2011

I started 2011 with a standing ovation from my direct supervisor, colleagues, even the president of my company.  I had completed the $12 million project on time and under budget.  I had saved the company, nay, been the instrument to launch it to a new level of prestige in the security industry.  They were giddy with glee.  I went on to manage two other projects successfully – projects that were shockingly poorly planned and handed to me to fix.  Which I did, with dozens of hours of my own personal time.

My oldest son that most of my readers know, Zach, re-embraced his Christian faith after a 2+ year wandering from the faith.  He had also spurned his private school (with much pain to his parents) and enrolled in public school.  And then after only 7 weeks, was happily back in the old private school.  Two wonderful events for me and the family.

There are two equal and opposite catastrophes with which we end 2011.  The company that was hailing my bright ascendant star in January laid me off in October.  It is December 30, and I am nowhere near having a job.

The other catastrophe is in the form of two dogs that we got back in August.  This is no joke – I am actively looking for a new home for them.  Please contact me if you can provide them a home.  We cannot keep them.  They have destroyed so much property, we may never recover.  They are very friendly and sweet.  But everybody has heartbreak over some item they have chewed to bits.  Shoes, electronics, cash.  Our back yard looks like the third circle of hell.  They have chewed up our living room carpet, baseboards, siding.  They have destroyed the fence to the neighbor’s yard.  They are a close second to my losing my job for “worst thing that had happened to our family on 2011” and in the top 10 list for Worst Things Ever.

However, I think Zach coming back to his faith overrules all other events in making this year a “good” year for our family.