I’ve been away for a while. Don’t feel bad if you didn’t notice. I realize this is a very busy time of year and my little post isn’t exactly the most exciting thing on the web. Anyway, I’m back at work now and promise you a weekly post that is positive, uplifting, and I hope entertaining.

Craig and I left on a cruise the day after Thanksgiving. We purchased the cruise ten months ahead of our sail date, so it seemed like we had plenty of time to get ready. But as always happens it became crunch time as the time approached. We had gathered everything we needed. Our clothes were hanging in the closet, ready to pack.  The week before Thanksgiving, my brother, Rick, came to visit.  It was great to see him and we enjoyed showing him around. After he left, we had two days to get everything into suitcases. Next, I had to prepare Thanksgiving for the thirteen guests who were coming to our house.

It was a lovely Thanksgiving, but as soon as our guests departed, we were faced with the last minute details that always take longer than you expect. Finally, Friday morning (Black Friday for the rest of you.)  arrived and we set out on our drive to Los Angeles. Our fifteen-day cruise to Hawaii was as wonderful as we expected. The ship was decorated for Christmas and so was Hawaii. Poinsettias grow outdoors there and they are so lush and beautiful compared to the scrawny ones we have as house plants.

We did manage to buy many of our Christmas gifts on the ship or in the ports we visited,  so it seemed like we were ready for Christmas. The weather in Hawaii was great–no rain and temperatures in the 70s. Even Los Angeles was a balmy 67 degrees when we returned. Imagine our shock when we got home to freezing cold temperatures and snow. All of a sudden, we were thrown into Christmas and realized how far behind we really were.  Our house was still decorated for fall.

After two days of running the washer and dryer nonstop, we got busy making our house look like Christmas. I managed to get our Christmas cards mailed on Christmas Eve, and I did my Christmas baking after Christmas, but we did manage to get it all done.

So now I’m looking forward to 2016, with hopes for an even better year. I plan to get to work finishing book four, which is long overdue. I hope you will find the time to drop buy now and then to read my little blog. I would love it if you left a comment to tell me how I’m doing. Wishing you all a very happy New Year!