All is Well

Everything in life is going along great - this week we still have our jobs, our health and our family. I really just need the basics in life to be happy. I also find that the more I have the more I have to clean, so in the past I have really gotten into simplifying.

Chuck and I are going to be looking into possibly refinancing and taking advantage of a lower interest rate. We meet with someone next week to see if this is a good idea... I am all for lowering monthly payments and maybe even trying a 15 yr. mortgage which would make us 62 or so when the house would be paid for. Ugh that sounds so unbelievable. Have you noticed that time seems to be going faster and faster.

Lauren, Ben and Allison have been spending the weekend with us. Our Alli is sick with some type of bug. She had her shots on Wed., so her fever and lack of appetite may be from those shots but it really seems more like a bug. Poor baby is so out of it. She and I took a nice nap together and basically we all have been taking turns holding her and trying to keep her comfortable. I can't wait till she is back to her normal active self and ready to wear that pink headband again!

We Will Miss Him

A special man: Chuck's father, my handsome father-in-law, Lauren's Grandpa and Allison's Great Grandpa passed away on January 7. Thankfully Chuck and I, were able to drive up (really fast) to North Carolina to be with him for his final days. Lauren and Allison were already up there staying with the Mestas Family and her husband, Ben, was up there for a week visiting and Ben had literally just driven home to FL the day before he passed. The passing although devastating for our family brought relief to a man who suffered with so much pain in his life. He is now in Heaven pain free.

The time we spent in NC was bittersweet, as we leaned on one another and enjoyed the company of each other immensely. Laughter and tears flowed freely and stories were shared by all. Walter 'Babe' Farrell was a special man and I for one can honestly say I never met a man like him before!

Other than the above sad news, we have been getting back into a routine here in Florida. We have enjoyed having Allison (Lauren and Ben too) back over on the weekends and we even went to the zoo yesterday with her - she slept through the whole thing but when she woke up...she was one happy girl. It was a gorgeous day here in Central FL and it was a pleasure to be outside with no humidity hanging around.


Allison is enjoying food - so far just sweet potatoes and peas, oatmeal, rice cereal and apple juice but I think we may have a great eater on our hands. She eats with gusto and pretty darn neatly even if I am bragging just a bit.




Congratulations to our nephew, Jonathan and Lindsay on their engagement. Good Luck to our nephew, Gary and Heather in their move to Virginia and Heather's new job as a nurse in VA. We are anxiously awaiting the news from our niece, Melissa and Randy on the sex of their unborn child. We are looking forward to a baby shower for our niece Stephanie and on and on. So in life there is death but there is also great joy in the blessings that God gives us daily. I for one, am so very thankful for all things great and small.

Chuck is doing well, he has been awarded a "Rookie of the Year" certificate from his fire station. He passed his physical agility test and he is also on the Board of Directors for the Volunteer Fire Association. He has been so busy and I am so proud of all of his accomplishments.
He is busy enough for the both of us. Besides my joy is my home (however boring that may sound) as I have said before I am happy homebody.

Tomorrow the United States of America gets a new President and I ask God to Bless America.

Happy New Year

It is now 2009 and may God bless us all. I just wanted to to wish my family and friends a wonderful new year. It was a quiet new year's eve for Chuck and I. We watched a movie, kissed each other at midnight and called it a night! No more parties for us and believe me...I am perfectly content.

Chuck left for NC this evening to go visit his Dad who is not doing well and may not be around much longer. Dad is a strong man but it looks like pneumonia has set in and he just can't get around anymore. Hospice has brought a bed into their house to make him more comfortable. Chuck is joined by his sisters Linda & Debi, his nephew Gary and niece Stephanie and if traffic is minimal and they make good time they should be up there after midnight. It will be a nice surprise for his Dad and for his Mom. I hope the visit is a good one and they spend some quality time together.

I will enjoy the quiet here and use it to catch up on some cleaning and reading. I miss my family when the are not around but I use the time wisely to regroup and have some "me" time.

Lately I have been enjoying catching up with some of my old classmates from high school. This year is our 30th Reunion and the reunion committee has already begun to make contact and there is a website to go to and see all the 'found' classmates. It is fun to read what we are all up to. High school seems like another lifetime ago and I for one am no longer the same person but I doubt very much any of us are.

My best to you all and again Happy 2009!