Embarrassed!

Wow! I was just looking at my friend Lorrie's blog and saw that it had been well over 6mos since I had posted. Unbelievable how time flies when you're having fun....or not. This has been a really strange year for me for some reason. Good in many ways but just strange. Let's start with the good stuff:

~As I wrote in the previous post, Mike and I are going on this fabulous river cruise in the South of France in October. Since we planned it so early in the year, by this time it seemed unreal. But that has changed! We got our flight info the other day in the mail! We actually have flights now! So the reality has returned as well as the excitement.

~There have been a few trips this year. Went to San Antonio at the end of January (I think!) and as always it was great. Then went to Florida to spend time with Sis while her hubby had his knee replacement surgery. It was nice to be away from the incredible snow that we were having in WV. On a side note, as much as I hate winter, Mike brought home a pair of snow shoes for me to try out. I realize that I need to learn to like winter by participating in some form of outdoor activity. Since any form of skiing scares me to death, the snow shoes were a perfect fit. I really enjoyed them. So that will be my request for a Christmas present this year. Mike has taken his usual whitewater, hiking, camping trips which are a balm for his weary soul. (he works for the USPS...enough said! Anything to keep him from going "Postal"!)

We did take a trip together to TX this July when Mike's father passed away. Russ had been battling multiple myeloma for quite some time and while having a hospital procedure, he experienced cardiac arrest. He was revived and placed on a ventilator but those were not his wishes. He passed peacefully. Though it was a sad occasion to get together, it was quite a blessing to bring ALL the Swope kids together (with the exception of Linda Garvey who has passed away and the youngest, Michelle, who is estranged from the family) The "reunion/funeral" took place in Allen TX, just a little northeast of Dallas. My son lives in San Antonio, 4 hrs away. So don't you know, he was in Colorado visiting his wife at Young Life Camp during our stay there!

~Speaking of my daughter-in-law, Annie. I just have to mention how blessed I am that she came into my son's life and how amazed I am to see all the work she does to reach kids for Christ! Thanks You Annie!! I love you!

~I did find an awesome Bible study this year and have been so blessed by the women involved and all that I'm learning. I also reunited with an old friend from the early days at Chestnut Ridge Church...Daphne King AND started an accountability time with my friend and home group participant Chris Lentz. God is working wonders in the are of growth in His Word and friendships!

~Last summer I was all gung ho with training for the 5K. This year has been quite a challenge physically. Although I am basically very healthy, a few years ago I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, a disease that affects the nerves in all the connective tissue of the body. It causes all sorts of weird symptoms (too numerous to mention), but basically I had been affected by minimal symptoms until the winter hit. The cold weather brought on a plethora of symptoms that began to rage in my body. I have a lot of stiffness and pain, pain, pain. The BEST thing to do for this is to exercise. And that has been a challenge. And on top of that, I gained 30lbs of weight that doesn't seem to want to come off no matter what I do! One side effect of the medicine that I take is "weight gain" and although I started this med after I gained the weight, I think it is keeping me from losing it! So I plug along at work outs. I do walk 2 times a week with some friends and then try to do stuff with Mike or on my own the rest of the time. One day a week is taken up by mowing. Our almost acre of property takes a lot of attention and thank God I am able to do a lot of the yard work.

One joy from all my gardening efforts has been my flower gardens. After several years of TLC, I have enjoyed the fruit of my labor. I posted a lot of pictures on Facebook this year for the enjoyment of all!

~This coming weekend, Mike and I are traveling to Falls View WV for the Mays family reunion. This is the family of my ex-husband, Bob. Walt and Annie will be there. Although it may be strange to others that I would attend (and Mike!), I have managed to maintain a good relationship with them as well as with Bob, so am looking forward to this special time to catch up with them....Plus the fact that my son will be there is a good incentive.

Thanks for checking in with my ramblings. As I said, it's been a strange year, but as I look back through this post, I see a LOT of good things. I'll try to keep up!

My current memory verse is Psalm 27:13,14 "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord! Be strong and let your heart take courage! Yes, wait on the Lord". That says a LOT about my year.