Where have I been?

I've been right here.  The question is, where has everyone else been?

Today Princess is being un-cooperative and refuses to let us give her fluids through an IV line, so we are giving her a break and going to catch her later when she's in a much weaker state and will appreciate us more.

I haven't even begun to decorate for Christmas.  I think about Christmas all the time, but that's all I do is think about it.  I need to get my butt in gear and start making my goodie list of what I'd like to have to eat on Christmas Day.  This year, Sharon came up with a nice idea suggesting that food be our gifts to each other.  I like it!  She didn't mean that we make food for each person, but that we bring food for all to eat on Christmas Day.  Jimmy and I will still make our usual assortments of candies, breads and cookies, plus maybe potato soup,  ham and an assortment of cheeses, nuts and fruits.  And, of course we can't possibly do without Brian's famous cheese ball.  It just wouldn't seem like Christmas without it!  I'm even going to try and make Megan's tasty treats of  lil smokies wrapped in bacon and sprinkled in brown sugar, then baked and broiled in the oven. If anyone has any other tasty treats that they'd like to bring, then go ahead and be our guests and bring your favorite foods.

Just writing about Christmas now makes me want to start with all the preparations, but it's still a little early to begin baking and cooking.  I hope all my children can keep me in the spirit of things, so that I'll want to fix all the things that I usually fix plus maybe some of the things that we missed on Thanksgiving because Jimmy and I were both not feeling well.

This year there are so many things to be thankful for and one of them is that my brother Jerry is progressing very well after his recent stroke.  He's working really hard in rehab to regain all that he has lost use of and he is constantly in our thoughts and prayers every day.  My friend Kerri is also in our daily prayers as well as my sister Diane and granddaughter-in-law Tabitha for their losses this year.  It's been an extremely difficult time for Kerri, Diane and Tabby and all of their families, and our hearts go out to them in their time of grief.  Hugs and prayers to all of you.

On a happier note, there have been two very recent marriages and you all know who you are, LOL.  Congratulations to all four of you!