Hello? Anyone home?

Oh where oh where has my blogging muse gone?

Perhaps it got buried beneath the worries of work?  No doubt, in the days leading up to winter break,  situations cropped up that they never quite cover in nursing school.  How does one distract a student while you wait for social services to come and interview her.  Keep in mind, you aren't supposed to let her know that's what you are waiting for.  I never was very good at poker, but many more situations like that, and my "poker face" might be considered acceptable.    

Or maybe the blog got pushed aside in favor of spending time with the family? I mean, it has been winter break, and we really should set aside our usual habits and spend time together.  Yeah, right, it looked more like this:

Nah, just kidding:  here is what Christmas really looked like at our house

This year we decided to give a real tree a chance

Verdict?  nobody was too impressed with the difference

Although I am 100% certain we were the only family to bring a color-coordinated vehicle 

to Home Depot to transport our tree back home.

 Even at 13, the box provides a source of entertainment

 Low on Holiday Spirit?  

May I suggest next year you visit the Colorado Symphony and Chorale 

in their annual Colorado Christmas show.   

Between their performance of Believe and the Hallelujah chorus, 

you will be moved to tears (ok, so if by you, I really mean me, yeah...I was a sobbing it was such a heartfelt performance)

 Moosey still hanging in there...

this year the 15 year old discovered the saved Build-A-Bear outfits and had so much fun dressing up Moosey that younger brother remarked "I need to just leave the room, it is just too tempting to not tease him".  

 OK, so those were  my pre-Christmas excuses, what about now?  I mean seriously, everyone else in the blog world has done either a fabulous year end review or they've written beautiful summaries of the plans they have for 2013 (and by everyone I am referring to my hubby and my good friend Karen)

Well, really, who has time to blog, when you've found yourself swept away by two really great books:

 My review:  who knew a great book could include two main characters that the reader doesn't like at all.  The story involves a couple that moved from the glitz-and-glamour of NYC (where the wife was a born-n-bred New Yorker  to Missouri (the childhood home of the husband).  On their 5th wedding anniversary, the wife disappears.  And well, we've all watched enough t.v. to know that the husband is always the killer.  Or is he?  Read it and find out.  But I'm warning you, you'll probably walk away from the book thankful for the sanity of those in your life, and realizing that a book can be good even if you don't really like any of the main characters).

My review:  talk about a very timely read!  This is the book club read for my neighborhood book club.  Jacob is a 14 year old boy accused of killing his 8th grade classmate in cold blood.  His parents come to his defense, as any good parents would, right?  Well, again, not so easy when you learn that not only is Jacob's dad the lead attorney in the District Attorney's office, but there are some family secrets that make this a bit more complicated than it already is.  The author does almost too good of a job capturing the voice of the adolescent and I'm sure our discussion will be very lively especially when you factor in recent current events that have involved young people accused of the unthinkable.   And, hello, I am the mom to both a 13 and a 15 year old:  that averages out to a 14 year old boy.  Could that be anyone of us?  I hope not, but this author wrote such a gripping story that I found myself pondering the "what would I do" dilemma that this family faced.

So, reading books, hanging out, sleeping in, oh yeah I almost forgot, watching movies.  We've watched several good ones here at home (The Help and I introduced my hubby to my all time favorite flick, Love Actually).  Yesterday, I rounded up a few gal pals and we took in this great show

I'll admit, while I have seen the Broadway play, it is not what I would consider one of my all time favorites.  Not sure why, but it just is (I think I am more of a fan of the plays that involve great dance numbers, with happy-go-lucky songs you can hum along to).  But this movie?  OMG:  pack the tissues again.  The songs were so clearly sung that you could really appreciate the story being told.  And while Russell Crowe does not have the strongest voice of the cast, he still does a remarkable job surrounded by a superb cast.  I'm hopeful that Hollywood wakes up and notices the talents of Samantha Barks for her amazing job as Eponine.

So there ya go, winter break is almost over.  We've finished out 2012:  healthier and happier than we were when it started.  I'm heading back to work on Monday, rested and ready to face the challenges that come my way.   Ok, I'm probably not ready for challenges that involve the crisis team:  for now, I'll be happy with just your run-of-the-mill stomach viruses and wardrobe malfunctions.  Those events involving added mental health support and visits from Federal agencies?  We can leave those all in the past, thank-you-very much

I'll finish up this long winded, long over due Blog update with a belated

While many start out the new year with new challenges:  either to take a picture a day, or focus on "Just one Word", I'm going in a different direction (because you know that's just the way I roll).  I plan to focus on this simple blessing, to guide me through the year:

I pray I keep learning

when to keep silent

and when to speak

What to love and what to hate

Trusting through the laughter and the tears

in the One who orchestrates our years

Making all things beautiful in their time.  

Happy New Year friends and family!