JUDI DID NOT GET RUN OVER BY A REINDEER!!!!

I have hit a few detours but all is well....
Now, that I'm back.....fingers crossed that we can get on with December at Stories from the Road..... 

Time to deck the halls, shop and all that December jazz!! 

You know, life has a way of reminding me sometimes that I am not always in charge of how my time or my energy is spent. 
Let's start with where we left off....
-If you recall, I was heading into a weekend brimming with the excitement of a date night-- going to a new restaurant with some fun friends.  So, here we are at that wonderful restaurant overlooking our beautiful city..........

A great time was had by all......

-Within hours of that picture being taken--poor Carmen got very, very ill.  After a scarey few hours and a trip to the hospital, he was diagnosed with a pretty hefty strain of the flu and double pneumonia!  He was one very, very sick guy.  Needless to say, our home turned into Judiland Hospital with me as the head nurse.  I am not a nurse nor did I ever profess to be!  And, if truth be told--nursing is not my thing.  I am very impatient with illness.  Yet, somehow I became a nurse who had to develop patience.  There were moments when I am sure I could have been sued for malpractice or lose my nursing license.  But, I am happy to report that my husband and my marriage survived it all....

My recovering patient and me--his NURSE.... on Thanksgiving.....

-In the midst of Carmen's illness, my dear Uncle and Aunt needed my assistance.  My Uncle has been suffering with Alzheimer's for several years now and it was becoming obvious that the end was near.  With both of them being 93 and their children living out of town and me being incredibly close to them, I was called into service.  Thankfully,  they were blessed with the means to employ around-the-clock in-home care to attend to all of my Uncle's needs.  However, my Aunt was becoming increasingly anxious and in need of support and there were other issues that needed addressed during this difficult time.  So, I took on the role of making sure hospice was called in, directing all the comings and goings of the many medical team folks and making sure that my aunt was eating  properly and that there were friends or family with her throughout the day and evening when I couldn't be there.  
-Then came Thanksgiving.  House guests and cooking and more cooking and cleaning and more cleaning.  

Two of my Thanksgiving weekend houseguests---my Granddog Bandit and his friend from Denver--Breck

-Then, my dear Uncle Passed away......

This was the man we adored......

-And, you can probably guess the rest of the story.....with plans to be made, cousins coming in from around the country and everything else that goes with it.   Amid it all, we were reminded how blessed we all are to have  each other.  We come together in happy and sad times and share the gift of family.  Although the years go by and we all scatter....we are family.  

-And, now, I shall take the weekend to regroup and hopefully hang some holly......

Counting my blessings as  I embark on December......