Out with the old and in with the new!

Well, 2005 is history now. What a year it was. Most will probably agree that 2005 was a pretty lousy year... Hurricane's Katrina & Rita, the war still raging in Iraq, Bush still in office screwing up the world, Jacko being aquitted, The BTK killer, the avian flu scare, and of course the media overexposure of Hollywood crazies breaking up (please, no more Jen & Brad or Nick & Jessica sob stories!), hooking up (if only Tom & Katie would just dissapear... maybe they will take Brad & Angelina with them.), and the scariest of all - reproducing (poor Baby Sean Preston Federline). I even recently skimmed an article in Rolling Stone titled "The Worst Year Ever". When I thought about it, I realized that 90% of you that read my blog have suffered some kind of personal tragedy this year - much worse than an average year's losses. On a personal level, 2005 was pretty good to Danyel and I - and for one reason. We welcomed our first child into our lives. Despite all else, this event alone shaped our year. A miraculous and inspiring birth gave way to sleepless nights and stressful days at first, but we (and Carsten for that matter) adjusted pretty quickly. Though everyday is a new challenge, everyday is also a memory made. Our 8 lb. helpless little bundle is no longer a baby, but a "toddler". He has more than tripled his birthweight and is now walking and learning to talk. What a difference a year makes!

So, 2006 has arrived. New Year's Eve night, as the clock struck midnight, I kissed my hubby and said a short little prayer (as the 2000 pack of black cats popped off in the background). I asked that we and all our friends & family be blessed with everything that we wish for this year. Then, as I looked around at everyone enjoying the celebration, I just knew that my prayer was not only heard, but answered. I had this overwhelming feeling that this is going to be a good year for us all. Who knows... maybe we will even make another little Ramelow this year... :-)