Hello Dear Friends, Yes I haven't been on much....just busy with one thing are another....thought things would maybe slow down when I "retired"...but as I am sure all know that just don't really happen.LOL I have moments when I think...how did I do everything and work!! Last week I did fill in Mon and Wed. at the florist...but Fri. I went in and about 8 got a call from Susan and she said Mom had a fever...I had gone in to give Mom a kiss before I left and thought she felt warm..but often she does feel warm...well to make a long story short I called the doctor and they said for us to take her in to the E.R...we had been having trouble with Mom coughing while we fed her...and finding that even with us giving liquid with thicket her diapers were not wet...we were at the E. R. until 6.30...they ran all kinds of tests...they gave Mom a antiboctic...doctor was so very kind...told us that we had caught it at the beginning but that Mom had started getting sick..said that this was just the beginning and he had talked with Mom's doctor at length...he ordered Hospice. We brought Mom home and Hospice came Sat. to talk with us. My sweet little Dad sat and listen and understood...he said only God knew when it was time for her to go home..but that he wanted her to die at home. We talked about how blessed we are...and cried...we talked about honoring Mom's wishes...and cried...we talked about loving her and enjoying each day we have...and cried...we talked about none of us knowing that we have that next day...and cried...we talked about knowing that when death does comes for any of us that we will be together again with Jesus. We agreed to take each day and not dwell on what is to come....my sister was here with us as we talked with hospice...I think that maybe she has finally realized...for me it is such a comfort to know that Hospice will be here. Mom had a good day today....eating went well...she has been talking....most of it we can't understand but at times we can. She walked around a little with help...I know that we will have good days and bad...Breezy...how true your words of wisdom...we are in His hands and He is faithful...He will sustain us. Your heart hurts...you long for them to not be in pain...with hospice they will help us make sure that Mom will not suffer....please keep us in your prayers. My daughter and family are coming this week-end from Ky...my daughter in Memphis is coming...we will all be together....the house will be full...that will bring joy to Mom and Dad. Bless you all for your prayers and concern....I pray for you also. Nora

It's such a stormy early evening here (and it's tomorrow night that is supposed to be our real wind and rain coastal storm), I'd love to have my tree, its lights, fire in the fireplace and my quilt. But I took my tree down a few days ago, packed all the ornaments wrapping some, wrapped each piece of the santa figurine collection, thought I had everything carefully stored for another year. Then, saw a little ring sized box on the dining room table that holds the replacement bulbs and the fuses for the tree lights that didn't get into the lights box. And later that night, a chubby little sitting cross legged santa in his horn rimmed glasses still looking at me from the kitchen window sill over the sink. Second try, now everything is put away. I think.

I'm so happy to find this thread! Last weekend my DH was cleaning off his workbench, and I just started casually going through some of the bins of clothes I have saved down in the basement. I was saving them for many reasons: they might fit me again someday; I spent a lot of money on them; my two daughters (10 & 7) might want them someday.....etc. I had about 12 large Rubbermaid-type bins down there--20 years of clothes. I just kept moving and by the end I got them down to 2 bins-mostly vintage and dressy clothes that my two girls might really want. I also got rid of all the 80's shoes that I was saving, and a bunch of my DH's pants that will never fit again. All together, I brought 14 large garbage bags of stuff to the Salvation Army!!! It felt good to clean up the basement, but I have to admit, I almost threw my body across those bags as the man unloaded them! It's so hard! Some of it was really fine quality stuff and much of it was very trendy 80's and 90's stuff. It was hard for me because when I was in high school I shopped thrift stores for vintage clothes, and often when I'd bring home a find, my mom would say "I had one like that! I threw it away!" (40's and 50's stuff). I found it so frustrating! So I was hanging on to my stuff for my two girls. But ya'know what? I can't hang on to that much stuff for the next 5-10 years on the off chance that my kids will think some of it is cool when they are in high school. So I let it go. And it really does feel good. In that formerly crowded area, We are now putting our treadmill, some weights, and a TV! And we are now both inspired to continue cleaning up that basement and pitching stuff we don't need or use. I told DH if he is willing to part with all his darkroom equipment, then I can certainly go through my stuff and see what else can go. It's hard, but it's freeing too.

LOL! I forget something every year! This year, I bought DH a cotton throw when we went to VA for the funeral before Thanksgiving. We took the long way and stopped in PA at Horseshoe Curve. While he went up top to watch the trains, I stayed down and looked in the gift shop. I saw the throw hanging on the wall and asked the sales lady if she had something I could hide it in. She only had an office paper box. It worked and DH didn't even know it was in the trunk until the next day when he went to load the suitcases. I hid it when we got home, and remembered it yesterday! He likes it and was snuggled under it last evening. I "think" that's all I forgot this year, tho I have some things that I ordered, were supposed to be here before Christmas, that still haven't arrived. I keep getting a recording that all lines are busy due to heavy holiday volume. I finally got my internet back today, so emailed the company to cancell the order. I ordered the items the day before the cut off date for shipment in time for the holiday. Tami