Where does the time go?

It has been such a long time since I have posted or even had time to sit down and read other blogs. The past few weeks since George's father's passing has been have been so busy. I have been back and forth to post, about 3.5 hours aways twice as has George and we are finally finishing up cleaning out Dad's house. I am amazed at how much you can learn about someone by sorting through their things. George was definately the center of his Dad's world and being reminded of that must be hard for him.

As the holiday season approaches there is so much to do. First and foremost, I HAVE to get all of my homework finished and turned in. Dad would not want to be the reason I didn;t finish and they have already given me a semester's extension while caring for him. So until they are turned in Dec. 6, don't exect me to be around much. But after that ... It's prep for the holidays time!

Christmas is defintely my favorite time of the year. I love the holiday music, the decoration, the cooler weather. This year I can decorate my office as well ... Yeah!! Noth that many people see it since mostly it is just my Soldiers and their Families who see me, but I will get to spend all day in it!

There are so many things that I want to do craft project-wise, most of which will be discussed in depth on my other blog, Rose Manor: The Teacup Collector's Cottage. Christmas is the best time to get stuff like that done,whether stitching quietly with a hot cup of tea and stitching or doing group craft activities and laughing over cookies and cocoa. It's the perfect time come together as a Family and community and celebrate!

I hope you're holidays are filled with love and laughter and I look forward to visiting you all soon to hear about you holiday adventures. Happy Thanksgiving ...

Until our next cup of tea ...

Here's to our country's heroes ...

When we think of veterans we think mostly of elderly men and women sitting around animatedly sharing stories of wars long ago. Their eyes glazed over as they are momentarily transported back to a time when their vivid memories first evolved. They speak with a reverence of their fallen comrades and grin with laughter as they recall those who managed to rise above the terrors of war to provide a moment of laughter for others. They carry with them the legacy of America's greatest and most terrifying moments.

Today's veterans hold the same vivid memories, same battle scars and same pain of loss, but instead they are 18, 19, 20 years old, war weary, but proud of their duty to their country. Today's miitary Families are as strong as those who've gone before them, mindful of the legacy they carry with them. Years from not these heroes will be the silver-haired story-tellers lookig for someone to listen. I pray someone will be there to listen with an open heart and free of judgement.

Happy Veteran's Day!

Until our next cup of tea ...

Rest in Peace Beloved Father

George's father passed away this morning. I will post more at a later date, but I'm sure you'll understand if I am offline for a while. He was 57 years old.

Every vote is a deciding vote ...

I voted! Did you?

Actually I voted by absentee ballot a few weeks ago, but my vote counted!

Another day at the hospital ...

Well, when I last posted George's dad was getting better, the doctors were ready to send him to a skilled nursing facility with the expectation that with physical therapy by December his dad would be ready to return home. But on Thursday, his condition changed ...

We don't know why. All of his labs came back the same, but his was disoriented and combative with us and the staff once again. He managed to pull out three feeding tubes (all while he was with a sitter) and he began to collect fluid in his abdomen.

As of yesterday, he was in a semi-comatose state, but they decided not to move him to ICU.

The doctors called this morning and said that his organs are starting to fail. It's hard to sit here, they give him 48-hours, maybe a little more. George is holding his hand and talking to him, but we don't know how much he can understand. We have some tough days ahead of us, and I don't know how much blogging I will be doing. I'm already behind on getting my school work turned in and I'm doing what I can work-wise from my laptop.