Reflections of 2013...

Reflections of 2013... A lot of 2012 was spent trying to get all my divorce paperwork correct and finalized and the first half of this year, 2013, was spent cleaning up the remnants of that. The really big thing that I was worried about for so long was the house that we owned together and that had stopped receiving a mortgage payment since I moved out at the beginning of 2012. It seemed to take forever to get the house sold and then trying to convince him to move out because you don't own it anymore was pure chaos. It finally took a cleaning crew to go in and just throw years of existence in the trash because he refused to move it. In the months following all that drama came the evolving of that person getting back on his feet with much help from his relatives. It's finally at a point where he's alright and the kids aren't as worried about him as they used to be. Everyone is amicable and it took a long time to get to this place. The B Street house was totally refurbished by the guy who bought it from our short sale inside and outside and went up for sale for $249,000 which is totally crazy-I wonder if they disclosed it was septic like they failed to tell me when I signed the papers to buy it. It was a great weight lifted off my shoulder when I got the notice stating I didn't own it anymore-it was just another chapter in my life. Miji started working at his job he is at now and Anthony got his first job too which were blessings. Anthony also started driving-watch out Inland Empire! We had some crazy weeks there with all the adjusting of getting used to having his own car and paying for insurance and the two car payments that were left and learning how to handle a bi-weekly check. Sometimes families have to cross rocky waters to get to the smooth sailing but eventually it happened. What can I say, I am a mother and moms were put here to nag and give their kids a hard time but eventually when we're older we realize the reasons our moms did this was because they worry about and love us-maybe one day my kids will understand this too. I got a new car-well new to me it's a 2010 Nissan. I named my car Rosie and handed Carmen(my Honda)over to Anthony which he loves! I love my new car-even though it makes a noise I researched and wasn't happy with but at least Miji convinced me to purchase a warranty on it which I have not had to use. I am told the noise is mostly a nuisance so I turn up my radio and let Rosie take me where I need to go. I feel safer driving at night or in the rain which I hate to do but don't mind as much. We used to go everywhere in Miji's car which he calls Charlena but now we take mine. This seems to come in handy when Miji wants to sample different craft beers at the cool places we like to go to. Adri turned 17 and we took her to Santa Monica with her friend and we all had a blast. It's hard to believe that at this time next year she will be a grown up-18 years old and graduated from high school-where did all the time go? Then came August and birthdays galore. Miji, his mom and his aunt. For his Aunt we planned to be there at her house when she woke up so the whole family could sing las mananitas and celebrate with her. It was a great celebration and lots of fun but we got there at 4 am and we were tired. We dropped Adri off with her dad and Miji and I went home to get some rest-it was a sunday afternoon. I complained for him to wake up after sleeping for a few hours because i wasn't tired and I was bored and wanted to do something. I pouted and said "Don't you love me?"...he laughed and asked if I needed anything from the kitchen. He came back, told me to get up and he got down on one knee and proposed to me. He proclaimed how happy I have made him and how much he loves me. I cried, he cried and it was one of the happiest moments of my life. We called up his family who were still celebrating at his aunts house and told them the great news then went back to celebrate again, this time with champagne-it was a day I will remember for the rest of my life. he tells me he wanted it to be more elaborate but that the time felt right. I told him it was perfect just the way it was...then the wedding planning began. We found our wedding and reception venue and after endless hours of dress shopping I found my dress and fell in love instantly with the way the sparkles called my name...what can I say...I love sparkles. My birthday came and went... 41 years old. It's funny how when your parents were that age you think wow that is old but when you reach that age you're thinking...Hmmm, it's not so bad. Then came Ant's birthday and he turned 19-which to him is just one step closer to turning 21. Then halloween...then Thanksgiving...then Christmas...and now here we are looking back on the year and reflecting on all the things that happened to us, with people we know, with the world. We are all going to make our new year resolutions like giving up soda (that's mine!) or losing 25 pounds (that's mine too!) or whatever it is we need or want to do. Some of us will succeed with those resolutions while some of us will give up within a month or two. It's going to be a busy year for me, at least the first half. Adrianna will be done with school by February and will go back to graduate in June and I have to say that I am really proud of her. She got behind and had to change schools to regain her credits but she focused and will now be done sooner than she originally would have and I knew she could do it all along. Then of course is the wedding that I and a lot of people are so looking forward to in July. It feels like it is the first time I have been married even though it's not. But it's so different. I never had the proposal, the big poofy white sparkly beautiful dress, the in-laws who wanted to pitch in. It is going to be a wonderful day and there are approximately 193 days left! So much to do! This is my last new year's eve as a Morales and in saying that, I begin to think of my dad. I tell Miji all the time how my dad would have loved him and I still feel like my dad convinced God to help me find him. He knew we would make a perfect match. Oh how I miss my dad... So in closing and in reflecting, I would like to wish all of you a Happy New Year. Be safe and thankful for all that we are given each and every year...I know I am.