I have a lot to be thnakful for

[Shawn]

With the year being so bad for me and going through so many changes which most were bad,I finally got to a point where things have started to get better this week.Monday I won $100 on a lottery ticket. Helped buy my daughter something for Christmas I am so far behind. Tuesday not sure why,but I went to a gas station,got gas and bought 1 $5 ticket,which I never do. Scratched it off,$500. I about had a heart attack. I just could not believe it.The one time I really needed help like that,it came though. I was worried about rent this month.I was about to call the landlord again and tell him I will be late.Now I don't have to. My rent is $600 plus all the bills and December is very very slow for us at work. I let my dad borrow $100 and he has the ticket so he is going to get 2 money order so I can send them in for rent.

BUT it doesn't stop there.I get a call from my sons school. The woman on the phone asked if I could come in and I said I could after the appointment I had for disability. She explained to me that a family came in and asked for a family that was going through a rough time. She said that the office people all agreed it was my family since I am having health problems that is keeping me from working like I was,the divorce and not having any money. I paused and I couldn't say anything after that.I was just speechless.I thanked her and asked if she can contact the family and let them know how much it was appreciated. They bought stuff for my son,daughter and me. I let them open 1 present I am a softy lol. My son got a wrestling figure and was all excited and was playing with that and the rest of his wrestling stuff. My daughter got some stuff from bath and body works (her favorite place). I am waiting to open anything until Christmas. I did buy them 1 thing.I got my son WWE2K14 for Xbox and my daughter wanted a pair of boots but they didn't have her size but I did find a sterling silver necklace I know she will like.It's 2 Hearts together.Looks nice.She Loves hearts so I know she will like this.

Then today I check the mail,there was a $50 gift certificate for a local store to help with Christmas Dinner. I was glad to see that since I was once again stressing over it. The divorce has put me in a bad spot and this past week has been filled with a lot of good things. I was pretty down about everything and then all this happened. We didn't even put the tree up this year until last night when we had everything to put under it. The kids didn't want to put it up since they knew it was not going to be good,but when they seen the packages they asked me and I said they could. I pretty much see Christmas as being to commercialized and it's like no one knows what it is about anymore.The family that donated their time and money for my kids brought my spirits up and let me know there are people who do know what it means. It's not about the gifts,it's about Sharing and helping others and God. Hopefully one day I can do the same as these people done for me.

[soloist]

That's great, Shawn! I'm glad that your family was able to appreciate the gifts that the
holiday brought... and by gifts, I mean each other and the blessings that came in
your direction in the form of the lottery earnings and the kind gesture from
the family that helped out. I'm sure the kids where pleased with their i-
tems but you were happiest knowing that they were able to enjoy
their time with you without the problems that the previous t-
wo women in your life have brought you all. I remember
a few X-mas' of my youth where we opened a few gi-
fts a day before the holiday because we were ju-
st too excited to wait (laughs). There's no ru-
le for how it is celebrated. Every family
has their own tradition and ultimat-
ely, it involves us generating th-
e joy that came from Jesus
being born to our famil-
y (at least that's my
interpretation).
Bringing joy
to each o-
ther is
the:

(key...)



In-
deed
you do h-
ave plenty to
be thankful for, S-
hawn, and here's hopi-
ng that your blessing cont-
inue to come far beyond the s-
cope of a single holiday. Your and
your family deserve such happy tidings.

[Shawn]

Thanks soloist. My son was excited when he opened the gifts up.It was almost everything he had on his Christmas list. I have no idea how they knew exactly what to buy him. I am not able to contact the family who done it,but I did ask the school that if they can,tell them how much I appreciated everything.
My daughter enjoyed her gifts as well. It sucks I have to end this year with the Divorce on Monday.Not my ideal situation so New Years eve I may skip work and go see some old friends play in the town 15 miles east of me,maybe even sit in for a song or 2.
Yeah I have had 2 bad relationships but me and the kids have made it through it,even the toughest times,we managed. My daughter is on track for what she wants to do with her life and is not giving me any problems.I really expected her to be like a normal teen and rebel against me,but she has been the total opposite and I am very proud of what she is doing now and will do in the future.
My son can be a nightmare at times,but there are reasons and we are getting the best treatment we can for him now.

I am not looking to get back into a relationship again.I have 1 person who is trying to and I told her no,we can be friends and hang out and see if anything becomes of it,but don't expect it to be anytime soon.I have to much going on and need to get things right for me and the kids before I do anything.She isn't a bad person and I have known her for a long time,but I am not going to do anything except friends.If she really wants to be with me,then she will wait until I am ready.I can't put a time on it,could be 6 months or 2 years.Just not in a hurry for that again.

[soloist]

You're welcome! It's good that your kids were able to enjoy the
gifts that they've gotten. I'm sure that just having some pe-
ace of mind was their first wish. It kind of makes ever-
ything else fall in place. It's hard to appreciate gif-
ts when you're going through headaches thank-
s to someone else. And while it's a shame a-
bout the divorce, it's good that legally, i-
t's you're finding some closure to that
drama that you've been through fo-
r a second time. Please take yo-
ur time with that friend of y-
ours and if she can appre-
ciate who you are, she
will be patient with
you and will und-
erstand. I'm g-
oing throu-
gh a bit
of a
roller-
coaster ri-
de with my n-
ew friend, and it's
because we both have
a lot to learn about each o-
ther which is to be expected, b-
ut I forgot how challenging this can
be (sigh). For what it's worth though, I'm
learning more about myself and that's what's
most important for me right now. So even if this
doesn't work out, I'm sure of what I want in a relation-
ship, and why... so I don't consider it a waste at all. I'd rath-
er learn without all the time used, but life doesn't work that way.

[Shawn]

The divorce was final on Monday and all that is behind me. Not 100% if I will date anyone soon. I just need to take my time and figure myself out and get the kids lined out.
It's rough but I have been through much worse.