Another Season Passes

The "I can't believe we're all in town at the same time again!" gathering. Lok on the floor, and Jaime (with Baby Audrey in tow who is scheduled to make her appearance in April'ish), then Jmk, Tooter, Granny (98 and holding!) with Poodle, then back row is GaGa, Robert, Leslie (aka Aunt Sessie), David, and last but not least MooMoo (the only one brave enough and cute enough to wear the reindeer hat!)

We had our last Christmas gathering last nite - with Lok's crazy but wonderful family. Aunt Jaime is really starting to show now, and we are SO excited about getting to see Baby Audrey (the name is official! Audrey Rune!). Jmk and I got all Nyquil'd up for the gathering, and sort of zombie'd ourselves around. The kids are doing okay. Still feeling poopy, but energetic in spite of it. Odd combo, really. Poodle doesn't have her full voice, and I am loving that. Ha!!! This thing is pretty much going to be a full cold with chest congestion and the works. Blech. To ME, it simply means that we need to hang around the house in our sweats all day and watch movies and veg on the couch. Don't you think?

As I watched my sister drive off from our house headed for Nashville this morning, I realized how much of a blessing it was to have everyone here. So many families weren't able to do what we did. Both Jmk and I got to see everyone this Christmas. God was and is so good to us.

Then, I realized that while I was sad to see Leslie go, I knew she was looking forward to getting back home and to her routines. And that is a nice thing too. To be able to visit with your family and still be glad to be going back to your own home.

Family is good and crazy and beautiful. And I love mine so much! Both the side that shares my genes and the side that calls me their own because of Jmk!