Thankful Thursday

This might sound negative, but I am WILDLY thankful that this difficult, depressing, and frustrating year is OVER!  While good things definitely happened and I had some fun adventures and spent some time with great people, overall I was very unhappy and unfulfilled.  I didn't realize how much of my identity/self-worth/fulfillment was tied up in my career......until that identity was pulled out from underneath me through a LOOONNNNGGGGG drawn-out layoff.  I struggled through depression throughout the year and it was horrible.

Also - I had other setbacks in 2011:

• Maggie getting hurt and needing surgery (she has never had an illness or injury before, so both of us were hating it and worrying)
• Car issues - a dead battery, 2 flat tires, $1,100 worth of other car repairs (new axle, wheel, etc.)
• Almost CONSTANT, MISERABLE poison ivy from about March to October from the dogs messing around in the backyard where they shouldn't be - and sneaking out of the yard and getting into it behind the old fence (My doctor had to put me on steroids - a shot AND oral steroids - twice because it got so bad).
• My house's air conditioner broke while I was on vacation - had to be totally replaced.
• The dogs just broke my dishwasher and I have to pay for someone to come and fix it.
• Hottest Texas summer on record (oh, and the worst 1-year drought in DFW history).

BRING ON 2012!!!!!!!