Well here we are ready to begin a brand new year again. I pray that 2003 will bring peace and happiness into the hearts of all of my family and friends and that there will be happy memories made that last a lifetime.

Although 2002 was a very tough year for me full of a lot of loss and heartache and tears -- it has ended with an overwhelming abundance of miracles and blessings and tears of happiness for me and my little family.

As I enter 2003 I decided to sit down and think of all the wonderful blessings that I have in my life.

I had been given notice that the home I’m living in was going up for sale and I would have to move my little family. I was crushed because this house was the home of my dreams from the moment I laid eyes on it almost 5 years ago and I have put a lot of work and money into fixing it up just the way I want it. It is perfectly set up for the disabled with railings and disability bars etc. which I have had installed.

The word got around the neighbourhood that I would have to move and my neighbours started coming by with words of encouragement and a few of them started making calls to friends they had in real estate and mortgage brokers they knew to try to help me find a way to stay here. There were prayers and encouragement all around me between my friends and my neighbours.

I had almost given up hope because I was turned down by banks and mortgage companies every time I tried to get a loan. I had even found somewhere else to move.

Then one of my neighbours put me in touch with a friend of hers who is in real estate -- who in turn put me in touch with a friend of hers who works for a preauthorized mortgage company.

The folks that own the house I live in talked it over and decided that since I had not let them down in the almost 5 years that I have lived here and had never once been late in any lease payment to them that they would hold my second mortgage if I could manage to get a first mortgage.

At the last minute I was able to arrange a preauthorized first mortgage so I could buy the house. My tears poured when I found out I had been approved and that I would be able to own this house and we would not have to move after all. 

A home of my own has always been one of my dreams and now I can feel more secure knowing that my little family and I will always have a place to live. 

I had been waiting for over 6 years for my insurance settlement to be finalized and the same week I found out that I had this house it too finally came through. So now I can pay off some bills that I had been struggling with.

Health-wise I feel better then I have in years. Some days are still tough pain-wise but I just count my blessings and that overrides the pain and I get through the day. 

I have a family of "choice" that enfold me in their hearts and make me feel wanted and needed and loved. I have been blessed with wonderful friends that I can count on for loyalty and love and honesty. 

As my brother Clint and I sat at my youngest daughter’s home last night -surrounded by my beautiful grandchildren and listening to them laugh and as I sat watching my two daughters talking and laughing and as I thought of my little family under my own roof and of my extended family of choice and my wonderful friends -- I was again so overwhelmed I felt my heart would burst. I stopped there and then and had to thank God for the over abundance of blessings he has bestowed upon me and for the miracles he has shown me.

To all of you whom have sent me words of encouragement and love and prayers, to all of you who love and accept me as I am and to all of you who made each day of 2002 easier to get through -- I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Miracles do come true and each of you has played a part in my miracles.

Until next time, God bless
Hugs,
Misker