Updates, Surprises, Visits, and News

I lay here under my blankets, in my pj's early tonight, as I try to relax before going back to work tomorrow.  I have come to conclude that being in a calm place in life is priceless, and rare.  Then again, how much of it is our attitudes versus the circumstances....

I have not posted updates the last couple of weeks because my computer crashed.  Although that was an amazing week in that Caleb got home from the hospital, we kind of felt like there was a black cloud above us....we got home and got Caleb all situated, and then quickly realized he lost his wallet at the hospital (how did I think it was a good idea to give it to a man on drugs to keep track of?!?!).  The next day my computer crashed as I tried to write a blog.  Then three days after that, as I left to go to a women's night out with ladies from church (ie., first time I was able to be social with these ladies in forever!) my car stalled and the check engine light came on.  UGH! 

Well, I am thankful for an amazing and trustworthy mechanic, so my car is fixed.  We have replaced credit cards and have fraud alerts activated.  And the computer problem is being resolved, thanks to some amazing and generous loved ones in our life!  And, for now, I am borrowing my friend's extra laptop...

But the more exciting reason why I haven't updated is that Sheila, Caleb's mom, visited last week!!  It was so much fun having her here!!  The most special part about it was that we didn't tell Caleb that she was coming, and we pulled off the surprise perfectly!  :)

We just had such a great time with her here!  She just blessed us so much!!  First, she came bearing gifts (which we are sooo grateful for and feel so spoiled!).  But secondly, she served us so, so much!  She cooked and cleaned and...get this....she even cleaned my fridge!  I think that means we are officially family, haha!  We truly bonded for me to let her go near it to clean. lol! :) 

But my favorite part of the trip was introducing her to Bob's Red Mill headquarters and restaurant.  She might as well have been in a candy store, versus health food store! :)  And our breakfast there was sooo yummy!

The only downfall was that her trip came and went so fast.  I think we are all trying to make plans already for her and Bobby to come out this summer together.  It will be fun to show them Portland, all of us together, when the sun is actually out and Caleb is able to get around a little easier! :)

Another big moment was yesterday when we finally got back to church, after being gone for over two months.  Caleb was even able to walk in!  And me, well, I cried the moment I walked in when Steph and Liz gave me a hug.  It was so good to be back and it meant so much considering all we had been through since the last time we were there.  But we have known all along that everybody there has been going through this along with us.  It was just great to be with them all...so special.

But now, tonight, it is just calm.  I think it is going to take a while for me to truly feel caught up from the events of the past couple months.  I seem to wake up feeling refreshed, but a few hours later, I am exhausted again.  So, sleep and coffee and a good book are my companions whenever possible these days. :)  So now....on to try to catch up for my book club.  I think I kind of got a little behind this last month...I am on page 19 of  279....