The old year ends

Today is the last day of 2013 - and what a year it's been. My friend Katherine (from Delphi and now Facebook), the minister, posted this prayer and I want to start the new year with it:

A very good prayer for all of us, on the cusp of a new year. Who knows what the year will bring? Whatever it is, give us the courage to bear what is painful; give us the love to share what is joyful; and give us the peace to accept what happens.

I offer you the year ahead, Lord,
with its months as 12 new chapters in the book of my life:
help me see the story of your love in the days of each week;
show me the clues that resolve the mysteries that baffle me;
let me see how these new chapters follow from what has been
and lead to what is yet to come...

Be the Author of the chapters of my life, Lord,
and let your words and your story
shape the person you created me to be…

I offer you the new year, Lord, and pray that I will come to its end
in your peace and in the embrace of your arms…
Amen.
~ A Concord Pastor

Also last night Tony lent me the money to fix my car and reiterated that he would like me to stay here or come back. I need to be on my own for a bit but will definitely keep that in mind. 

Today I walked to the post office to pick up my mail and meet the landlord to give him the first month's check. Rita and I will get the stuff out of my Jeep and put it in her Blazer and bring it to the apartment shortly. Talked to AAA and they said to call Thursday morning an hour before I want the Jeep towed. I have to call Uverse and have them set up.

This year I lost two of the most precious people in my life -- Lou and Pepino. My heart still hurts. I know they're with me always and I'll see them again someday but somehow that doesn't help when I'm missing them so much. This year I finished forgiving my sister and Tony and living with them for four or five months, made us a family again. This year both my children flew the coop and I also miss them and my Laney very much. This year I almost lost another dear friend, Yvonne, but God heard all our prayers and healed her. This year another dear friend, Jack, and I forgave each other and became close again. This year I made another best friend -- Chris. There were many ups and downs in my personal life but for the most part they were good. This year I got a crazy kitten named Ruffio.

In outside personal life this year we've gotten a new pope and he seems wonderful. I'm sure there was more history made this year but I can't remember off hand.

Resolutions? Not really. Just to have the best year ever. Try to be healthier and exercise. Try to be kinder and more loving. Try to keep my opinions to myself since most times no one cares or they get angry that mine differ from theirs. It's ok. I'm really going to try to do better. Try to save some money for emergencies. We'll see. :)

Almost forgot the most important thing of all -- I want to try to go to church more and to spend more time with God.

Goodbye 2013.

I wrote this at 6:17 on New Years Eve night but need to edit it. Three more people we lost were Gina -- how can I forget her, Bob Cavanaugh Sr. and Eric DiGreggorio. And I hooked up with Joann Cavanaugh for a while and will again this brand new year.