Celebrate Good Times!

We arrived at Minnesota Mom and Dad's Saturday evening for dinner. It was hard not to reveal the "evening's happenings" to Minnesota Mom---especially since she's sad that we are leaving. Sue gave a call to say she was about 20 minutes out of Marshall though, and so we arrived just a bit beforehand. Just as we sat down, the doorbell rang and everyone looked to Diane to go and answer it. Who could it be?

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!", cried 4 little grandchildren, Sue and Tom! She really didn't expect it! And indeed it worked to bring a real smile to her face. Dave, with Sue's help, masterminded the whole thing. He did a GRAND job...planning a pizza feast and even cake! We even celebrated my birthday and Taylor's birthday---all the February Taylor birthday's together. I was missing a little family celebration myself----and was feeling a bit sorry for myself too. Even my mood changed.

The highlight of my evening? Well, there were a few...but I have to admit that playing "crazy 8's" and "Old Maid" with Livvy-Lou on my lap was pretty special. Plus we won! (Livvy wanted to keep the Old Maid---so even though we got stuck with it, we won the game!). Our wedding furniture looks lovely in Diane's livingroom---it is nice to know it has a good home. And we played a "word-game" of sorts...kinda like a hot potato game where you have to guess a word with a buzzing machine in your hands. Girl's against Boys---Girl's won!

I've been feeling a bit sad and out of sorts and overwhelmed with all the future plans---like we tried something here and failed---and let folks down. Isn't that weird? Here we are facing a career of a lifetime, something that I couldn't have written for myself any better, something that works for both of us---so why feel anything but thrilled? Who knows? It's always been a comfort, as I've taken risks, to know that I could always go "home". Even coming here to Marshall had comfort in that we were in Mike's hometown. So it was less scary.

But this new adventure is new territory for both of us. The comfort being that we *are* each other's home now. We are what we've got to rely and count on for the comfort of being at home. I guess the *we* part is really sinking in now. It's no longer an "I" or "me", but rather it's a "we" and "us". And I guess the being on our own is sinking in...sounds like growing up all over again.

Packing is a pain. I've become such a regular at The Good Will that they recognize me when I drive up. And we've still got too much stuff. I'm doing my best to enjoy the last couple of weeks though. Sydney and I spent the weekend at Camden. She knows something's up---sniffing around to make sure her bags are packed. She isn't aware that she'll be seeing the vet this week---she's due for shots and we might as well get them done before we go. One less thing to do. I can't believe I am moving to Massachusetts. Lots of US History involved moving to such an "old" state.

Happy Monday!