Its a new year

Another year has passed and what a great year it has been. William and Natalie found each other and started there lives together . Robert and Kim had a beautiful fun baby boy. Hanna and Tyler made there commitment legal. Michael has gotten well and also a job he loves . He is more and more like the man I married confident and happy . And I gained weight I am over 100 pounds now.
I have so many trhings to be grateful for and I don't even know how to Begin to express myself .
I keep going back to what Elder Packer said to our stake when he visited us a few years back . He blessed our stake that we would have our needs met and also some of our wants. I looked at where we were when we heard his words and I see Papi so sick he could barely get out of bed, struggling to complete his collage degree. He was so sick it hurt to think and read and look at the computer . I remember one summer at the RR when he walked with two canes because he hurt so bad he couldn't stand up with out support . I am so proud of him because he just kept at it, 

and just kept going even when grades were lost assignments not delivered and constantly being told he couldn't do what he wanted to do.
Every morning now he wakes up excited about life and how he is going to teach or what he is going to teach the boys in his group and he is so excited about life again .
For many Christmases I didn't know how we were going to get by . So many gifts to buy and so many reposablities . This was the first Christmas in a long time that I felt at ease . Not that the kids got so much more than any other year it just seemed like things were coming together better, and the living room did look full with all the bikes . I was just 

 Thankful for a neighbor (and son in law) that worked on those old bikes and made them like new. And a niece who had fun standing in line to get a gift for her niece .
I just think back to those words of Elder Packer "Our wants and some of our needs."
What were my wants what were my needs ?  I wanted Micheal well and we would have continued on even if he had never had health again. I wanted nice things for my kids, but they were happy with or without them . Micheal needed a job . I felt like he was losing ground losing self confidence losing part of his soul. I don't know what to call it, but he needed to be giving back and building people.

We have truly been blessed with many of our wants and needs .
I hope this next year is even better than the last was. William and Natalie starting their family . Robert graduating with his BS and going on beyond . Tyler back to collage . Seth going on a mission, LuLu and Kieora may even get there licences to drive . Michael getting full time work ,Building on to the house . Who knows what the blessings may be.