So Thankful

Hey blogosphere. I guess I owe ya'll an explanation since I've been MIA for over a week. Last week was a vacation week for me - took a trip down to Tennessee and to Virginia to spend time with some friends and family. Hubby and I had a good time, time where we reevaluated what we are thankful for and what it is that means most to us. (And that is always a good thing, especially when you dread that Monday morning when you have to go back to work...) So, even though Thanksgiving is technically over, this is kind of a list of things I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful for good friends. When Tim and I traveled down to TN, we were most graciously hosted by my friend Ruth and her flock of critters (Ursula and the kitty gang). We crashed her place for a couple of nights and she fed us with cakes and conversations. Who could ask for more? She is going through a tough time right now and it was good to be able to be there. It just isn't the same over email and telephones.

We also got to spend some good time with my best good buddy Tennessee Celeste. This girl is a riot. The first night we got into town I totally dragged her to the Carter Family Fold. It's a down home country concert hall that was home to the Carters and is the actual birthplace of country music (not Nashville). Celeste came with me. Now that is what I call a true mark of friendship! (And by the way, this photo is not a good representative of just how cute we are...) Her hunny Bryon even chauffeured all of us in his jet-like vehicle. The night after that we had a slumber party at Bryon's place and we watched Tron on his crazy movie-theater-like projection TV. This boy has some toys! And the next morning, they trusted us enough to lock up. But not before we got some blackmail pics of Bryon's crazy comic book collection!!! Heh. Can anybody say Trekkie?!? (It's okay Bryon. We love you anyway.)

Speaking of good friends, we also had lovely lunches with our way cool former minister Aaron (who we correspond with on facebook - how cool is he?!?) and also with our old Sunday School class of high schoolers who are now college grads! It's wild how time flies by. And our visit wouldn't be complete without seeing my buddy Andrew and his new bride Kathy! And boy was my face red when I found out that he got married and I didn't even know! For a whole year now! (Oh the shame.) Well, cheers you guys! Congrats and all the best. And I'm thankful that Andrew is feeling better - he has just been through the wringer with medical issues.

I'm thankful for all the memories I have of our life in TN. We had a good 4 years there and I will always have a home away from home. It was a short visit and I didn't get to see everyone I wanted to see for as long as I wanted to see them, but it was what it was and it definitely whetted my appetite for another visit. While we were there, we got to visit my former library see lots of people that I miss dearly. We also went over to our alma maters - Milligan and Emmanuel. Tim finally picked up his (4 yr. old) diploma. I'm thankful he graduated. There was a time when I thought he might not!

And I'm thankful that my duck pond was still there. I really missed my ducks. I seriously missed those guys. I know that sounds silly, but I would picnic at this spot daily. I watched these ducks from egglings to ducklings to full on duck-hood. And I missed shopping at Kroger. I went to Kroger for this bread to feed my ducks. They were so happy to see me that they ate right out of my hand. It made me squeal with glee.

And I'm thankful for the mountains and the stars. I really missed seeing those.

After our trip to TN, we drove up to VA to see my fam. I'm very thankful for them. Each of them are very special to me in their own way.

I'm thankful for my mom and dad. Mom has a strong opinion of how she wants things. She's big on "firsts" so we celebrated her birthday, Thanksgiving, AND Christmas so she could be the first to celebrate it with baby Emma. We even took Emma to see Santa and have pictures taken. So, yeah I visited to spend Thanksgiving, but I've already gotten a taste of Christmas!

I'm really thankful to have gotten to hang out with my cutie pie niece. When she smiles, she smiles with her whole face. She's 10 months old now and I adore this kid. She blows raspberries, claps when she is excited, and gives me kisses. I just think she hung the moon. While we were all there together, I coped out of cooking the Thanksgiving dinner (read: peeling potatoes) by working on making Emma an Indian Princess outfit. (She makes a cute little Indian noise with her mouth that is so not PC but is incredibly adorable. That is what is happening in the picture.) Her outfit turned out cute, complete with braids and a feather. So not politically correct. Sorry.

I'm also thankful that I didn't get whatever Becky and Tim got sick with the night we took her to see A Winter's Tale at the way cool Shakespeare theater in Stauton. Oh boy. We went to the Waffle House there and they were both absolutely green. This picture may have had something to do with that... Mmm... What's that in your hash browns, Becky? Could that be a fly? Yummy! I'm not sure exactly why I was spared, but I'm thankful. Becky had to leave ten minutes into the first act. And when Tim turned to me and whispered he had to go to the bathroom about 20 minutes later, I knew the Waffle House had been a BAD idea. I was however struck down with the giggles at the awkwardness of being all by myself in the middle of the front row in the first act of A Winter's Tale, which is full of yelling and tragedy. Lots of yelling. And I was the visual target. And to think that this play is one of Shakespeare's comedies! Well, I found it pretty funny anyway. My, my.

And finally (sheesh this was a long post!), as thankful as I was to do all that visiting, I am thankful for my warm comfy home, my soft bed, my bathroom privacy, and my cute furrball kitties. They have been ever so cuddly since I've been back - I think they missed me.