Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have so much to be thankful for.  I realized, as I was counting my blessings, just how happy I am to have returned to college.  I really can't explain it, because I truly loved my career as a teacher, but I'm just thrilled to have a new goal and destination for my future.  I look forward to school EVERY day, and I love to go.  I'm so thankful that I feel "brave" enough to leave a secure job to follow my dream.  This was definitely one of those things that if I waited for the right time, I'd never do it.  Sometimes you just have to JUMP.  I'm realizing (based on the comments of my friends and people that I meet) that this is a rare thing to follow through on!

I'm thankful for too many things to list here...you know, the biggies...my faith, my family, my health, my friends, my home, etc.  But then there are just so many others.  I am blessed.

My brother and his wife came over for Thanksgiving Day.  I love that they live here in GA now, and we can get together whenever we want.  We watched the Macy's Parade, the dog show, and some football.  We had a delicious meal together, and just enjoyed each other's company.

We didn't go out overnight for Black Friday shopping, but Patrick, Shannon and I did venture out for a few hours this afternoon.  We didn't really need anything; we just like to experience the spectacle.  Most of the stores had little to no lines, and it was fine!  Old Navy had a long line, but we didn't need to buy anything.  

We plan to put up the Christmas tree downstairs tomorrow.  Usually we have it upstairs, but we'd like for my Dad to be able to enjoy it as much as possible.  So downstairs it is!  I can't believe it's Christmas-time already.  This year has just flown.

Home again

Mom and Dad are safely home...and sound asleep.  They seem to have had a great time. Dad's next chemo (but the first of a new type) is on Wednesday.

Tonight, Shannon and I are baking cookies and watching The Goonies for the first time ever!  I don't know how I never saw it...but somehow I never did.  It's funny so far!  We've got a fire in the fireplace, and are just enjoying not having to get ready for school tomorrow! I might have to bust out my coloring books...the ultimate relaxation for me!

Counting our blessings

When a lot of stuff starts happening, my tendency is to try to keep it to myself until it resolves.  You know what happens then?  NO blogging.  Dumb.

We found out about 2-1/2 weeks ago that my dad's chemo hasn't been helping.  His tumors are larger, and have even spread.  He has been referred to palliative care, which isn't hospice, but is much more focused on keeping him comfortable, and less worried about him becoming hooked on painkillers, etc.  He will begin a new chemo regimen next week to see if will slow down his cancer's growth.

Realizing that things are moving kind of fast, my brother and sister in law booked a trip for my mom and dad to go with them to Hawaii...leaving on 11/9.  This is a bucket list item for my dad.  He had a real hard time on the long flight there, and actually had to be hospitalized the first 3 days of their trip.  But the last 5 days have been wonderful for them.  My dad got to spend time at the ocean, see the Hawaiian sights, and fly in a helicopter over beautiful waterfalls, etc.

Meanwhile at home, we've had major construction work going on, to make the house more comfortable for Dad.  We've had a window to the backyard replaced with french doors, and a stamped concrete patio poured outside it, so he has a nice easy way to enjoy the outdoors.  We've had their tub removed and a shower installed.  The edge of the tub was too high for dad to step over comfortably.  We had the end of our driveway smoothed out so it won't be so painful for Dad to ride over it.

And then besides that, we're going to school, of course.  We're sliding into finals time...but first...we are off ALL of next week.  I feel like I'm getting a cold, so I'm definitely glad that I've got some time to rest and recover.