I am here, I am here, I am heeeeeere!

Who would have thought that when I took this last blogging break, I'd actually stop for a year and a half! A year and a half!! There was a time when I felt so addicted, I didn't think I could actually stay away for more than a week...but somehow it had been just time I stepped away.

So, what is new in the last eighteen months?
Well, obviously, that is too long a time to try to catch you all up. (Unless we all want to be here writing and reading another eighteen months!) But luckily, some of my blogging friends have already been caught up most of this time through Facebook, just as I've kept up with them!

But for those who haven't, I'll super-condense it here in the "Ultra-Reader's Digest version:
My girls are now eleven and eight, and we're still homeschooling... and as most families are, busy, busy busy! But I can truly say, not overly so right now. I think we have a good rhythm going at the moment...school time, church, girls' clubs, basketball ...but sprinkled apart where there is still some time to just relax a bit.
Of course as I write this, we're actually on Christmas vacation..enjoying doing absolutely nothing!

One of the biggest changes came when we moved my mom, now 83, out of her house where she lived the past 31 years and got her an apartment just five minutes away. Then just this November we found an even better apartment for her which is just as close- for seniors only and she loves it. Sadly, her eye sight has declined along with some painful arthritis, and so I am required to shop for her, take her to doctors and generally help her in any way that time and energy permits. And I love my mom dearly...she has been there for me all of my life supporting me in so many ways.

Very recently, my back has been giving me problems and just before Christmas I completely threw it out, causing some intense pain. Nothing like a little hobbling around with a cane to humble you! It took all that was within me to put on a happy face on Christmas for my girls' sake...but thankfully, I am slowly on the mend.

However, on the much brighter side... our year was filled with many fun memories...we got to go as a family on several business trips with my husband...Eagle Crest near Bend, Oregon and then in the summer, Reno! (We're not gamblers but we all ended up having a blast!)
Along with those adventures, my sweet husband surprised me with two special weekends away, just the two of us...

Overall, it was a good year and I have so much to be thankful for!

Anyway...I can't promise to keep up blogging as faithfully as I did once upon a time, but I do hope to try to start posting semi-regularly...and to visit some of your blogs at long last!

A very Happy New year to all of you filled with God's love!