Home Sweet Home

So after packing up everything we own, a couch being broken (and later replaced) by the movers as it was hoisted up over our balcony, all but one of our fish passed away (bless their hearts), and a few other heart-clenchers of this past week, J and I made it into our new home. So far so good. We love it. We're pretty sure it loves us, too, because it's cuter than ever. The dogs are happy (albeit Leo is still getting used to things. Translation: he barks at things) and they love the balcony, as do we. We worked our tails off this past week trying to get as much nesting in as possible.

Have to admit, it was hard to get myself up at 4AM yesterday for a week away from everything that's consumed my thoughts for the past month or so. I only had to endure a delayed flight from Detroit to Minneapolis which consequently made me miss my Minneapolis to KC flight, which landed me in the Breadbasket at 5pm vice noon thirty. But I was unscathed and luckily, taught well by my father, with luggage in hand since you'd be hard-pressed to catch me checking luggage. Even for a week's stay.

My parents picked me up swiftly, since they had an inkling I might go into shock since it was a crisp 7 degrees here, a sharp contrast from Virginia's 63. Whoa. But they brought me home, fed me, gave me wine, I romped about with Ruby (romp is a funny word, perhaps trampled-on is better--this is the biggest golden I've ever seen!), and watched some hi-def "Cold Case" by the fire with my mom and dad. Bliss. This is what it's like being home for me. Relaxation at its best. Snuggled up inside a warm house, resting above a snow-covered field (J, the back 40 is breath-taking), with my blanket-brandishing father always ready to cover me up, knowing I'm never too far from a nap.

My mother just ran over to Betty Nell's house to take her trash out for trash day tomorrow. The fact that my mother is basically a care-giver to her sickly little old widow friend amazes me every day. My mom is such an amazing woman who gets far too little credit for her enormous heart. We're running around today to help finish her Christmas shopping, and then later my sis and my g-ma are coming over for dinner.

I'll get to see my girls later this week/weekend, but for now, it's about spending time with my family. People who I didn't get to spend much quality time with over my summer trip. Sitting around, possibly playing a game of Mexican Train Dominoes, catching up, and reminiscing. As Ruby snoozes at my feet, I think I can hear my mom pulling into the garage. Off we go.