I'm Alive...

Here I am, my first morning in TN, fighting with a laptop that has a key pad as opposed to a mouse but man it's great to be here. Everything went smoothly, got to show Mom and Dad the camp road on our way through the Plaster Rock, ran in to a little bit of snow and had some unnerving moments with Dad in the wrong lanes once we got to Presque Isle but eventually found the hotel room. If I see one more thing on CNN about those poor guys lost on Mt. Hood, I'm gonna scream. Gotta love the fear base in America.

All the connecting flights went amazingly well. We had about enough time to get to our next gate, plunk our butts down and then they boarded. Thank goodness there were no late flights even though the first flight was 10min. late leaving. He musta had a wicked tailwind as we made it up in the air. We even got to be on a final flight with a retiring pilot who had 40+ years and 25,000hrs. flight time. They came on the intercom forewarning us about our arrival that there'd be water bombers waiting for us and to not fear, there's no emergency, it's tradition to spray the plane with these things (glorified fire truck) of the retiree. I expected a smoother landing with all that experience. ;) This is the first time I've flown with anybody since I can't remember when and I'll tell ya, my parents weren't the best to start out with. Thank goodness for the smoking section in Charlotte, NC or I'd have been walking to TN.

Once we got to the airport, we had a brief panic as we couldn't find Cin and the kids. I called her cell phone and after finding out she was at one gate and us at another, we found each other and I'll tell you, I wish I had videod this moment. I hung up the phone and came around the corner (they weren't very far away) and Cole saw me. We might as well of been the only two in the airport. He sprinted about as fast as I've ever seen a 6yr. old's legs move, blew past Mom at 100mph (American conversion) and flew in to my arms. Needless to say, I started bawling.

We made it back to the house and as is tradition, I'm good with riling up animals (eh Jake) and small kids and pretty much had the kids screaming and running through the house, driving everyone crazy. It didn't matter, I was so glad to see them. Nobody said anything.

I got to go to Darla and Bruce's wedding this weekend. Darla walked hand in hand with Grace (their 5yr. old little girl) to, "Oh Holy Night." Can you say tears, boys and girls? And I thought I'd be strong. They all looked fabulous and other than a few chuckles and forgotten rings (which kept it very Darla and Bruce) the sermon was made about Grace, not only their child but the Grace of God. It was so personal and beautiful, any wonder I was a wreck.

Ok, this post has been interrupted a gazillion times with turning on the satellite, (to find CNN to find out about the climbers, sheesh) finding oats, butter, frying pans and toaster, not to mention a million questions, this is all I'm going to have time for. We're going to the kids school for their Christmas parties in less than 2hrs. I need to be getting my butt in the shower.

Check out the comments for the latest game and hopefully I'll be back on before too long. Miss you all. Try not to have too much Festivus fun without me.

'Til next time...