So, it’s nearly the end of 2008.

And I’m thinking over the year that has been.

In other groups I have belonged to, we have shared the highs and lows of a year.

I always like to start with lows as then I can finish on a high or a positive note.

So, in no particular order, the lows of 2008:

• Losing over 20 animals in 3 months. It was a bad winter, and dog attacks. We back onto a reserve where people had gone walking with their dogs. The dogs were unleashed and took off. 3 days later, we were finding dead chooks. The carnage was awful. We also lost Kath, our Saanen goat who was in kid at the time of her death. She was survived by her sons Rupert and Ronnie, who went to live at the neighbours. They died of hypothermia there a month ago.
• Wilma’s litter. 9 out of 10 piglets dead. This is life. This is the reality of breeding animals. It happens. It is still sad when it does however.
• Ceasing contact with a family member. While my mental health has improved 10 fold, it was sad to come to a point where the only healthy option was to cease contact. I do not make those decisions lightly, though now realise I can also be flogging a dead horse sometimes.
• A blog that was set up purely to have a go at a member of the Coven. When the crappola finally hit, and my geekie husband traced IPs etc, it turned out, it had the same IP addy of a friend of mine. The friend denied all knowledge of it and said an ex friend of hers had set it up to cause problems.  The irony of it all, was this person would constantly call my loyalty and integrity into question, yet fobbed me off about this situation and would only say that the matter was in the hands of the Police.
• I know that for others, there has been another blog where a person claimed to have cancer and it was found to be untrue. Alot of people were deeply, deeply hurt. Initially, I was pleased that the person came clean. To me, that was a good start. I then found out that the only reason for this person to fess up was if she didn’t, someone else was going to out her. Not so cutie cutie.
• Reaching out and helping a grandmother in need. Boy, did that bite me on the backside. CYFS got involved and somewhere along the line, I became the bad guy. Another situation that was high pressure. Thank GOD it is over.
• The death of SP. A dear old man and someone I was very fond of.  The night he died, a new star was found to be shining in heaven. He always let his light shine before men. I called him Grandad, (alot of people did) and remember him for his warmth, his gentleness and his love and concern for his fellow man.
• Finding out my old boss hung herself. That is just crappy. When someone has lived for 70-80 years, I can rationalise that they lived a good life. But I struggle to rationalise the deaths of babies and suicides. I do not see them as being part of “God’s great design.”

And now to the good points (Woot, woot), in no particular order except for number one:

• Going to Australia and MEETING THE COVEN !!!!!!!!! After a lengthy friendship that had consisted of emails and phone calls, we finally met IN THE FLESH. And a five hour phone call to Jayne Rrrrrrr. It was a brilliant 10 days over there. Staying with the Mistress for a couple of days and meeting her lovely family. There is stuff that is not talked about on our blogs and all I will say is that I hold alot of love and admiration for Anja and Bettina for many reasons, none of which I will mention here.  We have had years of laughing together, crying together, getting annoyed with each other (for a moment) but always finding our way through. We understand each other and do not judge each other, but accept each other for who we are, foibles and all. YOU GALS ROCK !!!
• Coming off Prozac. After 2 years of being on a varying dose of Prozac, I have come off it. So far, so good too. I am no longer chemically imbalanced (yeah, right) I am not anti drugs at all and think they have their place.
• Hearing from my foster children. I am just thrilled to have heard from them. I have thought of them often. It was so good to hear where they are at.
• Achieving our target for Missions. Next year, they will be building the Women’s Refuge centre. I am thrilled to bits to have been a part of that
• Celtic Lad being in the gang show. I was so proud of his commitment to it and he was amazing.
• My kids. Just seeing them all grow and develop. Enjoying those little moments, as well as the ‘bigger’ achievements.
• Celebrating my Nana’s 80th birthday and meeting family, who after all this time, still didn’t know I existed. lol. I was mistaken for my mother by someone who looked at me from a distance and hadn’t seen her in a few years. Having had that missing for so long, I really enjoy hearing who people think I am like in my birth family.
• My youngest sister eloped to Fiji in September and got married. Woo Hoo. He seems a nice guy.
• Helping the grandmother in need. Even though it went nasty, I am still glad I offered to help. I have learned from the situation. My boundaries are firmer in place.
• “Meeting” some decent people online and in real life. It has been so reassuring to find there are people as nuts as I am. I am not alone, lol.
• “NEW” There has been alot of NEW this year. New boundaries, new people in my life, new ways of thinking and viewing things. New core beliefs. New paint, new animals, new ute.

So here is a slither of my year, I am sure as soon as I push publish, I will think of more.

Wishing you all a wonderful 2009.

So what has been your highs and lows?