Hello

Sorry I haven't been very faithful to post.  It seems like life is rushing by so fast that I can't keep up.

I had to spend almost a full week in Austin (our state capitol) caring for my Mom.  She is 90 years old and was very ill for some time -- in the hospital for 4 days, then being cared for at home.  Right now there are many, many people with the flu and the hospital is not a safe place to be.  She was put on the Cardio floor because no one there had the flu.  Unfortunately she fell out of her bed early one morning.  She awoke in a state of confusion, forgot she was in the hospital, and fell trying to get out of bed.  She suffered several severe bruises and she also ripped out her IV.  Much bleeding.  She had several x-rays and they revealed she did not break any bones (Praise God!) 

She is recovering and is beginning to sound more normal each time I talk to her.  My brother has quit his part-time job and is caring for her full time at home.  He is doing a wonderful job.

I am back home and beginning to resume my regular routine.  We have been having some lovely weather.
I took our electric blanket off of our bed so, of course, we are expecting some colder weather.  I don't mind -- we put on a new comforter and I think it will keep us plenty warm!

What is everyone doing these days?  I haven't be able to read much on dashboard so I don't know what is happening in your world.  Catch me up, please.

Starting the year off right!

FYI -- I spent a couple of days this past week being tested and examined as a followup to my cancer surgery.  (This was the 3 month exam.)  I am thrilled to say that my lymph nodes are clear -- no additional cancer has shown up, and my tongue is fully healed.  God has been extremely good to me and I give Him all the praise!

A New Year

Yesterday (or so it seems) it was New Year's Day and now it is  January 12.  How does the time go by so fast? 

The first days of the new year were spent taking down the Christmas decorations and restoring order to my house.  I have often said that taking down and putting away was my favorite part of the holidays.  This year I didn't do as much decorating as I have done in past years.  I have a large amount of decorations and I think it is time to do away with some of them.  I read a book recently that spoke of a tree decorated with all the home-made ornaments that someone collected through the years. I felt like the author must have selected the ornaments from my big wooden box.  We made those same ornaments when my children were small -- some from hand painted basa wood -- some plastic, painted to look like stained glass.  We have the ornaments made with glitter covered styrofoam (complete with a picture of the child taken that year.)  One of my favorites is a "Palace Guard" made from a toilet tissue roll, styrofoam, red gingham fabric, etc.  We also have the small metal ornaments engraved with the names of the children.  Those came from Miles Kimbell.  I have lots of unbreakable balls -- those came from when we had small children and/or a cat.  I now use breakable ornaments -- we do lose one or two every year but we still have more than will fit on my tree at one time.  I know people who have started decorating more than one tree but I'd rather just get rid of some ornaments -- I don't have time to do more than one tree...and I really don't have room for more than one tree.  What happens at your house?  Do you decorate a tree?  One tree or more than one?

As we went about our errands today I noticed that quite a few houses had Christmas wreaths on the front doors.  We took ours down.  I need to make a new wreath for the door -- the one we hung this year is looking a little "old" as well it should -- it must be 20 years old.  Perhaps I will make a new one before next Christmas.

Well, back to my original purpose -- HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you!  I hope 2012 will bring you great happiness.