Closing Out 2010

I am a real New Years party pooper. Poor Jimmy, he wants to go out on the town and I have finally put my foot down in regards to this holiday. I have refused to go out. I want to stay home, have a special dinner, rent a good movie, and be tucked into bed well before midnight. So, we have ordered some LARGE lobsters from Tony's in Watertown and will spend the night in.

Zach will spend the night at his friend Sam's house and Kate will probably ring in the New Year with a crowd of friends. Fun for them. Quiet for us.

However you decide to celebrate, I sure hope that it makes you happy.

Happy New Year!

So Long Until Next Year

The holiday season is drawing to a close and I have that melancholy feeling that I have every year at this time. Does anybody else get this sad?

It is 6:30am, still dark outside. I am sitting in the living room with the tree lit and I just want to stay in this moment forever. I do want to put this all away.

I was on the phone with my Mom yesterday and we were discussing this very thing. She reminded me that even tho it is sad, it always feels very good when everything is clean, tidy and back to normal. So I will concentrate on that and maybe have a good cry to make myself feel better. Seriously, sometimes you just need a good cry.

I am off to work today and then looking forward to another 3 days off. I am bound and determined to take a nice long walk on the snowy bridal trail if it's not too cold. Maybe Jim Kyte will join me. I'd like to bake something, make a nice meal for my family, spend time with my book, play with the pup. Welcome in the New Year right here at home. Typing these things is making me feel a bit better. On we go...

Christmas Visiting

The weekend before Christmas, we all traveled to Mass. to see my Mom and then to John and Cassie's to have our Christmas time with them.

Tofu is the best doggie traveler. Here she is nestled in between Kate and I.

Over the bridge to Cape Cod. I forgot about taking pictures, I think I took 3. :(

Cape Cod Canal

Happy kids on Nana's couch. Where is Nana? The photographer forgot to take her picture. We opened our gifts and then went out for our traditional dinner at Clancys restaurant. Delish... It was wonderful to be with our Cape Cod family again!

On to John and Cassie's. This is their tree. So pretty.

There are Zach and Kate all set up in the living room. Cozy.

Happy pup

Time for football. John and Cassie were the cutest host and hostess. They made us a delicious Sunday dinner of perfectly roasted chicken, brown rice medley, and fresh green beans. So mindful of Jim's new dietary needs and so yummy for the rest of us.

Cuties!

Time to go. It was sad to say goodbye to the kids. They made our time together festive and cozy. It was such a fun weekend!

It's Crazy Out There!

Guess what? I have an official snow day tomorrow. Yip! For the first time in 11 years, Westside Medical Group will be closed.
After I called the staff on my call list, I decided to walk outside and see what all the hubub was about. Icy wind and snow that felt like little needles hitting my face. It's hard to tell how much snow is out there because of the drifting.
I am so excited to be home tomorrow. SNOW DAY...wahoo!

Blizzard Afternoon

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ .•*¨*•♫♪ Oh the weather outside is frightful...

but the fire is so delightful ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ .•*¨*•♫♪

Christmas Eve 2010

It has been a whirlwind in our house for about a month. There have been really good times and really scary times. I feel like I stepped on a roller coaster right before Thanksgiving...fun and scary all rolled up into one crazy ride.

Trying to prepare for Christmas has been interesting for me. You know me, I do things a certain way, I am prepared well in advance and by the week before Christmas, I usually have nothing to do but sit in front of the tree with a good book, Christmas cookies, and a hot cup of tea. Today is Christmas Eve and I am actually going out to do a few last minute things! I have not watched one Christmas movie all the way through to the end. I have a pile of presents sitting right here beside me waiting to be wrapped. All of this would usually un-nerve me to the point of heart palpitations. Here is what saved me. Earlier in the week, I started once again making my way through the Gospel of Luke. Slowly, savoring each verse...letting the history of the first Christmas creep into my heart and mind. I got off of the roller coaster last Monday and the peace and joy of Christmas has finally settled over me.

This morning before I got out of bed, I slid over to Jimmy's side. He put his arms around me and I laid my head right on his chest. I heard his heart thudding away in there and joy just rolled over me like an ocean wave.

In about an hour we will make our way out into the craziness...together. TOGETHER! I have never typed a sweeter word. When we come home, my plan is to light a fire and watch "It's a Wonderful Life" together. All the way through! Merry Christmas to me.

The Kyte family will celebrate Christmas tomorrow, together. My cup is overflowing.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Wednesday

Why is it that I am still surprised when God shows up. Well, not surprised really maybe the word is jolted. And maybe not shows up...cause he is always there, but makes him self quite evident to the dense person that I am.
I struggle every day at work. I love my job, but some of the people I work with are challenging and just plain mean. Mean girls are the pits! I do not have thick skin and so I am sad alot. I have never experienced this kind of situation...even back in high school, where kids can be hurtful. I have worked other places and I think that I have been liked pretty much. Anyway, I had a blatant bout of meanness thrown my way on Tuesday and it sent me reeling. I couldn't even tell Jim about it without crying. I was so sad and it was so hard for me to have to go back the next day. I poured my heart out to God in the car all the way to work and just as I turned the knob to go in I asked God to show me why I am in this place at this particular time.
A few hours later, an elderly gentleman knocked on my office door. I had spoken to him before because Medicare is rejecting all of our claims and all of the claims of all his other doctors. I had given him phone #'s to call to try and work it out. He sat down and pulled out a bunch of scribbled on papers and old insurance cards. His hands were shaking and he said that he called Medicare but could not remember what he was trying to straighten out and wanted me to write it all down again. I knew that he could not do it, so even tho I am not supposed to... we called Medicare together. About 45 min. later, the problem was resolved. His relief flooded my office like bright sunshine. He even called me "young lady". It made my day, my week. I walked him out and as I made my way back to my office...I was jolted. God showed up so BIG for me. He has me where I am for this season of my life for a reason and that encounter was my gentle reminder.

This was on Beth Moore's blog this morning. Written for so many folks but it spoke to me personally.

Christ has called us to Romans 15:13 over the last week due to some long term struggles a few of us are having. We’ve been saying it back and forth to one another as a reminder of His blessing to us. Maybe you could use this reminder, too. Hopelessness is never of God. Never. Nothing is too difficult for Him. Nothing is beyond His reach. His restoration. Even His reconciliation. I’m going to try to write the verse by heart to you:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
As you trust in Him.
As you trust in Him.
AS YOU TRUST IN HIM.

50

Oh my gosh, I can hardly type it, let alone be it. I am 50, but I don't know how I can possibly be that old. No matter how you stack it up...it is old.
On the brighter side, I have been around for 50 years. That is an amazing thing. I am very blessed.
Even tho Jim had his heart attack 4 days before my birthday, he insisted that we still celebrate, so he took all of us out to the Good News Cafe in Woodbury. They had some healthy options and we all like it there. It was a very good choice...we had a delicious meal and a great time.
It was the perfect way to celebrate. Low key, which is just how I like it. All of us together which makes me the happiest. Jimmy right by my side, which of course was the best present that a girl like me could get. Don't think for one second that I didn't thank God that night for "all of us under one roof". It could have been a very different kind of day and I am so thankful that I ended my big day with Jim tucked in right beside me.

All dressed up and ready to go. I got a great picture of all of us at the restaurant, but I am using it for our Christmas card and don't want to share it here yet.

Carrot cake from Sweet Maria's bakery. So good!

Ready for cake

The kids chipped in and got me a KitchenAid mixer. I still cannot believe it. Christmas cookies here I come.

What a great night!

Wednesday

Today, if all goes according to the plan, I will bring Jimmy home from the hospital. I am so thankful.
On Monday night I drove him to the hospital where they told us that he was having a heart attack. Quick intervention and the miracle of modern procedures fixed up his blocked arteries and a caring hospital staff and doctors have reassured a very frightened family.
Guess what? It was not Jimmy's time to go to heaven on Monday night. God still wants him to be here and I get to talk about my husband in the present tense! We have had another Tuesday together and we will have the gift of this day. I do not know what the future will look like, but for now, This is the day the LORD has made (and Jim Kyte gets to be a part of it!!!); let us rejoice and be glad in it. Amen.

Thanksgiving 2010

It's Saturday night and we just said goodbye to the last of our Thanksgiving guests. I am so sad to see it all come to an end. It was so much fun to plan and put everything together for our family, and it was even more wonderful when everyone finally arrived. Lorraine and Al arrived on Tuesday night so that we could cook all day Wednesday. The Vanhorne kids and families arrived Wed. night, John and Cassie and Debbie and Tom arrived Thanksgiving morning. It was so great to be with everyone. We hardly get together anymore and it was so special to spend some real time with everyone. We even got to celebrate Dan's 30th birthday with him. What a great holiday!

Jameson and Alex all snugly

Hannah, Ben and Connor

Tofu was such a good pup

Okay, I know this is a terrible picture of me...but look at this cutie on my lap!This is Dave and Erin's daughter Ava. She pulled out my Martha Stewart magazines and wanted to look through them with me. Love it!

The kids decorated the tablecloth for their table

Connor, Ava, Dave and Tara

Grandma helping Jameson

They did a great job!

Silly boy

Playing games and waiting for dinner

Tara and I set the table

It looked so pretty

Jim carving the turkey and Kate right along side helping him

Giving thanks.

Finally....time to eat

John and Danny

Rainy making Danny's birthday dinner. Yum!

The happy birthday boy

Little cousin buddies

Big cousin buddies

All set to go home...exhausted

The goodbye shot. The entire Vanhorne family!