It's hard to believe that the fall is over and winter is beginning. The transplant is humming along. Dennis' body has accepted his new organ although his mind hasn't quite grasped the fact that he's getting healthier. He still spends most of his days sitting around with cable and the dog as his steadfast companions. It's a question of whether he can do more and won't or if he can't do anything. He's definitely slowed down and it is easy to be frustrated because to look at him--he's the same person, but the dialysis and the commorbidity has definitely taken it's toll. He's been released from the surgeon at IU Med Center and so now he will only see that group twice annually. We are on a quest to find a endocrinologist and an insulin pump. Two eye surgeries (Argon) were successful during the last two weeks. The rest of us are well.

Kristen returned from London Centre in early December. She really enjoyed the experience of a semester abroad and says that she wants to return. She managed to actually come home with a few pence in her account. May wonders never cease.

James has his first semester at Ivy Tech under his belt. It was definitely a learning experience and I'm sorry that I didn't have more time to help him navigate the rigors of higher education. He is changing major and will start EMT training (also through IvyTech) in January to be followed by Certified Nursing Assistant training on his way to perhaps being an RN or Paramedic. He seems to like the medical procedures on television, we'll see how he does when it's real and immediate.

We had a great Thanksgiving with everyone (except Kristen - she missed the festivities by 3 days) together. It was a jam packed time and we barely had time to squeeze in a photo shoot, but did manage one just as Joe, Heidi, Abby and Joey (born Febuary 08) were ready to hit the road back to Fort Worth. I'm always glad for the visual reminders after the event is over. All the grandchildren were a joy Mackenzie 3, Abby 2, Kendall 22 mo, Joey 9 mo, and Cole 5 mo. It was just great fun!

I've finished a crueling semester of grad school (Adult, Higher and Community Education). I knew going in that 4 classes was going to be tough, but with the fall that we had, it was just about impossible. God's grace (and the grace of instructors with deadlines) prevailed. Finished the last paper at 6:28pm of a 6:30pm class. I am truly thankful that it is complete. Spring semester holds my last required course plus an independent study in digital photography and a gerontology course called Guided Life Review. The university will allow grad assistants to take four courses, but I don't want a repeat of this past semester, so am only going three. I'm anticipating a spring graduation. I'm also looking into the online Master Quilting Certificate through Western Kentucky Technical and Community College. I'm developing a sense of adult education/aging baby boomers/life review/softskills making a connection somehow. It must be a God-thing because it doesn't make alot of sense to other people and is definitely a non-traditional route!

Finances are tight, as per usual, and we could have told you that this recession started last year. We aren't doing any traditional Christmas shopping this year because of toy excesses and college aged children needing money more than things. I got my Christmas present this summer in the form of a double porch swinged pergola added to the front of the house. That corner of the house has always looked like it needed "something else" since we moved in (September 2002). So with a few weeks off after the birth of Cole Jackson Gnap in July I strapped on a toolbelt and built my pergola. I would get help from the menfolk after I pitched a fit and pleaded that there was some aspect that I just could not wrangle. Even with all the nay saying during the project it has turned out to be a popular spot for evenings, pit fires and late night gatherings. I'm glad that it's done and look forward to spending alot of time next spring and summer and fall out there.

That's about enough for now. One of my classes on educational planning required a group project and so we used my new division of Studio Pro 31 as a sample. M.U.M (Memories U Make) was devised on the drive to take Kristen to the airport on the way to London Centre. This is a memory quilt studio where quilts are designed and constructed from materials that the customer supplies (t-shirts, loved one's clothing, could be sentimental fabrics, etc). I have my first one on the quilt frame now with another one due to start tomorrow. I hope to start the business in January with clients from local high schools and colleges and perhaps to help cope with grieving for those who have passed on.