of trees and thoughts ..

most people who know rod and i, know we are living with my older sister and her husband. we are grateful for their generosity and i am grateful that i have this time to share with her.

last year, we were in houston and our job prevented us from spending thanksgiving or Christmas at home - though we did return home during december to have a family style Christmas. at least it felt like it was family style, even though we were surrounded by nurses and hushed quiet and machines that seemed to blink in rhythm to the Christmas carols that danced in our heads.

last year, my older sister almost died on several occasions and the year was a blur of hospitals and nursing homes - dealing with everything from comas to infections. it just didn't seem that it would get better. however, we kept Praying and believing that there was no other solution than she would improve and come home.

and she did. 8 months later.

sometimes life gets going so fast that we forget why things are as they are.

i don't know why the universe has chosen to place us where we are at this time. i am just trying to put one foot in front of the other and believing and trusting and doing my best to make a contribution.

so, i took a moment this weekend and gave thanks. there is so much in my life for which to be thankful. rod. my family. my health. my family's health. ..

we call my older sister, Sister. Sister she has always been and Sister she will always be. to the nieces and nephews, she is aunt Sister.

between family, we refer to the last year as when 'Sister was sleeping'.

friday, i put up the Christmas tree for Sister and decorated it.