Reflections

I am sitting here at my Dad's house watching the time tick away until I can officially 'check in' for my flight home tomorrow. I miss desperately the arms and presence of my best friend...my hubby. I miss the giggles, hugs and "I love you mommy" from my 5 darlings. I am ready to be home!

I also am sitting and reflect on the past week. I came into town on a gorgeous, clear night and the next 3 days certainly did not disappoint. My brother jokes that it is always raining here but every time I have come it is always sunny. Then, on Saturday night it started to snow...and I loved it! This desert rat is a sucker for all things 'winter' and this included SNOW! Sunday morning I woke up to about an inch on the ground that actually stuck and another inch arrived in the next hour. Then, by afternoon most of it melted off, the roads were perfectly clear and again I thought this is perfect. I little bit of snow to melt my heart but not enough to keep me from every day life. I wonder if I could get used to this?? It is snowing again...and it is beautiful. It is so quiet and everything is blanketed. It leaves me at a loss of words and I am mesmerized by it falling. (And then I checked the weather and now I am just hoping I can got home tomorrow.)

Another funny thing... I consider myself pretty good at getting around. I had my gps but it wasn't until today that I finally feel really good about getting around Olympia. I wonder if the gps is a tool or a crutch. Have I relied to much on it and have gotten over the fact that I need to pay attention to where I am and make mental notes...probably. Sometimes I wonder if technology is a curse or a blessing...are we getting dumber because of it. Anyway, Olympia and their streets are not the grid I am used to home but the streets are lined with huge, tall evergreens and it feels like I am in the woods all the time. Not to mention my dad's house is very close to the water of the Sound.

A few things I just had to laugh at...I drove past a storage place and they advertised "Heated Storage" Units!! HAHAHAHAH....seriously, I caught myself laughing out load at that one. We have A/C cooled units in AZ and it is just so funny to me that a 3hr plane ride and I am in the land of opposites. I should have taken a picture. (Still laughing about that one!)

I got a huge opportunity to read, read, and read some more. I never thought I was a reader...I was never too fond of it but actually I think I love reading. I just never have the time to read like I have this past week. I managed to read the whole "Hunger Games" trilogy and now have to wait to see it on a movie in March....ahhhhh, so exciting! They were the prefect, keep me up way to late kind of books that I needed during all this down time. I was also perplexed at how emotional I found the books. I know I can be a sap and when I watch a movie or in this case invest myself completely into a book I fall in love with the characters and become emotionally attached. I guess those books are geared for young adults but I found them to be great stories. I hope I can get Shane to read them..and someday Jacob.

I guess that is about it for now. There is so much I have to say about this trip..about seeing my Dad after surgery...about being away from my kids and husband for so long, but that will have to wait for another day. I did take some pictures and will post them when I am home, hugged to death by my lovies and thrust back into  Mommy world.

Thanks to all who have prayed. My Dad is doing well...a few small complications that have kept in the hospital until after I head home but I know God is taking good care of him.