Hello again, dear readers.....did you think I'd run off and forgotten you? :)
We've had all sorts of things going on over here for awhile now....I think it's about time we had a nice little catch up! Can I pour you a cup of coffee before we get too busy chatting?
So my dear hubs pulled a hamstring while reffing a basketball game a few weeks ago. We were going to take the Christmas tree down that weekend, but with his hamstring messed up, we decided not to have him carrying huge tubs up and down the stairs (they're too huge for me), so we left the tree up for another weekend.
Then my hottie hubs tragically hit a rather large cat with his car, while driving to a game with two other referees and knocked some whatchamacallit off the bottom of the car that had to be replaced. The cat didn't make it. Poor thing.
His hamstring was all better within just a few days and then he severely strained/slightly tore a calf muscle during a game. And then he had to use crutches to walk. We were going to take the Christmas tree down that weekend, but with his calf muscle messed up, we decided not to have him carrying huge tubs up and down the stairs (they're still too huge for me), so we left the tree up for awhile longer.
I got to babysit Baby Benjamin for a few hours a couple different days last week. Yay! He is over 9 lbs now and is getting those delicious baby rolls here and there, starting with a chubber little double-chin. (He takes after his auntie.) :)
Then our old fridge out in the garage died. So we had to buy a new one. But we got the new one for the kitchen and the one that's in the kitchen now will move to the garage and they'll haul the old one from the garage off. Besides moving the good fridge to the garage at some point, we still need to take the Christmas tree down, but Bart's calf muscle is still messed up (and the tubs are still too huge for me to haul up and down the stairs), so we still need to take the tree down. And move a refrigerator. Thankfully the new fridge isn't coming for a couple weeks yet so we have time to get it all moved before then. (And certainly, lest you worry, we have plenty of people we can call to help move a fridge if Bart's leg isn't healed up by then.) But for now, the fridge isn't moved and the tree is still up. Along with all the rest of the Christmas decorations all over the house. It's quite festive here. You should pop over for a visit. *wink*
It also looks like I've developed a severe gluten intolerance over the last few years, that we've only just been figuring out in the last several months. So that has been a huge adjustment, learning what I can and can't eat. And if you've been around here for very long, you know that we're sort of foodies. :) Having certain things that I can't eat has been no fun whatsoever and eating out can be quite the challenge. But the good news is that there is still lots that I CAN eat...it's been a major adjustment though, to say the least. Saying goodbye to flavored coffees at Starbucks was just one of many little (BIG) adjustments this winter. No more peppermint mocha for me. Who knew their flavored coffees have gluten in them! Sad. Anyhooo...
And Windsor. Let's talk about Windsor, shall we? I told you some months back that he'd been diagnosed with mild hip dysplasia, so we quit taking him to the dog park every day because he wants to wrestle with any dog that will wrestle with him, and that puts his hips in danger. So instead, we walk around the neighborhood each day and maybe even on the woodsy trail if he's a good boy. ;) As it is, his hips pop/click with most steps, though that's been decreasing as we've had him on glucosamine to help with his joints. Otherwise, he's on pain meds twice a day to help keep him comfortable so if you didn't know he had a hip condition, you'd never know it just to look at him. He's happy as a clam! He's also maturing quite a bit and becoming much less rambunctious and much more sweet and lovey-dovey. It's pretty cute. He's also FINALLY becoming trust-worthy enough that I can leave him upstairs and can go downstairs to work out on the elliptical every day, without worrying that he'll eat something while I'm downstairs! He just lays on the kitchen floor waiting for me to come back! Sweet boy! And can I also just say that it feels so good to get back on the elliptical?!! I don't love working out at all! But I do love feeling good and getting back in better shape.....and I love reading on the Kindle while I'm on the elliptical! Haha! (Remember when I used to have to hold the book open with one hand while ellipticaling with the other and then I'd switch when I had to turn a page?!) LOL.
On top of all of that, of course, is work. Work is good! I'm looking forward to 2013 with great anticipation, it's going to be a fun year around here, I think!
All of that is just to say that if it seems like I've been a bit less chatty than normal in recent months, it's with good reason. Things have just been a bit hectic. Certainly more so in the last few weeks, with all the randomness happening. But hopefully things will start to settle down again soon. I admit that I've been enjoying having Bartley home every evening during these cold winter nights when he'd normally be gone reffing games! We build fires and enjoy the cozy togetherness. Windsor couldn't be happier about this latest development, except that he's not too sure about the {scary} crutches. Those, he could do without! Haha!
We all go through seasons, don't we? It feels like Bartley and I have had our fair share of junk to deal with lately and yet I am fully aware that all of this 'junk' is NOTHING compared to what some go through on a daily basis. I'm also really thankful for Bible verses like these two that I stumbled across on the same day last week:
Romans 5:3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
(Notice it says trials of MANY kinds??? That's certainly been us lately! Ha!)
If you are struggling with some trials of your own, please be encouraged. Know that you are not alone in the crud that you're facing. We all have crud to deal with from time to time. I for one, am learning to "consider it pure joy".....I'm trying to be better about rejoicing in the midst of crud. :)
Bartley goes to the physical therapist today for an evaluation to see when he can start PT and how long he'll have to go to PT before he can get back to reffing. We're praying it'll only be another week or so, but we'll see.
And I've decided that leaving the Christmas tree up a super long time is actually a good thing. See, normally I'm always so sad when we take it down right around the new year. But this way, I'll be so ready to take it down that I won't be sad for a second when it's gone!! ....there's always a bright side.
Hope you have a wonderful day, dear friends. I'll be back with some fun projects from Studio Calico and Papertrey in the next few days! Thanks for listening. I realize you don't come here to read about crud. We've all got our own junk to deal with and you certainly don't need to read about mine. But I also believe in being real and honest and well......this is what's been going on lately and friends share their hearts with each other. They also share all the random crud they're dealing with and so I thought you might want to know what's up with us. I appreciate you being here. Can I warm up your coffee? It's gluten free! :)
much love,
