I almost can't bring myself to type those words yet again.  Seems like it has been awhile since I last posted.  It doesn't just seem like it has been a long while.  So long in fact I almost decided to give up blogging.  I love to blog.  I love getting my thoughts out, sharing with others, thinking through my fingers, getting my fix of words in a day out even if it is by keyboard, and I do like to write...period.  But since I can't seem to sit down and blog I almost decided that perhaps it was time for me to close the book on blogging.  But with the encouragement of my most awesome hubby here I am again.

I think my DH is most awesome because my blogging and writing occasionally might encroach on our time together in the evenings yet he knows how much I like to write.  So he selflessly offers me that time....Sometimes.  I don't like to take that time very often. I also appreciate his understanding in that some of my lost desire grew from this period of time we have been in.

My FIL(his Dad), passed away on Christmas Eve morning.  Pop had been very ill and in the hospital for almost 3 weeks before the Lord called him home.  He actually died from the same pneumonia that my own Dad died from.  That was hard for me personally but, as Rick Warren says, "It isn't about me."  I did not go into the ICU to see him.  The memories of seeing my Dad so ill and on the ventilator and all are still too fresh even 25 years later.  Even though I was a critical care nurse for years those weren't memories I cared to have of my FIL.  Pop was a really awesome man and I wanted those memories of him.  Plus my visits to the hospital were really to support my DH and my MIL.

I am thankful that DS is old enough to have good memories of his Papa.  Pop always talked with DS and always took time with him.  DS will miss him greatly.  He was the only Papa he had.  I will miss Pop because he always loved to talk with me about homeschooling.  Pop, like my Dad, was a music teacher, and had higher degrees in Education.  Yet he always supported our decision to homeschool.  Pop also had this knack for making each DIL feel special to him anyway. 

But our grief is for our own loss.  Pop received the ultimate Christmas gift this year.  How could we possibly want him back in his old broken body anyway?  We do not grieve as those who have no hope and we will see Pop again.  DS says he believes his Papa and Papa Tom are playing their trumpets together in heaven with the angels.  I agree.  I can see that.  In fact knowing those two are together in heaven is a nice vision yet I am worried about the angels having to listen to all the really corny band director jokes DH and myself had to listen to growing up!

So I will be back and with a renewed hope of blogging more.  I do have some more to share especially of some things we have done recently.  So stayed tuned.  Blessings to you all and Happy New Year.  Only 21 days late....