Back from the dead?

Not sure how many of you will be reading this since I have been gone for so long! I recently received a few emails from some "old" members asking how I was, saying that they continue to check my blog to see if I have updated or even just to say "hi" and it really made me feel good to think that I was missed! So, I thought that I would pop in, say hi and let you know how I was doing and to say thank you to all of you that have kept me in your thoughts and prayers!

Really not much has changed. Still in pain although it does seem to be a little better in some areas and worse in others. I did not have the surgery on my back since they could not guarantee me that it would really help so I thought, "Why put myself through all that and not receive any benefit or, even be worse off than I already am?" Most days I just plug along and to be honest, the pain is far out-weighed by the lack of energy. My family has gotten quite used to having to wake me up to tell me to go to bed because it seems like if I sit down, the eyes close! There must be a direct link between my butt and my eyelids!

The family is doing well now. We did go through a very rough patch with my son and I would like to say that he learned from it but I am afraid that he did not. He is back living here at home and although I love him dearly I am not sure that out weighs the mess that it has caused!! I had gotten the house pretty much all in order and had the cleaning down to a manageable routine and now that is all shot to hell. I am sure that he will be moving out somewhere in the not too distant future so for now...I will deal with it and try to focus on the blessings of having him here.

My daughter has moved to Massachusetts (because of her fiance's relocation) and it about broke my heart. Although she is only 2 1/2 hours away it is too far for me to drive by myself so I can't just hop in the car and see her as often as I would like. Even driving up there with Joe does a number on me with the vibrations of the car/truck. Last Christmas started a whirlwind of activity here with my son moving home, her moving to Massachusetts and her getting engaged! It all happened in one month and all around Christmas so hectic became a lifestyle for about 2 months until everyone was settled! She and Jeff found a great house and although they moved in in January, unfortunately her job was still down here. The company allowed her to telecommute for part of the week and then she would stay here when she actually had to be in the office. She finally got transferred up there last month, thankfully because the amount of driving she was doing and the confusion it was causing her with her schooling was really taking its toll on her...can we say "_itchy"? She was exhausted and frustrated and just wanted not to be living out of a suitcase and be able to actually enjoy her first home. Now they are busy doing some redecorating and is much more calm and, yes, pleasant! We are starting to plan in earnest for the wedding which will be in September and I am so excited but we can talk more about that later!!

Joe and I are fine except he is working too hard and that makes for long lonely days for me but I really should not complain since with this economy we are very lucky that his business is still doing well. Being a self employed painter/contractor for the most part has not been too profitable for most people but he has managed to keep busy and find new jobs. My Mom is still kicking and, really, does better than me most of the time!

As for designing...I started to play around again but really haven't done too much. I lost quite a lot of my own design resources so it means designing from scratch every time I want to do something. I had so much that I had scanned and extracted, lace and bows and such that it seems overwhelming to have to do it all over again especially with the set up that I have.
But, we are in the middle of turning my daughter's room into MY craft room with a big desk so that hopefully it will be more convenient to do stuff. I think you guys would be surprised if you could have seen how I had to work before...in a little corner desk set up with a broken keyboard shelf! I might as well kept my keyboard on my lap! And the angles of everything really would do a number on my neck! Hopefully, with the new set-up I can be more comfortable. have my printer/scanner right at arm's length away and finally get organized!

But, I have done something and I thought I would share it with you all. It is small... an alpha. I got the idea from something I saw on Pinterest. Oh, have you been bitten by that little addiction yet? What a great idea but oh, so addicting! My daughter and I signed up so we could exchange ideas that we saw for the wedding and now I have a list of "when I have the time" projects that would take me until I am 160!

So, here we go... I hope you enjoy! And again, thank you for those that have sent me notes over the past year and a half! I always said that I had the best members/friends that a blogger could have and you continue to prove me right!

This is for Commercial Use...you can re-color to your heart's content! Please read the new TOU and leave me a comment, okay?

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Hopefully it will not be another couple of years before you hear from me again!