I am truly blessed!

When you have something good, hold on to it, not too tightly, but be sure to secure it.

I was truly blessed the day I met my honey, Michael. In all my life I would never have imagined myself with such an amazing man. From the night of our first date I knew he was someone special. He was a complete gentleman and has been consistent with that all through these past 3 1/2 years. Michael is consistent about everything he does. He is critical and realistic. He does not get caught up in the idealisms of life.

During our first conversations I was hesitant to go on the first date because he was so educated. Michael has two masters degrees and is currently working on his PhD. All I had was a high school education. I immediately thought, as most people may think..."What are we going to have in common?" Michael put a hault to my thinking that way and immediately told me, "Just give me a good heart and character and we can take it from there." He never judged me based on my past or my education (or lack thereof). He simply wanted to know me for exactly who I am.

Michael is also an ordained minister. About two weeks into our relationship he invited me to attend a sermon he was giving at his church. Needless to say, I was truly overwhelmed. Who was I and what was I doing with this man? Why was he taking me into his life? I cried all the way home because I simply thought I didn't deserve him.

I spent 20 years of my first relationship with a man who did nothing for me. Oh sure, he taught me things and helped me with our two wonderful kids, but he did more to bring me down than he did to lift me up. John did not empower me to ever be better than I was. John passed away in August 2005. He was only 44 years old. Had he listened to me over the years and cleaned himself up, maybe he would still be alive today. However, that would mean I would probably still be with him and not with my wonderful Michael. I don't want to talk bad about the dead but John, as good as he was in some aspects, is better off where he is and so am I. One thing I never had the strength to do was to step away from our relationship or kick him out. I began to feel sorry for him instead of being in love with him.

So, here I sit today, in love with an amazing man who cooks, cleans, is educated and self motivated, ambitious, loving, kind, respectful and empowering. I finally see myself going places. Heck, I even enrolled in school to try to obtain my Bachelors in Business Administration from DeVry College of New York. I never saw myself going back to school when John was alive.

Michael and I are getting ready to go to Niagara Falls for my birthday in three weeks. Up until last year I never even owned a passport. Now, I am getting ready to leave the country. Then in September we are going to Nassau on a cruise, again needing a passport. The light at the end of the tunnel is finally starting to shine.

I am grateful every day for having Michael in my life. I try to always be mindful of taking advantage of that fact and never take him for granted. I don't know what I stepped in but I sure do know I am liking it.