Hey, where ya been???

I think it's more like where have I been??? Well, first there was a birthday party, (Jesus's) to attend, dinners to make, family to spend time with and then we have good ole' Michigan weather. Ya, all happening in a matter of 3-4 days. Oh yeah, add a day or two of work in the mix and I'm sure just like all the rest of you it's been a little busy.. Ya??

It was a great Christmas this year, I got to cook a big meal. Something I love to do but seldom have the chance or time. We had a dinner party of six at our house on Christmas day, not to many and just the right mix so we can all enjoy conversation and food. My adult grand daughter visited later in the day and came sporting a diamond so she is now officially engaged. Something that was not entirely a surprise but not really expected either.

Then on the evening of the 26Th we had all most but not entirely all of my husbands family. You see them in the picture. It was potluck for this gathering and more good food and fellowship was celebrated. We had grand kids, great grand kids, kids and their spouses, etc. and of course Mom in the center who enjoys it all at her very young age of 92.

Enter Michigan weather to the scene and now it gets complicated, we had freezing rain, mounds of snow about 11 inches I think, then temps climbing to the near 60 degree mark so now all the mounds of snow began melting, thunder storms with torrential rains, and flood warnings. Some where in there late Saturday night on the 27 Th we lost power and the phone lines. This has happened to us before so not to worry but no power all day Sunday, and by late afternoon Sweetman hauled out the generator to hook up the pump so we can have water. Still not to worry but as the evening wore on he decided to hook into the refrigerator to prevent food spoilage and a couple of lights. We did have a source of heat so that was not to much of an issue but most of the house was pretty cold, and I might add dark except where there was a small light or candle. Evening came early and we slept to the drone of the generator sitting outside the back door, not to mention the drone of our neighbors generator that was far noisier then our own.

I had to plan how to get ready for work at 5AM on Monday in the dark, not to mention getting my hair decent and some make up put on. We had extension cords running all over the house and for a few hours I felt like I was Laura Engels living in little house on the prairie. Its amazing how we are so dependent on electric and all the creature comforts like flipping a switch & light floods a room, or microwave popcorn that I so enjoy in the evenings. But thanks to Sweetmans yankee ingenuity, where with all and wisdom we stayed pretty comfortable. I'm so thankful for a warm home, and all the comforts we are blessed with. Many are still out of power and have gone into shelters or hotels to wait it out. It did make for a very different Christmas. I do hope you all enjoyed yours as much as I did mine.