Looking Back at 2005

So what happened at the Helms' this year?  Nothing too, too spectacular.  Let's see:

Thomas spent his first full year working for the company he began working for in 2004.  He is so happy there.  He and Red are the only two full-time welders for both their quarries in this area.  He and Red had gone to high school together and had worked together at another company as well.  They get along, and really, Thomas gets along with most of the guys there that he comes in contact with.  The pay is decent, but more importantly than that, he doesn't come home every day stressed, like he used to.  They got a very good year-end bonus last week!  The big bosses really like him, and that makes a big difference, too. 

Thomas got a new (for him) four-wheel drive this year, that has really come in handy.  He got four deer this year and I-don't-know-how-many pounds of fish that he and the kids caught throughout the year.  I think he has had a pretty good year, all in all.  He is such a good man.  At work there are one or two girls who either are currently in a bad relationship or single from a messy divorce who sometimes, in the middle of talking about men in general or their husbands in particular, will turn to me and say, "but you got a good one."  And I did!  He's not perfect, but neither am I.  After almost 19 years of marriage we are best friends and still lovers who have weathered bad times and shared great times.  We know each other inside out and still find out new and interesting things about each other.

Andrew turned 16 this year.  He doesn't have his license yet.  I want him to keep his permit for awhile and get some experience.  In other "Andrew news"......hmmm........not much, really.  He's kind of gotten through the worst of the teenager-attitude-thing.  He is a pretty good kid, though.  No girlfriend yet.  There have been a couple he's been interested in to some extent, but no real "dating", and there have been a few that have shown interest in him that he hasn't been interested in.  He's shown more signs of maturity this year and has done better keeping his chores done at home.  He also had his first summer job.  The grades could be better. (!!)  Sophomore is a yucky year, though.  But I'm used to all As from him and so far this year shall we say, um, hasn't been all As.  But, hey, a new year starts tomorrow, so hopefully he'll get his mind back on the books a little more.

Andrew really is a good kid.  I couldn't ask for a better son.  He's funny, witty, smart and very loving.  I expect great things from him someday.  One thing he really got into this year that pleases me is his writing.  He used to have no interest in it, but now he does, and he's really quite good.

Eler Beth turned 9 this year.  She's always busy, so it's safe to say she had a busy year.  She started having anxiety attacks and problems with obsessive compulsions this year, so she is getting help for that and has been doing much better.  She's a fourth-grader, so one more year after this and she'll be a big middle-schooler!  Her grades have been GREAT!

She continues to fish, collect fossils and rocks and minerals and keeps her fingers in whatever "pies" are happening around here!  She's my darling!  I tell you what, there is something so special about this child!  Sometimes I look at her or think of her and my heart just swells to bursting-point.  She started a "newspaper" for her and her friends this week while she's been out of school.  I did that when I was about her age, too.  She's smart, talented, creative and fiesty!  And I couldn't be more proud that she's mine!

And me?  Well, I started this journal in March.  I have really enjoyed sharing in the online lives of some new j-land friends.  I never would've believed that I could get so much enjoyment out of these journals but I have.  It's amazing how often something will happen or I'll see or hear about something that makes me think of someone in j-land.  I turned 39 this year -- the last of my thirty-somethings!  I got a new (for me) car this year, a new computer, a new refrigerator, and a renovated bathroom!  Yay!  Thomas and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary in June.  Our dog, Fancy, had four pups (kept two and gave away two).  Our other dog, Heidi, had eight pups (kept two and gave away six).  My cat, Freedom, is five years old now, and is still the Queen!  There was one new great-nephew born on my side of the family, and there is one on the way, and there was one new great-nephew born on Thomas' side of the family just this past week.

I love my job and where I work, but I found out in June that our department is being pretty much done away with.  (See here.: http://journals.aol.com/helmswondermom/DustyPages/entries/1262)  But I've gotten over it.  I could go to another department, but I think I'll just stay 'til the end, take my severance and find something I like closer to home.   And even with that news, I've still had a good year at work.  I've enjoyed doing the newsletter for our department and handling the orientations for the temps, and being involved in other little projects.  I expect to have a good incentive again from this year (we get them in February).

So, all in all, it has been a decent year.  I have a lot of goals for 2006.  More later.