still here

Perhaps it's bad form to write about a medical emergency and then have radio silence for 13 days. Not to worry - I'm alive and well. Almost well. I still can't lift heavy objects, or speed-walk (which I realized going to the bus stop this morning for my first commute to work since surgery).

The real reason for not posting is that I've been with family for the last week for Christmas. For me, time stops when I'm on vacation. My phone is usually off or completely unattended to. I don't check email. Days of the week lose all meaning. This year, my family's Christmas was a wonderful cacophony of hazardous roads, crackling fireplaces, giggling babies, fragile aunts, 6 varieties of cookie, the zoo, sledding, and Rock Band.

I think my favorite part was when Dad announced that we would hold our own Christmas devotional the Sunday before Christmas because our congregation's meeting was canceled due to inclement weather. He taped a list of our assignments, neatly written on a yellow sheet of notepad paper, to the television in the living room. We all followed through, which is probably something our parents could only dream of us doing 15 years ago.



This photo is for all you sissies in SE Michigan who thought last week was cold and snowy. Welcome to Green Bay. We didn't see the sun for 8 days. My sister-in-law Rachel is in the background, cruising the neighborhood. Sarah is conveniently placed to show you how tall the snow piles are. Notice how in the far background, the snow drifts are up to the windowsills of the houses.