Good grief! It's January 26th and It's been 5 months since I put anything on here!! I'm so sorry. I guess I can give the old standard excuse, "We are just too busy!" but honestly, it doesn't matter. I guess I just need to get my priorities right, don't I?


I told you I was going to put the "rest of the story" on here about my knee replacement surgery. Well, that's old news now. The surgery went very well, but a week after my surgery, I began to break out in huge hives on my feet, legs and arms. Then they spread to my neck and face and finally began to appear on my torso. I started having trouble swallowing and Carl took me to the hospital where they admitted me. My whole face swelled up and my eyes swelled almost shut. I was having a reaction to the Coumadin they had given me for thinning my blood. After spending 6 more days in the hospital I was finally released to go home. I continued to do my exercises while in the hospital and upon getting home, they said I didn't need the nurses to come for physical therapy any more. I continued doing my exercises and am doing quite well now with my "mechanical" knee.


Since then, I have returned to work and am back in the swing of things again. And in the fall, along with school starting, I restarted my Ladies Bible Study. This year we're studying a book by Martha Peace entitled "Becoming a Titus 2 Woman." This has been a tremendous study and I have around 8-10 ladies attend each week. I have learned so much and the Lord is working on me just as well as all the ladies in my group!!

Dad is doing well. We had a great Christmas with him and he seemed to enjoy it greatly. Carl took him a few days before Christmas to Cracker Barrel to pick out a gift for Mom. Mom had mentioned that she saw a scarf there that she'd like to have so that's what they were looking for. While they were there, Dad saw some of those little flat wallets or purses with the clasp on them. This one was black with blue sparkly beads on it, very pretty, and he picked it up and wanted to get it for Mom. Carl had already found the scarf and he asked Dad, "Are you sure?" Dad said, "Yes, I know Mary would like this." So they picked up both. It was very sweet and unexpected, but Dad knew he wanted to get it for Mom. It might possibly be the last gift he will ever be able to pick out by himself for her and I know Mom will cherish it forever!! They are so cute together any more. Mom tenderly taking care of Dad and Dad leaning on Mom and following her around. Mom said the other day, "You never really know love until you take care of someone!" Dad really depends on Mom and she has really stepped up to the plate and does a great job caring for him. It is a big responsibility and a hard job, too.

Joy goes over every other weekend and spends Friday nights with them and tries to take Mom out somewhere on Saturday and get her out of the house. When I can, I try to help out in the same way. Mom just has to get away sometimes. It is important.

We were there Sunday night and took Taco Bell over to them for supper. Dad eats a soft taco supreme. We all had burritoes. Anyway, Dad is such a slow eater but if you will stay sitting at the table, he will keep plugging away at his food until he usually finishes most of it. We all sat and talked and laughed patiently while he ate. Then Todd got the ice cream out. He got a root beer and made himself and Dad a root beer float. Dad loves root beer floats and he especially loves ice cream, as you know. He put the rest of the taco aside and started on the float. When he finished he wanted more ice cream but no one was noticing. Todd picked up the container and put it away in the freezer. Dad looked like a little boy whose sucker had been taken away. Todd said, "Oh, did you want more?" Dad nodded and Todd said, "Well, you know where it is." So Dad got up and got the ice cream out of the freezer and opened the container. He started to eat it right out of the box. There was probably about 1 1/2 cups of ice cream left in the box. Todd said, "Mom, don't let him eat out of the box!" So she took the box and put more ice cream in his glass. She put the box down and Dad, with a sly look, picked it back up and continued to eat out of it. He was determined to eat ALL of the ice cream left in that box. It was quite funny. Mom finally noticed what he was doing and I laughed and said, "You are really hornery tonight!!" Dad grinned a big mischievous grin. You can always count on him eating sweets, especially ice cream or Twinkies!!

Thus, life continues on. Things are pretty normal around here!!