Last stretch

The year 2007 is coming to an end, and like many others I am looking back on the year. I do not want to go into much detail, but I have to say I am grateful because it has been a good year for me and my family. I got a promotion and a raise, and a good end of year review. I traded in my lease and got a new car. The whole family packed the car and drove to South Padre Island for summer vacation. We were able to get new wood floors for the house, a closet system and a new couch. I fixed other things around the house, got a new trash disposal for the kitchen sink and (my favorite) a new digital SLR camera.

Gabriel and I celebrated three years of marriage in June and continue to settle into a married life with kids rythym. We are getting along well. I have been able to see my girls grow up and blossom this year. My oldest keeps getting better at volleyball, and my youngest is very, very advanced in her verbal skills.

In what was one of the most joyous highlights of the year, my parents and my brother spent Christmas with us. So far the only really bad thing I can think of is when I was hospitalized and had my gall bladder taken out, and that was not even that terrible.

Sure, there are things that could be better. I gained weight this year and I am not too happy with my looks. I could be more active (I am not active at all at present). I am often very tired from work and feel like I have no time for myself. Sometimes I am short-tempered and fight with my kids (well, my oldest kid) too much. There is always money concerns in the background. We certainly do not have a perfect life, but there is a lot of love in this family and the good outweighs the bad. By far.