Sunday Stealing

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. Bev steals all types of questions from the internet! Cheers to all of us thieves! 

 

Stolen from Pinterest 

 

1. when did you last sing to yourself
probably in the car - sometimes I might pretend that I can sing as well as the professionals!

2. if you’re male, would you ever rock black nail polish? if you’re female, would you ever rock really really short hair? When I was pregnant with our twins, I had my hair cut pretty short for multiple reasons. 1. I was sick as a dog and didn't want hair in the way 2. I was sick as a dog and didn't want to deal with hot rollers, etc. 3. My doctor wouldn't allow me to have a "perm/body wave" because of the high risk - isn't that crazy these days?

3. what is the greatest accomplishment of your life? I have several - one is that I have survived (with the help of God and many friends and family members) some serious traumas. The second is that I gave birth to twins - who are pretty amazing people!!

4. what is the first happy memory that comes to mind, recent or otherwise? Thursday night, my friend and I laughed and talked a lot while at dinner and during intermission at Hamilton and while walking to and from the parking deck and dinner and while in the car. It was good for my soul!

5. if you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? We are headed out of the country soon. If I knew that I was going to die in a year, I would probably schedule a few other BIG trips plus I would spend as much time as possible with friends and family. Maybe they could travel with me???

6. do you have a bucket list? if so, what are the top three things? The first thing is that I want to be remembered for living a life where I loved God and loved others well. Just FYI - all others. My next bucket item is to see the Northern Lights. We are actually talking about going to Iceland in October for that very reason.

7. how do you feel about tattoos and piercings? My daughter and daughter-in-law both have a couple of small tattoos. I have pierced ears and I actually have a second piercing in each ear. I need to put some good earrings in those extra holes and start wearing double earrings 🙂 again.

8. do you feel you had a happy childhood? Even though I suffered some trauma around age 5 and my dad had a major accident when I was in the 6th grade (but he was eventually ok) and my mom died when I was a sophomore in high school . . .even with all that and more, I think I had a pretty good childhood. I always knew that I was loved. I always had enough to eat. I always had a home and a bed to sleep in and running water. I always had friends. That sounds pretty happy to me.

8. when did you last cry in front of another person? I teared up this last week. We hosted a funeral for a 25 year old man who died of a massive heart attack. The week before he died, he memorized the 23rd psalm and recorded himself on his phone. He was so excited to send it to his mentor. They showed the recording at his service. When I watched it in my office, I cried . . .but no one was in there. I guess the last time I really cried in front of someone was back in July when we were living in the hotel.

9. who in the world would you most like to receive a letter from and what would you want it to say? I would love to receive a letter from my parents who have both been dead a long time . . .and I would want them to tell me their story and for them to tell me that they loved me.

10. what is your night time routine? I get off work and come home. We eat dinner and watch a couple of episodes of whatever we are watching at the time. We floss and brush and take our meds and turn on our white noise and go to bed! Sometimes I read after we get in bed but sometimes I don't.

11. when was your last 3am conversation with someone, and who were they to you? Our power went off at 2:00 a.m. on Thursday morning and Mark and I had a mumbled conversation with each other.

12. if you were about to die, and you could only say one more sentence to one person, what would you say and to whom? I love you to whoever was with me. We don't say I love you often enough in this world.

13. what is your opinion on brown eyes? I love brown eyes - my husband and both children have chocolate brown eyes!

14. pick a quote and describe what it means to you personally. I like this one a lot! I do not at all understand the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us. Anne Lamott

15. what would you title the autobiography of your life so far? She tried hard and she laughed a lot!

 

Five (make that six!) "Fotos" From Last Week

I helped host my second big church event this month on Sunday. I am a part (member and on staff) of a church that is remaining United Methodist. We have had so many visitors during December from disaffiliating churches that we decided to do a one time Next Steps (our path to membership) for 100+ folks. The process is usually about an hour on three different Sunday mornings. I was in charge of tablecloths and centerpieces plus I put ice in cups and served drinks :-). 

This is our church fellowship hall.

I went to Lowe's and purchased small plants and clay pots. I had bought some great burlap ribbon at Costco back during the fall so I tied a ribbon around each pot and tied a pretty bow. Mark was out in the woods hunting hogs last weekend so I sent him a text and asked him to please bring home 28 EXTRA LARGE pine cones. He did! They were the perfect addition the the potted plants PLUS one of the visitors asked if she could have all of them afterwards to use in an art project. She works with folks who have autism and I wonder what her project will be??

On Tuesday night, we hosted our Young Professionals group. The menu was chicken fingers from Chick Fil A, hot cheddar pasta (the is a knock off recipe from Urban Cookhouse), green beans in the crockpot, salad and toppings, rolls, and cheesecake bars (provided by my friend, Phella) for dessert. God has the best sense of humor. Here we are in this tiny apartment and we are cramming 17 people in each week.

On Thursday night after work, my friend Laura and I went out to dinner at The Southern Kitchen and Bar and had a drink plus dinner. We then walked to the BJCC to see  . . . . . .

My coat is caught on my face and I have a huge
"jowl" on one side!! Oh well!!

HAMILTON!! 

I haven't been to a Broadway in Birmingham show since Wicked which has been quite a few years ago. When our kids were in older junior high or high school, Mark and I had season tickets to the Broadway in Birmingham shows and I loved going!! Mark had no desire to go so my friend went with me and we had a great time!!

No photos are allowed during the play so I borrowed one from the American Theater Guild! Photo cred belongs to them.

Here are my questions for you! Do you enjoy live theater? Do you prefer small intimate theaters or big Broadway productions? Have you seen Hamilton?

The Gift of an Experience -- Ravioli Class

Our niece had a birthday back in December (Mark's identical twin brother's daughter) and we gave her a ticket to a pasta making class. When I was buying her ticket, I bought one for me, too! We decided that the gift of an experience might be fun. The class was on Saturday morning and it was in one of the restaurants under our apartment! How convenient.

We were each given two cups
of special flour from Italy and
three eggs.

We had to make a volcano and
then we had to make a well
big enough for three eggs.

We each had a dough ball to take
home.

Here is Chef Bernard teaching
the class.

Everyone got to taste a ravioli -
it was yummy!!

They served us lunch which was a small salad and a serving of another pasta with a white sauce with a roll and a tiny canolli (which I brought home for Mark).

At the apartment, I don't have a rolling pin or a scooper or any of the tools needed for making ravioli (which is what we learned) so I tried to recreate a pesto pasta that we ate while in Italy. Note to self - roll the dough thinner (I was rolling with a mason jar) and make the "noodles" shorter. 

A Whole Week Ago

I am so behind on my blogging so I just loaded a bunch of pictures and am staying up late adding words!! So the biggest news is . . .drumroll please . . .we have scaffolding. We don't have workers but if we can get 3 or 4 days with no rain in the forecast, they will start tearing down the three stories of brick chimney and they will remove the entire center part of the roof and structure underneath (beams, etc.)

On Friday, the 13th we went to our long time supper club. I didn't take a single picture!! We had Beef Bourguignon and it was delicious!

On Saturday night, we went to our neighborhood supper club. I had the best drink I've ever had. It was a blood orange martini made with freshly squeezed blood orange juice. Delicious!! The hostess made shrimp and orzo and it was yummy. I took a giant salad.

Earlier that day, granddaughter #2 and her
mommy came for a short visit. They
went to dinner with a friend while
Mark and I went to the neighborhood
supper club.

This picture is totally out of order
but this is the shrimp and orzo.

We played Barbies! It was so cold
but Mark, Laura, and grandbaby #2
walked to the park in front of our
old house just to get outside for
a little while.

 

So cute!

Granddaughter #1 is cheering again this season

for the local basketball team. Those little boys

can actually dribble this year. It is amazing

how much they've improved since last

year. The cheerleaders are improving, too!

The first picture is of their half-time dance.

She is the one with her foot
off the ground!

She was evidently cold and
left her pants on!

The girls still don't seem to realize
that there is a game going on.
Both teams are from the
same "town" so I have a tendency
to clap for whomever scores :-).

 

Baby Shower for a Great (or is it Grand?) Niece

My oldest sister was born 13 years before I was born so she has grandchildren that are basically the same age as my kids (and the same age as our other sister's son). I've always loved her granddaughters! Jennifer is having a baby and we are so happy for her. After helping with the ministry fair, I ate a quick lunch with Mark's family and then drove an hour and 15 minutes to Palisades Park for the baby shower. I thought surely I was lost because I was driving through all sorts of countryside but I finally arrived. It was a grey and rainy day. I wish it had been sunny because when I finally arrived, I realized we were up on top of a small mountain and I imagine the view would have been amazing.

This is my niece (on the left) and her daughter
on the right. So is she my great niece
or my grand niece?

Isn't she beautiful? She is a dental hygienist
but has gone back to school for her
nursing degree. She is in her last
semester and I'm praying she
can finish.

Jennifer on the left and Madison on 
the right with her little girl, Aria.
Madison and Jennifer are
sisters. Their other sister, Mandy,
wasn't with us that day.

The shower was well attended and
she got lots of great gifts.

 

Sunday Stealing

 Sunday Stealing - thank you to Bev for the questions!!!

1. You are back in high school... what are you doing after school lately? The first three years of high school I was hanging out with friends and doing homework. My senior year was different – I was dating a boy so we hung out a lot. I was also in the color guard so we had practice some afternoons. The crowd I was running with changed . . . and I imagine there was some pot smokin’ going on. Just being real here. That was a long time ago!!

2. Do you do homework early or late? Do you really study? I like to get it done ahead of time – back then and now! Back then, I didn’t have to study  much and made all A’s and National Honor Society. At 64, I have to study.

3. a, Do you go to the games? Football? Basketball.. what is your favorite to attend? Yes on the football games! Friday Night Lights!! I went to a few basketball games but not many. We had so much fun on Friday nights at the football games so that would have been my favorite.

 b. Do you go to the dances? Prom? (what'd you wear?) We only had one dance a year that I remember and it was prom. I was never asked. My senior year I was dating someone and we could have gone but decided not to spend the money. I wish we had spent the money.

4.Lunch!  What are we having today?   What is your favorite lunch? I’m writing this on Saturday but I know that I’ll be working a lunch at church on Sunday and we are having Friday Special from Taziki’s which is a pasta and chicken dish. My favorite lunch . . .I prefer leftovers or a lean cuisine or something I have meal prepped over a sandwich.

5. What kind of music do you like the best? I listen to different kinds of music when I'm in different moods. My "airplane play list" has from Eye of the Tiger to the sound track from Wicked to Christian music and everything in between.

6. Does the radio play in your car and if so what station or kind of music plays?  Does music play in your home often? I usually like peace and quiet in the car. I play music when I'm home alone.

7. What do you think of the music played in restaurants or stores? Do you find it relaxing or annoying? Since our home burned, we've been living in an apartment over a hair salon and two restaurants. They (not sure which one) play a lot of music and I can hear . . .maybe feel . . .the bass beat. It gets annoying.

8. What part has music played in your life? What kind of music played at your wedding or at parties you have been to? I really enjoy music and used to play it my office and my car all of the time but the older I get, the less I listen.

9. Is the farm for you? How about a ranch, a village or a city? Which is your choice and why? My husband has been "on the farm" this weekend and he killed this!

Farm life is probably not for me. I could definitely try living on a ranch or in a village. I've always thought it would be cool to live in a loft in our downtown. I guess I'm actually living in a loft now . . .but in the suburbs.

10. A short auto trip for the weekend with friends or a long vacation? Where would you go?  I enjoy both kinds of trips. Sometimes the weekend trips leave me feeling tired rather than refreshed because you have to go go go to cram it in. We are headed back to Israel in a few weeks but that isn't really a vacation for me.

11. The quiet life at home with a cuppa and TV or  a good book or a night out with friends? Which sounds good today? I enjoy a little of both every day. I love to read and I love to watch something great on TV but I really really enjoy a good night out with friends. While Mark was out of town, I went out to eat with several friends and enjoyed a beverage and dinner.

12. You have a choice of  dinner and a movie or a game of cards and snacks at the neighbors. Where are you going tonight? I think I'll stay in tonight! 

13. Is there a hero or character on TV, in a book or a movie .. or even on all three, that you are especially like? What do you find attractive about them? I do not have a good answer for this question!!

14.  Was there a book that was better in movie form? How about a movie you thought didn't live up to the book? I'm much more of a reader than a movie watcher so I'm going to go with "the book is always better."

15. When you choose a book, program or movie which subject it is most likely to be: science fiction, mystery, romance, documentary? I love a good mystery or thriller!! I did just finish the book, "Lessons in Chemistry" and really loved it and that is not my normal genre., r

 

Ministry Fair and Miracle Mocha

As many of you know, I'm assistant to the senior pastor at our church. In addition to that

 

Favorites

Thanks to Bev for the questions! Feel free to copy and paste or answer in the comments. You can join up at Sunday Stealing!

1. What is your favorite accent? I love our Southern accents here in Alabama BUT I also love a good British accent or an Australian accent!!

2. What is your favorite animal? I love cats – we have one. I also think llamas are really cool!

3. What is your favorite band? I don’t have one.

4. What is your favorite childhood book? I don’t remember a specific book from my own childhood but I read a book about dogs to my children . . .maybe a 1000 times. I love to read and my sisters and I spent hours and hours walking to and from our local library and checking out books.

5. What is your favorite color? I have several! I love red and pink. I look great in emerald green 😊.

6. What is your favorite drink? Diet Pepsi is my number one drink followed closely by a mock Moscow mule and margaritas!

7. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? I don’t eat ice cream but I used to love a good strawberry ice cream!

8. What is your favorite place on the planet? My favorite place would be smack dab in the middle of my family and friends . . .if you throw in a beach and some beverages, I’m even happier.

9. What is your favorite sandwich? I enjoy a good cheeseburger but I’ve just about given up on buns except for Keto buns. We eat a lot of turkey sandwiches at our house – I like them for breakfast better than lunch. Two slices of Keto bread, a slice of reduced fat cheese, and a few slices of deli turkey with mustard makes a good breakfast.

10. What is your favorite swear word? Shit!

11. What is your favorite thing to wear? I love to wear comfortable dresses with sandals, flip flops, or birkenstocks. As I’m typing this I have on jeans and a soft knit green shirt and fun deerskin (not real) boots.

12. What is your favorite food to eat on a rainy day? How about a good bowl of soup with cornbread?

13. What is your favorite food to eat on a sunny day? How about a scoop of fresh fruit and a scoop of chicken salad and a scoop of pasta salad?

14. What is your favorite number? I don’t have a favorite number.

15. What is your favorite snack? I eat a built bar almost every day and I eat popcorn a lot. I love a good salty chip.

Sunday Stealing

 I'm joining up with Sunday Stealing with this week's questions. Thank you to Bev for scouring the internet for us!!

1, If you could change the ending to one movie you have seen, which one would it be, and how would you reshoot it? If you’ve read my blog for any time at all, you know that I rarely see a movie. I did go see the new Black Panther movie recently. I don’t know how I would reshoot the ending – I enjoyed the movie.

2. If you were to select a food that best describes your character, what food would it be? How about French fries? Salty! I can be a tad salty. Or how about Baked Alaska? Sometimes I shoot off like a rocket!

photo from artimasa

photo by dansukker

3. If you could cure any disease, which would it be? I want to say cancer (and I do!) but my brother-in-law has Parkinson’s and we stand by and watch as he gets progressively worse so maybe I would want to cure Parkinson’s . . .and cancer.

4. If you had to describe the single worst thing a friend could do to you, what would it be? That is an unusual question. At 64 I hope I have surrounded myself with friends who have my back. When I was younger, there were a few along the way who were back stabbers. That always hurts but I imagine it is not the single worst thing!

5. If you could be a contestant on any game show, which would you like to be on? I’m not very good at games so I may need to take a pass!!

6. If you could choose the music at your own funeral, what would it be, and who would play it? There is a song called “Give Me Jesus” and I would love for Anna U. to play the piano and for Scott B. to sing it. I would also like some upbeat music -celebrate my life.

7. If you had to spend all of your vacations for the rest of your life in the same place, where would you go? We’ve been going to Orange Beach, AL for many years (35+) so I know that would be good. You didn’t say how “small” the one place would be so could I spend all of my vacations in Europe?

8. If you could ask God a single question, what would  it be? Why do babies get sick and die?

9. If you could eat one food in any quantity for the rest of your life with no ill effects whatsoever what food would you choose? One of my all time favorite foods is French fries dipped in ketchup. I wish I could eat them and not gain weight.

10. If you could have a year any place in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go? I would love to go to Australia! Or travel around all of Europe for a year and stay in 5 star hotels!! I also have always said that I think I could live in Israel for six months . . .if someone was paying, I might like to do that for a year.

11. If you could forever eliminate one specific type of prejudice from the earth, which would it be? I’ve struggled with weight so that would be the easy answer. In all seriousness, if I could, I would eliminate racial prejudice. The older I get, the more I learn about the inequalities suffered by many.

12. If you could own one painting from any collection in the world but were not allowed to sell it, which work of art would you select? I’ve always loved Starry Night by van Gogh.

13. If you could ask a single question of a dead relative, what would it be and of whom would you ask it? I would love to ask my mother to tell me about her life – from as early as she could remember all the way to the end. She died at 50 when I was a sophomore in high school

I'm the baby

14. If you had to choose the best television show ever made, which one would you pick? I can’t pick. I grew up watching Andy Griffith and there were some good lessons in those shows. I love The Big Bang Theory and have watched those episodes multiple times. I don’t know if either of those would be classified as “the best” television shows though.

15. If you could write letters to only one person for the rest of your life, who would receive them? This is two people but I would write to our granddaughters. I probably should do that anyway!!

2022 Monthly Recap

I thought I would do a lot of writing while I was taking a few days off from work in the week between Christmas and New Years. Well, that didn't happen! Here goes with a monthly recap of 2022. . . and this is a RIDICULOUSLY long post.

January:

I forgot that it snowed on January 3 last year!

The biggest thing in January was I became a college student at 63 years old! My boss insisted on taking a "first day of school" picture and I'm so glad he did!

We watched granddaughter #1 cheer for Chelsea basketball!

This same granddaughter learned to ride her bicycle!

I helped host a beautiful tea for a lovely young woman!

We hosted our supper club.

We went to see a show at the historic Lyric theater.

February:

We went to see the Harlem Globetrotters:

Granddaughter #2 and her parents came to visit:

I went to another bridal tea for another beautiful bride:

Granddaughter #1 spent the night and we went to another Chelsea basketball game:

We went on our staff retreat at Camp Sumatanga:

We had a Mardi Gras parade in the neighborhood:

We went to a wedding:

March:

I studied a lot and realized that I actually have to study at 63 (hadn't turned 64 yet!!).

We had another tiny snowfall!

We went to Granddaughter #1's 6th birthday party and celebrated her with family:

2022 was the year we learned about Hibiscus Mead provided and made by a friend:

We went to supper club:

We took granddaughter #1 to the Zoo on her spring break:

April:

Mark and Glenn took granddaughter #1 to the farm:

We continued to host the young adults:

Granddaughter #2 came for a visit:

We took both granddaughters to see the Easter Bunny in our neighborhood:

We celebrated Easter! Hallelujah!

We went to another beautiful wedding:

May:

I took my first final exam and made an A for the semester!!

We had friends over and I made a charcuterie spread:

We celebrated Mother's day:

We went to visit granddaughter #2:

Our office went out to lunch:

Granddaughter #2 came to visit:

June:

Granddaughter #2 came for a day visit while Mommy had a doctor's appointment in town:

We went to another gorgeous wedding:

I went to a baby shower for my great niece . . . the baby would be my great great niece (and she is so cute!)?? Is that right? Or does she become a grand niece?

At above shower, I saw my oldest sister for the first time since before Covid!!!:

I forgot that I had started another semester of school and I had to write a short play and Mark and I had to "perform" it (read it) and I ended up getting SO MAD at him (funny now -- not then):

I celebrated my birthday with lots of fruit "cake":

We departed the U.S. for 14 glorious days in Europe (Italy, Austira, Germany):

This place was gorgeous on the coast of Italy

July:

We flew home from Munich:

We were home less than a week and I got sick, our house burned, and I had emergency surgery:

I can't believe that I am sharing
this picture! This is how swollen
my face was. The doctor had
an "Oh Sh*t" look on his
face when he looked at me!!

We lived in a hotel for 16 days:

Mark went to granddaughter #2's birthday but I had to stay at the hotel (week after major surprise surgery):

We moved into an apartment with rented furniture:

I had double vision even after the surgery (I don't have it anymore!) and had to wear a patch for 3 weeks:

Mark's sister, Susie Sheep, and her husband moved home to Alabama - yay!

August:

Both granddaughters started school - granddaughter #1 in 1st grade and granddaughter #2 in 3K at her momma's school:

Mark went to Alaska on a fishing trip . . .and loved it so much that they have already booked their trip for next August:

While he was in Alaska, I went to the neighborhood picnic and won a big prize:

Demo on the house continued:

While he was gone, I also worked the fall carnival at church:

We started back hosting the Young Adults:

Somewhere along the way in August, I took another final and made another A for the semester.

September:

Another semester began but for the life of me, I can't remember the start date!! I think it was actually in August!!

Granddaughter #1 became a cheerleader for Chelsea football and we went to several of her games:

More demo on the house:

We went to our neighborhood supper club and I made a charcuterie board:

I did a little fall decorating in the apartment which made me a tad happier:

The leaves began to turn here in Alabama:

October:

We had our Women's Retreat and had so much fun!

That is me - I was acting as Sarah - very old (gray
wig) and pregnant with a cane! That is Eve
behind me with her gardening gloves!

We went to Grandparent's day with Granddaughter #1:

We went to a neighbor's house to watch an Auburn football game and "tailgate."

We went to our neighborhood supper club and I took squash casserole and it was yummy!

Mark and I took a tiny weekend trip to Wetumpka to see granddaughter #2 and her mommy and daddy:

While in Wetumpka, we went to Coach's Corner:

And we went to the Pumpkin Patch:

We went to the Parade of Homes and looked at floors, and paint, and lights and I began to feel a glimmer of hope:

We went to supper club and celebrated Dave's birthday:

I had a mammogram (I had my physical back at the end of September but it had not been six weeks since I had my most recent covid booster . . .so I had to go back):

We had a mini staff retreat in town at our other campus:

Granddaughter #1 spent a weeknight because her mommy had a procedure. Pops had to pick her up from school and take her back and it was Neon Day:

The leaves continued to change:

We had our family fish fry:

I sat in front of our burned out house and handed out Halloween Candy:

November:

The Young Adults continued to meet at our house and the group has grown:

Our Out to Eat Supper club went to the Bright Star - yummy:

We signed the official contract with ELM Construction for the rebuilding of our house:

We went to our son's house for dinner:

We went to our neighborhood supper club and I made a gigantic salad:

I went to our daughter's school and helped move her classroom into a new building . . .while she taught!

I finally met Pearl, the school's comfort dog:

I got to surprise granddaughter #2 by picking her up in her classroom after school!!:

We hosted our supper club IN THE APARTMENT - this was a big deal for me:

We celebrated birthdays with our kids:

We kept granddaughter #1 and made Thanksgiving cards for everyone who would be celebrating with us:

We celebrated Thanksgiving:

I met with the builder's designer . . .and felt even more hope:

We went out to dinner with our son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter #1, and friend:

We went to see granddaughter #2 and celebrated our daughter's birthday:

December:

Mark and I both met with the designer and picked out tile for bathrooms and hardwood floor:

I studied and took another final -- 3 semesters under my belt -- 3 A's.

We put up a tiny Christmas tree:

I went to the neighborhood ladies Christmas lunch:

We went to a play -- It's a Wonderful Life - Radio Edition:

I became fascinated with Christmas lights -- I reminded myself that the dark does not win:

We went to a ballet recital for granddaughter #2 and enjoyed spending the day with them:

We had our staff Christmas Party, our Sunday School party, and our Young Adult Party - you can check it out here:

We celebrated Christmas with extended family, immediate family, and even bigger extended family:

The designer and I picked out all of the lighting for the house -- more HOPE (but work has not begun -- the builder does have the permit in hand from the city which is big):

Powder room light - it is so cute!

I did a craft project -- I haven't felt creative since the fire so it was fun to just do something:

We went out to dinner at Ironwood for New Year's Eve with close friends and had a great time.

I finally felt mentally and emotionally strong enough to go to my friend's house and do a clean out of some of the last clothes from our house. All of those rods had clothes on them.

they have had TONS of our stuff stored
in this closet since July. All that is
left is pillows and linens and those
will have to stay until we are back
in our house.

I took three black garbage bags of give
aways!! Isn't her guest bed cute??

Yes, I know that we had some big bumps in the road this year but looking over all of this . . . we have still been so very blessed. I am truly grateful.