Thanksgiving....

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. I loved spending Thanksgiving as a child at my Grandparents house and getting together with my cousins. We weren't a big family, and we didn't live particularly close, so it was nice to be together laughing and having a good time. We'd annoy my mother with our "cackling and heehawing"! My cousin, Susan and I can still sit at a table together and out of the clear blue start laughing at the same time!! It was also a time for making a Christmas wish list out for my grandparents. There was a lot of love, and always plenty of delicious food. I think I miss family gatherings the most, and stores being closed on holidays so that families had to spend the time together, I've tried to keep that tradition with my children. I think that commerce has been particularly greedy in wanting to get a every dollar they can so feel that we need to shop every single day. Ridiculous!!!

Today we were all together to visit and share in the big meal. It was quite delicious and it didn't take long to get full. Naps are always an asset for Thanksgiving as well. Love naps! I had to get the camera out and irritate the family for lots of pictures. It's all about the good times and the memories...they'll appreciate that one day. Even with the toughening economic times...there is so much to be THANKFUL for, we are truly blessed.

a time of reflection....

The other day I received a call from a co-worker to inform me of an acquaintances loss of their beloved child. These circumstances are always so heartbreaking and tend to leave us not really knowing what to say without fumbling. The struggles in life affect us all, financial status has no bearing, nor do the jobs we hold, the cars we drive, or the house we live in. Tough decisions were made by these brave and heartbroken parents, the loss of their son has gone to save many other lives, so even though he has pasted to be with the Lord, he lives here on earth in other people. John 12:24 "Truly, I tell all of you with certainty, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it produces a lot of grain". The Memorial Service was to not mourn the loss of a young man, but to celebrate his precious life. May God Bless them.

Yesterday was our Anniversary. It has been a looooong time that we've been married. There have been joyful times, sad times, times full of laughter, some with sickness,others with challenges, but never has it been dull. Anniversaries like birthdays give us time to look back and reflect and remember the very best of times and to think about the future.

This week I got sad news about an acquaintances child that passed away tragically. Just observing this couple there was much love and joy that I can only imagine was magnified when they with their children, I can't imagine the deep anguish that they are experiencing at this time, especially so close to the holidays.I can only pray that the dear Lord gives them the strength to move forward and to soften the pain in their hearts.

There are no perfect lives, like on t.v. We must work hard each day at living,to take joy in the simplicity of little joys, and cherish the very best days, since these will be the memories that we'll look back on. So, in celebrating our anniversary we look back on the night when we met, I the graceful one who tripped and fell going up the purple shag carpeted stairs of a night club in Bermuda, and my husband who stood at the top of the stairs with a row full of his buddies all holding a Heineken, asked me if I was okay when I finally reached the top of the stairs. Mortified, I said yes, and there were snickers of laughter from his friends.....We married six weeks later, in an old New England Church on a hill, with a small group of family and friends. I'm still graceful, he's still kind, and we still laugh a lot, and love each other.

ELECTION DAY!

Today was election day! The lines in some places where quite long yet quite short in others. Go figure! Some of us voted by absentee ballot, some took advantage of early voting, and some, waited in line on the traditional voting day. I'm just glad that it wasn't hot and humid. Paul and I went and voted this morning. As we were signing our names Natalie called to say she voted, Manuel is voting now. Caitlin did absentee balloting. Friends from across the country went out and voted as well. It is our civic duty. Callie voted in school. I got caught up on a few things today, I can't believe how behind I've gotten. Two classes this semester....ugh! Class tonight, must study.

Halloween....

Ghosts and goblins and all costumed children going house to house for trick or treat. I have to confess that I didn't decorate much at all. I thought about it, since I have at least 3 big plastic boxes in the attic for "Fall" items....I just couldn't face taking it all down and putting it away. So, there were a few things out. Paul did the candy this year. Callie went to a friends house, and Manuel and I had date night. We had dinner at Outback and then went to the movies to see Fireproof. It was a very good movie, one that makes you laugh and cry. The theatre was full of couples, mostly older couples. The movie has a message and is entertaining.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5lSu6GkC2k). Caitlin and Adam are dressed up like Leprechauns!! That ought to be a cute sight!! LOL Happy All Saints Day! OH! Tomorrow is National Scrapbooking Day! and an extra hour of sleep!!! Don't forget to set the clocks back one hour.....more pillow bonding time!!! Yes!!!

There is no place like home.....

Natalie Waving Goodbye!

I'm back home. It took an hour longer to get home that it did to get to Gainesville. There was Friday afternoon traffic and there was rain that slowed things down. Plus, I wasn't feeling well so I let Paul drive home, and he uses the cruise-control. Caitlin felt well enough to go work today. She slept in late, we had plans to go to the Mall, but she kept on sleeping - something she needed. I did 8 loads of laundry, grocery shopping, made a dinner, bought some plants for the girls front entry, some died, Caitlin swears that Natalie failed to water them, but they may have been annuals at any rate, there are new colorful ones to brighten the walkway. I went to Books-a-million....I got several books to read...when I get free time :-) and books on CD. I just love listening to books on CD when I'm driving long distances. Unfortunately, Paul didn't agree, he'd rather listen to music...well, they're saved for next time. Got Lisa a little something for her travels to NC for a new travel assignment. Natalie met us for lunch at Cracker Barrel, love the roast turkey salad with the biscuits and blackberry jam. Yum! It's Gator Growl tonight so Natalie is off to that. Caitlin couldn't go because it started before she got off from work. We watched the parade on t.v. today, it was raining, better to watch it on t.v. in that kind of weather. We passed one of the floats on the way home near Tampa! It's homecoming weekend!!! Gators play Kentucky tomorrow. I work! (If it isn't one thing, it's another!!!) I started working on my two new classes something with safety and the other to do with budgeting! And so it begins, no rest for the weary....and the antibiotics aren't helping my sore throat!!!

Gainesville

Some days are better than others, and when it comes to one's children the pain they endure is something that makes a parent feel totally helpless. Caitlin has been have an issue with kidney stones and at Easter she was so ill until she passed the stones. This week the pain started again in the other kidney, this time there are two in the ureter! By the time she got to her doctor's for a CT scan she was in quite a bit of pain and he admitted her directly to the hospital. When I talked to her at lunch her little voice on the phone and the tears upset me and I had to go be with her. Paul went up for the ride, he was concerned as we all are. The ride was pleasant, no traffic accept in one small area which is rare at rush hour. I made it as the sun was setting to go and spend time with her. The nausea and vomiting were very difficult for her. The medication really wasn't helping much. During the night her IV infiltrated and she needed another one. She was stuck 7 times that day to get two IV's in! She had an x-ray this morning and was medicated gain for nausea and pain and slept for just over 45 minutes and woke up and passed a stone. She was then released, the other should pass soon. It was a much better day this afternoon. What a relief. She was able to eat a little dinner, first food in days. While that little brown dot looks small, it is quite big and caused quite a lot of pain, now she has to get rid of its twin!!!