And, the busyness continues!

Hi everyone!

After being gone weekend before last (President's weekend) for the Stone Mountain/Snow Mountain trip, we headed out of town last weekend as well.

Michael graduated from high school in 1986; and the only reunion that the class had thus far was the 5 year. The officers of his class are bound and determined to make the 25 year (which will be 2011) reunion one worth waiting for. Enter Facebook -- and the success of locating a lot of the classmates. That led to the gathering that was last weekend. It ended up being 12 classmates that showed up...but the goal of that meeting was to schedule future meetings to actually organize and plan the big 25 party. They're attempting to work on getting email/phone number lists for the people that have been unsuccessfully found before now. The class was around 120 I think, so even though it's relative a small group, I think they've only located around 50 thus far, so a daunting task of finding the other 70 or so lies ahead of the group.

Anway, we headed to Michael's hometown last Friday, and spent the night with one of his classmates. On Saturday, we spent catching up with old friends. Saturday night we had a dinner meeting to discuss what those future plans consist of. We will meet at least twice a year each year prior to the reunion in 2011. I graduated the year after Michael, but I did not know most of his classmates, because my family had just moved into town prior to the fall of my senior year. It was neat meeting some for the first time, and certainly nicer to see some of them again after 23 years. I'm looking forward to helping Michael plan this event. I think it will be a great thing!

This Saturday, a co-worker and I are running in a 1 mile fun run...not really a race, but an event to raise money for heart disease awareness. She and I are also involved in an office Biggest Loser contest. She and I are teammates, and there are 2 other teams that we are competing against. Right now, we are in 2nd place. We've been working out together pretty consistently 3 to 5 days a week now for over a month. She's getting ready to go to Las Vegas for a girls weekend (April 23 -26), and I've got our 20th anniversary cruise to Cozumel, Mexico coming up (April 25 - 30), so we both have a goal that we're shooting for. Wish us luck. The contest actually ends on my 40th (OMG!) birthday, which is April 17th.

In case some of my readers (do I still have any out there?) aren't on facebook, I'll take this opportunity to mention that Michael's leg surgery has finally been scheduled, and will happen next Wednesday, March 4. Hopefully once he's fully recovered, and we return from our trip he will go full speed ahead into looking for a more stable job, one that has even a hint of benefits. Yes, we are thankful for the one that he has, but we both think that the time has passed for being happy at his current job.

Time away for bliss and fun

This week sure went by quickly, did it not? No matter to me, really; I'm actually elated about the upcoming fun, and time away our family has planned for this weekend.

Both Aaron and Zack are members of a youth fraternity called DeMolay International, a Masonic-sponsored organization. Michael is one of the chapter's Advisors. Tomorrow night is their Valentine's Dance, and all members and advisors are "encouraged" to attend. So Michael and I will be two of several chaperones at the event. I think they'll have a good time (and us too, I suppose). :) It's a dress up affair, therefore I hope to get some pictures to post.

On Sunday, the four of us are going up to Atlanta to spend the night here: http://www.stonemountainpark.com/lodging-camping/hotels.aspx for an afternoon and evening of relaxation. They have an indoor pool and even a spa for us to use. Monday we are going over to Stone Mountain Park, which is just 5 minutes away from the hotel. In the park they have an area where we can have lots more fun. Looking at this link, http://festivals.stonemountainpark.com/mini-section/default.aspx?season=christmas&id=113, will give you an idea of our plans. We have never been snow skiing, and I know it's far from the luxury of that, but it will be the next best thing (and lots cheaper!).

Robbie is back at home and doing wonderfully, much better than what the doctor anticipated for her. They were able to burn off the tumors that were on her liver. For now her liver is cancer free. I say *for now* because she is at very high risk for the cancer to return, considering that this is the 2nd time already that her liver has been plagued with the disease. The last time they removed 40% of her liver (do you remember that?) Also, we hope to get results of Michael's biopsy next Tuesday, when his next appt. is scheduled. I'll keep you posted.

I look forward for this family getaway. I'm pretty sure we all do. We have been through the ringer lately, and need some time away desparately. I'll *see* you guys on the flip side.

Happy Valentine's Day! Show your loved ones that you care, not just tomorrow, but every day!

A new look!

You notice anything different? Of course you do (that is if anyone is still checking in on me here). I can't take the credit for it though. Jennisa at http://onceuponablog.org designed it. Didn't she do an awesome job? And in my opinion, she is VERY reasonable for all of her services. If you're looking for an overhaul (like I was) or just need some ideas, go check out her website. I know you won't be disappointed in what you find.

Has it really been since Christmas Eve that I put a new post here? That's pretty pathetic, I guess. Amazing how time flies, right?

Here we are in the middle of February, and I've got nothin'! Well not really...a lot has been happening, but most of you I've kept up to date via text messages and/or emails.

We're still waiting on Michael's biopsy results from last week. He's got a follow up the middle of next week to get final answers (we hope it's a final one anyway - we've certainly been waiting long enough). I pray that the answers come quickly and whatever is going on can be fixed just as quickly.

Graduation time for Zack is rapidly approaching. We've got the invitations, cap and gown, and senior portraits ordered. We've got the ads complete that will go in his school yearbook (you know the ones where you send in "that was then, look at him now" photos. He's staying busy as always, with debate and his many clubs. As a matter of fact, next week is the Beta club convention held in Atlanta. He has made it to the Nationals again in Debate, and will be going to Albany, NY with 3 other teammates near the end of May (well, if they can get enough funds raised -- apparently the program is pretty tapped out this year, though I'm not surprised with everything else happening in the economy these days!). He has been invited to read an essay that he wrote for a scholarship competition. He'll be reading it at the county Republican convention meeting, and will possibly go on to read it at the district and state levels as well. Time is passing by at rapid pace. We've got his enrollment and housing deposit sent in for his dorm next fall. Even though he will be awarded $27,000 annually in scholarships in tuition money (we're still lacking just under $2,000 a year for total amount of tuition), none of that includes room and board, so he has continued to follow through with filling out and competing for additional monies. Too many to count really. We should find out something no later than May 1 for most of them, with some of them promising notification by April 10th. We'll continue to keep our hopes up, and pray that he'll be awarded quite a bit more, so that he won't have to apply for much student loans.

Aaron's soccer season will begin in the next couple of weeks, which means our life will begin to get a bit more hectic soon with practices, and soon to follow with games beginning.

We are going on a cruise! Our 20th anniversary is March 25, and we have booked our trip for April 25, an all inclusive 5 night cruise from Mobile, AL to Cozumel, Mexico. We're trying not to think too much about the "what-ifs" in our life right now that could throw a big wrench in our plans.