2016 - A New Beginning

What is it about starting a new year with high hopes for better things? Each year we reflect on the previous year, our successes, failures, tragedies, joys, blessings and goals. Was it a good year overall or did the bad outweigh the good? Whatever the answer, we always hope the new year will be better than the last. It wouldn't take much for 2016 to be an improvement on 2015 so here is hoping that it is a better year. I can't control what events occur but I can try to cope better with what comes, look for every tiny bit of joy in each day and focus on the positive instead of being overwhelmed by the negative. Lofty goals...

November didn't go quite as planned. I did stick to my no-spending on anything but necessities but the necessities ended up being expensive. Starting with an unplanned veterinary visit to have Kitty Kat put to sleep which of course led to me being emotionally devastated for weeks. Stress, grief and my seasonal allergies kicked my asthma into high gear, totally out of control, which has required doctor visits and more prescriptions. Usually a good steroid shot and prednisone pack fix me up in a few days but not this time, going through another round and have added some new medications as well. Aggravating because I don't feel sick, but have no energy or strength to do anything due to the lack of oxygen. It makes me wonder how people with chronic and severe health problems manage each day.

To partially fill the huge void left by the loss of my precious Kitty, I have adopted a new cat. He is very amusing and has helped ease my grief. It's hard to get good pictures of him, though, he's so quick.

He doesn't really have a name yet, nothing has seemed just right. My husband calls him T for Trouble and I've considered Smoky, Scamp, Rowdy or Ruffian. Rascal would be perfect except we already have a dog named Rascal so in the meantime, I usually call him Li'l Stinker. I'm sure he will inspire a new cross stitch chart or two in the near future.

So here is to a new year, a better year, a more productive year. I want to stitch more, share more and enjoy life more. Lofty goals, but not beyond reach...