cannot imagine my life without knowing she is there.

I've also been faced with a situation that is very stressful to me and that is my long lost father may not live much longer. This is also tough since this is a man that choose not to be in my life and now that he is dying he wants me there. His wife and two son's who one I have never met, his wife I just recently have talked to for the first time since they have been together - 30 plus years I think and then the one that I have met and have spoken to a couple of times on the phone. I do not have any anger towards my father, no resentment and I do care about him. But I also feel that I do not owe him anything, but I had to make a choice and the choice I made was I would be there for him and would do anything I can to make his life easier. I realized that even though he made the choice not to be a part of my life it had nothing to do with me or that he loved me any less. That is just the path he choice at the time.

So, I will go visit him in the hospital and will go knowing that he may or may not recognize me, but for me this is closure and even though he was not a part of my life I want him to know that I grew to become a caring, responsbile, loving mother and I must say GREAT wife and my life is complete.

I also feel that we are put on this earth for a reason and regardless of how we are raised we are responsbile for who we are and how we get there. I feel that I am a stronger person, determined to give my children the life I never had and that I have been given the opportunity to give my children the love and security they deserve and if I had not had the childhood that I had I may not have appreciated what I have now and that is a wonderful husband and three amazing boy's who are growing into these awesome individuals.

In addition, I also believe my professional life is a result of my childhood and realizing at an early age I had choices - good or bad - and I always choice the good! Why, because I wanted both of my parents to be proud of me and when the day is over I know they are!

So, as we bring in 2008 - ask yourself - Are you the best person you can be? If you honestly cannot answer this question then you need to ask yourself - what can I do to become the best person I can be and then do it!

And, remember - if you are going to have a pity party just think someone else's life is harder than yours - then you realize you don't have the right to have a pity party! :D