I am in tears as I write this and I don't quite know if it is the holidays getting the best of me or just shear joy...Carli's chest xray was clear and her blood count was back to normal! Dr. STallings took her off of her iron pills for now and said that he doesn't think that she will need another chest scan of any kind until June!! And then he thinks he will just do a Chest X-ray and not a CT scan. She was so happy when she called. She absolutely hates the CT scans because of the prep that she has to drink (the "nasty"), so every time that she doesn't have to drink that stuff she is so thankful.

I am so thankful for continued healing for her so that she can continue to get on with a normal 24 year old life. She is now on break from school and said that she was going to spend the rest of the day cleaning b/c their apartment is a disaster! Studying, finals and Jeremy being gone on the road has taken it's toll. Then this weekend she is going to Washington, DC to visit Rachel, and then next week to Michigan for Christmas...she really doesn't have time to deal with any type of illness :) Praise God that she doesn't have to :)

Kelsie is upstairs still trying to unpack and figure out where to put/store things. Quite a task with limited space. And trying to get ready to move back to GCC. She had a great time visiting last week.

Tara and Todd were home over the weekend and all of us, Todd, Tara, Carli, Jeremy, Kelsie, Ted and I went out to dinner Saturday night and then to see the musical "Wicked". We had so much fun! We count every time that all of us are together such a blessing. It was so fun to be crammed in the van, laughing and talking the whole way to and from Cleveland.

Sunday was spent going to church, going to lunch with Carli and Jeremy and then caroling with a fun group from our church. We had 4 year old twins with pink guitars, two ukeleles, guitar, rhythm instruments and lots of willing voices singing to folks from our church and to folks at Glendora Nursing home. We even sang a Hawaiin Christmas song! It was weird to be at Glendora knowing that is where my Dad was supposed to be. But, he is having a much better Christmas in heaven!

Then everyone came back to our house for sloppy joes and hot chocolate. It just is so fun to have families and those of us whose kids are grown coming together and sharing something as simple as caroling. We are so blessed!

Kelsie is home...and isn't feeling well today. I think that it's just a bad cold. I hope that's all it is! She has been pretty good at adjusting, better than I thought. She really liked it in Florence, and misses her friends. They are so fortunate to have Facebook, email, texting, etc. They can stay connected so much better than in the "olden" days.

She was, however, checking flight prices to Florence already today! I told her when she is gainfully employed and can afford it, she is welcome to return. But not on my dollar !! This past semester cost enough!

She is talking little by little about her experiences. I'm sure that she is a changed person after all she did. How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm??? (or even in Ohio?)

Other exciting news...Tara and Todd are "80%" sure that it's a girl!! Mighty exciting considering there haven't been any girls in Todd's family in a very long time. This is gonna be fun...

Carli has an appointment with Dr. Stallings on the 15th...prayers, please. She has finals this week, and finishes for the semester on Thursday, her birthday.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Cannot believe what all has happened since my last entry. The best part is...we are going to be grandparents!!!! Tara and Todd are expecting on April 16. They are so cute, Tara just felt the baby move, and in a few weeks they are going to find out the sex of the baby. Ted and I as grandparents...whew...it is just hard to fathom...but so exciting.

We have also travelled to Italy to visit Kelsie. Tara, Ted and I spent 10 days traveling to Florence, Rome, and Pisa. We had a great time, saw many interesting things, met Kelsie's friends and saw her apartment and school, met Peter-the professor that she just loves, and walked and walked. It truly is a beautiful country with such deep history. I can't imagine being around buildings that are so beautiful and hundreds of years old every day. Kelsie just loves it, and I know that it will be hard for her to come home. I am thankful that it will be the holidays as it will be easier for her to be here. I think that it will be hard for her to go back to GCC as difficult as it is academically. She is really not looking forward to working so hard after actually getting enough sleep for a semester!!

She comes home on December 4. Pray for safe travels. She has travelled many places in Europe and I have marvelled at how brave she is. I wouldn't be that brave now! Ah, youth! I am sure that she has learned a lot and I am hoping that she can use what she has learned to God's glory.

Our remodeling project in our kitchen is almost complete...just need to touch up some paint and I think that we're about done. I love it. We wonder why we didn't do some of it 17 years ago when we built the house!!

Is so good to have 2 out of 3 girls home for Thanksgiving. Carli and Jeremy came home last night so they wouldn't have to get up so early for the service and sale at church this morning. It is always a good time seeing friends and family and bidding on goodies to help those in need. Then off to grandpa and grandma Gerber's for the traditional feast. It was very yummy and a little more fun this year with the addition of Amber's little girl Kenna.

Tomorrow will be the Kohler gathering here...all 34 of us. My sister-in-law has not been able to be here for Thanksgiving since 1972 as she is a nurse and has always had to work. We are so excited that she can be here! It is always a house full of kids, food and laughter. I especially miss my dad during these family times.......

Fun weekend with Tara and Todd, Carli and Jeremy, and of course, Ted. We went to Buck Creek State Park in Springfield, Ohio. We used to rent a cabin there when the girls were little...my sister Lori and her family, and friends Joan and Randy and family would go, too. We would take motor and sail boats, bikes, fans, toys,skiis, and lots of food and have a grand time. It's amazing how small the cabins look now that we are all adults!! We didn't take any boats or bikes or toys this time b/c the weather was the pits. BUT, we had a good time in spite of it. Gave us an excuse to be lazy and watch the Buckeyes, do some reading...we did get to build a fire and roast hotdogs, make S'mores...so the day wasn't a total bust. Sunday was nice, but chilly. We had a picnic and then had to venture home. Ashi stayed with Tara's dogs at their house...he was very tired when we got home! Coney and Katie just have too much energy for him! The dog sitter said that he was "neurotic"...I agree!

Awaiting news from Kelsie. She had terrible ear pain on the flight to Prague. Then her phone was stolen. That really makes a mom worry...she was traveling alone, and then to have no means of communication...can't wait to hear from her...hopefully later today.

I have started on medication for headaches...if it doesn't work, will have to have a CT or MRI to see if it's something more serious...please pray that it works! I have been having daily headaches that don't always go away with Exedrin...which in the past has been my life-saver. I have to think about my dad and he always said "this getting old isn't for sissies". I'm starting to think that I understand what he meant! Almost a year since he's gone...miss him so much.

Carli loves her new little puppy. Sounds like a good one, too. It's nice that she has company when Jeremy is gone. Now, if Molly could just help her study....!!!!

Susan's heart cath was clear...God is good!

I can't believe that it's been 3 weeks since I've posted...time is flying faster than ever.

Nice weekend with Jeremy's parents. His Dad made them a bookshelf out of some wood from my Dad's farm, and they brought it for the kids. They stayed here, we all went to church this morning, out to lunch at our favorite hole-in-the-wall Smiley's, a little more visiting...nice time. They are fun to be with.

Carli cracked me up this afternoon. She had signed up on the website "The Knot" while she was doing her wedding planning, now they are sending her the magazine "The Nest" since she's married...she said "Just so they don't start sending me 'The Bump'". I laughed so hard...I didn't even realize there was such a thing! What people don't think of...and to think that Kelsie is in marketing and might be thinking along those lines some day...

Please pray for Susan (my sister)...she is having a heart cath this week...I am praying that it will be OK, and that they can figure out the reason for her symptoms.

We are going to visit Kelsie in November!! Can't wait. I really miss her. I really wouldn't have seen her very often if she was at Grove City-I think part of the really missing her is d/t the fact that neither of us can just hop in the car for a visit or a dinner date. She is making plans for what she wants us to see in Florence and the surrounding countryside. Of course, we will need her to give us one of her famous tours of the Duomo!!

I think that she really loves it there. My fear is that she will want to stay...or move there some day. Oh well, you can't stop them from seeing the world! I hope that she is learning many things...good things...