A Bunch of Random Updates

So, I know I've been MIA for quite some time, but thought it was high time for an update. :0) This one's for you, Becky! :0)

Life has been very busy lately (and not so lately).  Back in August my hubby got sent out of state for a week on continued education.  Due to the fact that we had not spent more than 1 night apart in the course of the past 15 years, he took me and the boy to stay with my parents in Michigan for that week so at least we wouldn't be as lonely.  Thankfully, we survived.  :0)

When we arrived, however, my dad was down with his back to the point that he couldn't even get up to come greet us.  By the next morning he knew that a trip to the emergency room was in order.  The problem was he couldn't even walk.  Chris ended up having to carry him like a baby out to the car.  He spent most of the week in the hospital having tests done.  Dad had a bulging disk that was pressing on the nerves.  To make a long story short - nothing was done for him while we were there.  He ended up having surgery shortly thereafter though, and me and Isaac made 2 more trips 'home' to be there. 

Dad is on the mend now and I have spent more time away from my husband in the past 2 months than the whole time we've been married.  I hope we're done with that.  Me no likey.  I AM glad that at least we're just a one tank car trip away now instead of the plane flight it used to be when we lived in Florida.

A few short weeks after our last trip to Michigan we were expecting some of our dearest friends from the Sunshine State, whom we hadn't seen in four and a half years.  I suddenly felt the urge to complete every task on my barely started to-do list from the summer - all in 2 weeks.  I don't know why that maniacal urge kicks into gear when company is coming.  The good thing was that it hit all three of us.  We painted, cleaned windows, washed walls and baseboards, did yard work, cleaned upholstery, carpet and rugs...  No corner was safe from the rags and cleansers.  And, you'd never know it to look at my house now. :0(  I'm thinking about adopting the new philosophy that I won't bother cleaning because you can't tell anyway.  I'll have to let you know how that works out.

We did have a WONDERFULLY, FANTASTIC, INCREDIBLE time with our friends during their stay, though.  We spent a lot of time doing one of my favorite pastimes - laughing.  It's good medicine, you know!  The kids have grown so much.  They are so sweet, well-behaved, and well-spoken - a true joy to have around.  The kids got on so well that they were up until the wee hours of the morning all weekend!  I was happy that the little Floridians got to see snow for the first time while they were here, as well as elk and bison.  My friend, Jessie, has a couple of posts from their visit here and here over at here blog Overflow of a Forgiven Soul, if you're interested.  One of them includes a really simple, really yummy recipe.  Now you have to go visit, don't you? :0)

Things are getting back to normal now, I think.  I'm not sure things ever really are normal.  What's normal anyway?  All I know is that a) we're still playing catch-up in school from my maniacal cleaning, projecting spree; b) Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away; which means that c) Christmas is directly upon us; d) I am totally not ready for that. 

I had all of these sewing projects lined up in my head for making adorable Christmas presents.  Pretty sure that's not going to happen.   I pulled out my sewing machine a couple of weeks ago to get started and found out my machine isn't working.  The needle won't go up or down.  Neither me nor Chris could manage to get the machine apart to see if it was something like a belt that had come off.  Of course, when I started calling around to see about getting it fixed, it's going to cost more than the machine did in the first place. So, I think I'm just going to get a new machine instead - for Christmas.  Which means I won't be able to make sewn presents this year.  Any ideas for gifts would be greatly appreciated. :0)

So, that's about it for now.  I'm totally out of the blogging mojo.  I'm sure you can tell by my complete lack of focus and rambling.  :0)  I wanted to do a quick update anyway, though.  If I don't drop in again before hand, I hope you all have a wonderful and peaceful holiday season!

Hugs to you all!
Pam