"Everyone we've ever met or known has served a purpose in our lives. Some have given us experiences through which we learned valuable lessons. Some have led us toward our recovery. Some have fulfilled a purpose we can't yet see, and perhaps never will.

We can be thankful for everyone who touches our lives. They were sent by our Higher Power. They guide us along our journey of spiritual evolution. They provide us with opportunities to learn, teach, love, forgive, accept, let go, change, and grow. They are essential to our never-ending development.

Our gratitude can be expressed in many ways. We can thank others directly, in words or kind actions.

We can send the entire universe our gratitude in prayer. We can keep working on our spiritual growth, touching other lives with love.

I thank God for all the people who have touched my life."

The people who have touched MY life that I thank God for are as follows, in no particular order:

A very special thank you goes out to Jo Kerr for being my friend and showing me what true strength is all about. Sharing our pain and tears has brought me the utmost strength, enough to carry on. Remember, our angels watch over us...always. Thank you. ^|^

A very special thank you goes out to Jeannene & Jackie Hustad for being the sweetest, kindest, most thoughtful people I could ever be blessed with as friends. What would I do without my 2 big sisters? I couldn't be the "l'il grasshopper" without you! Thank you & I love you both so much. ^|^

A very special thank you goes out to Cinnamon ...gee, where do I start? Thank you for EVERYTHING...for being part of my life since I was a kid and for going through all of my trials and tribulations, as well as the good. You've lent your ear and shoulder so many times, I don't think I could ever repay you. But I'll try! And thank you for being such a wonderful Aunt to Lindsey! Thank you sister, for everything...I love you!!! ^|^

Thank you Bob & Modest for bringing Mike into this world to bless mine. You are the most kindest, loving, thoughtful, generous people I know. You've done so much for us, it would take 10 lifetimes to repay you. You've been there for me & Lindsey through it all, time and time again, and I can't thank you enough. We love you both. ^|^

Thank you Jeff D. (aka "the weasel") for telling me what I needed to hear - you don't know what peace those words gave me. {\o/} Thanks for making me laugh and feel alive again, for proving that I am still real, for not hitting that deer at 90MPH, for breakfast at 3am, for not sending me to jail in 1992 (HA HA HA), for wiping my tears away (and trusting me with yours), for giving me something else to think about, for making me dream again, for your acceptance and honesty, for caring enough to look beyond the outside, for believing in me, for breathing life back into my hope, and for everything else between then and now. ;) Most of all, thank you for letting me in. May we never leave each other's circle of trust. Love you sweetie (M.T.Y.E.K.). History of Rock, Track 5 - you know it baby! PS. "Not sure what I'm diving into..." but I know our plan could work -- just say the word. PPS. You bring the blender, I'll bring the infamous Powerpuff party cup! Rock on! {\o/}

Thank you Wendy J. for opening up to me. I know it was difficult for you, but it meant a lot to me. I know you lost more than a brother -- you lost your best friend. Please don't ever forget that my shoulder will always be here for you. Love you. {\o/}

Thank you Mom for giving me life and sacrificing everything in yours for me. I admire your strength and can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me and Lindsey. You always come through when I need you...and you never let me down. I can't tell you how much you mean to me and how much I love you. ^|^

Thank you Jackie B. for being there for me forever, it seems. You listen to me ramble and ramble...and for that I'm forever grateful. We must do sub patrol again soon. :) Love you! ^|^

A very special thank you and big {{{HUGS}}} to all the WONDERFUL women who are my Sisters of Strength: Helene, Jennifer, Lourdes, Sheryl, & Barb. You're all some very incredibly wonderful women whom I'm thankful to that "higher power" that brought us all together. I love you all! ^|^

Thank you Denise M. for teaching me that, "the secret to life is anticipating the rainbows." You are an angel in disguise. Love you. ^|^

Thank you Deb C. for popping into my life a complete stranger, and then becoming a very dear, treasured friend. (Kinda neat how those things happen!) We're too much alike, we've got too much in common, and you've listened to me ramble time and time again about things I wasn't willing to accept about life. You were there for me, to support me through the tears and the pain, when I finally had to accept those things. But you showed me that life will go on, and I WILL be happy again. I thank God and those *higher powers that be* every day for making our paths cross. I can't thank you enough for all the inspiration you send my way and most of all, for your friendship and just for being you. You most certainly are living proof that not all angels have wings. Love you. ^|^

A long overdue addition to this page - thank you Chris C. for showing me what TRUE friendship is all about. You came back into my life like an angel, when I needed an angel the most. Since that very day, you've done more for me than I could ever imagine one person could possibly do. You've been there for Lindsey and I always and unconditionally without question - your compassion, understanding, generosity, thoughtfulness and kindness never cease to amaze me. You've believed in me and supported me through every new challenge I took on, and I truly, from the bottom of my heart and soul, can't thank you enough. Don't ever forget, when those wings of yours grow tired, I'll be here to remind you how to fly... just as you did for me. Love you. {\o/}

Thank you Donna A. for being such a caring, loving, compassionate person. I don't think you'll ever know how much it meant to me that you reached out to me through a very difficult time. Thank you for getting me out when I didn't feel like it, for the walks and the hugs, for giving me hope, for your never-ending enthusiasm and positive attitude, and for always being such a ray of "sunshine". You have helped me out so much, I don't think I could ever repay you. I could never have come this far without you. Never forget - if something's meant to be, it will be. (now if only I could practice what I preach, LOL!) Love you. {\o/}

Thank you Walt B. (aka "your friendly neighborhood tattoo man" LOL) for making sure I was okay that day when I really wasn't. Thanks for laughing at my psychosis, LOL... glad someone understands where I'm coming from. Here's to drives in the middle of the night! Kid MF Rock!

Thank you Erika B. (what up GG?) for 20+ years of friendship and memories. Thanks for knowing I needed to talk to you that day I couldn't pick up the phone - I think you're the only person who really truly understands the loss because you knew him too. Don't touch the flashlight at Dwayne's (be sure to tell Ed I'm seeing someone), save all your nickels for Pat at BK (just don't pass the window and end up on 14 Mile!), avoid the double ferris wheel, keep me out of the closet (Chris? Larry?), watch out for those drunk drivers (the cop's turning!) and sobriety checks (P.A. here we come!), look at the neck on that G (you go girl), love forever to franc et mish et les fr貥s (whoo-boy le fr貥!), ever heard of Bo-Rics? (girl you know it's true), go easy with the salt in your friend's frosty (God we're bad!), combien de livres est sur la table?, don't kick the freshman regardless of what the sign on his back says, tell Nams no more pictures at Kmart (obviously!!!!), be cautious around the bathtubs (la boeuf), watch out for those damn poles in Klemms parking lot, don't laugh too hard at the mating fish movie, oh yeah - if you see Ken Kaniff ask him if he got his saydays, toothbray and rayzay (has it been 6 months?), tell grandpa at Kicks to have another beer (anyone ever tell you how beautiful you are? HA HA!), speaking of Kicks - "is this the garbage over here?", hide the tiny pink chairs when your hooked-on-phonics friend comes over (what's up sassy bass?), "qui est le p貥?" LMFAO!!, "dude, je suis tr賠l'herbed"! (bacon? Troy Daze?), let's throw down to track 10 (what's my name?), back that azz up, and always keep it real! Tu est tr賠dr? Je ris ࠴oi! Les amies pour longtemps!! Oh yeah... when you go to McDonalds, be sure to thank me on the way out and tell me to have a nice night. Hope you have spider collision on your car. Thanks for getting me hooked on Napster (I can't wait to burn one!)! If anyone asks, it's Caryn with a C-Y, ha ha!!! (will that be cash or debit?) Gotta love Bullfrogs (blown out lately?). If you're ever NOT thirsty, stop by TGI Fridays... they're very accommodating when you don't want anything! (would you like that triple-shot w/ lemonade ROOM TEMP? Gotta love Ohio State!) HA! Are those BVDs? (wasn't me!) The hotties next-door want to know when we're having another concert on the balcony (take a bow, baby!). Listen, I lost your phone number... yeah, I know I called every 15 minutes for a week straight, but that breakdancing really makes me absent-minded (he wishes he was half as cool as Marshall!). LOVE THAT BERBER (last door on the right)! You know how JJ feels about breadcrumbs in the burgers (so please keep the kids out of the toothpaste because the anger management classes aren't working out so well). Do they allow alcohol at the park? (it's a good &*$% thing! HA!) Berb doesn't seem to adapt to change so well (so much for re-arranging the living room!) I have the urge (yikes!) Listen... JJ wants to take me up north for a romantic weekend - just me and him (I hope everyone shows up! BASH! Give me the phone! I got it!) Was that Lulu's 5th b-day party? (PE!) Je pass... cependent... c'est blanche? Make it huit! (je ris!) Nope... no problem (just go straight smack-dab down the middle! LOL). Oh yeah, Erika... nice girl, REAL nice, pretty face, nice smile, real smart (tres grande! WIDE LOAD! Fat frank! LMFAO!!! - J'aime mon pere!!!) I'm really tired of being grande, I can't take it another minute (please pass the mayonnaise... pushing 280! LOL!) Christopher should do well with the sit-ups in the Army (stop, you're scaring me! I hate you! HA!) When all else fails, &%$# Comcast! (Oh Jesus!) DOES ANYONE HAVE A TOWEL? Quick, Sandy needs a towel on the dance floor! (Nothing like throwing down with Detroit at Emerald!) No more drama, thank you -- and no, I don't wanna put myself in those nasty-ass flip-flops or double-wide trailer! ("Two trailer park girls go 'round the outside, 'round the outside..." (problement regarding pour pe!!! Oh mon dieu! Qui broke?) Cable out? I better find my knee-pads! (oh mon Dieu, je ris beauc!!!) I'm really against "tromp", cependent... c'est l'鴩 (haha!) I'm really glad we got those tickets to see Mr. Mathers in September (I wonder how much we could get for them on eBay? Quick, call Shammy on line 3! hehe) I'm babysitting the neighborhood kids -- quick, call mar-mar for the key-key. Listen, you'll have to chip in on my appetizers because that con-artist of an accountant expects me to pay her to do my taxes! PEACE OUT! I'm trying to cut down on Pepsi, quick - call Rib-Rib! ("Just wondering when we're gonna be alone." LE HITAGE! TRES NASTAGE!) I thought we'd go for a nice walk with the kids to the park -- NIGLUV, BFM! Oh mon Dieu! Toujours une scenage! The scenes just never end...

To be continued, I'm sure...

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