2012

Oh, yeah. I’m seriously behind on keeping this blog updated. Seriously.

It wasn’t intentional. I really didn’t mean to let this blog fall by the wayside. Real Life gets in the way sometimes.  

Much has happened in the past several months, but I’m not going to bore anyone by trying to catch up. We’ve traveled several times (business, family, reunion, wedding, friends, and one reeeeally long family trip during the Christmas holidays. Let’s just say I’m glad to be home and I’m happy it’s all behind me now, although I do miss my family.

Santa was especially nice to me. I’ve been practicing with my new camera, but I’ve got much to learn. None of my photos have been outstanding enough to post here…yet.  I am amazed at the differences between my little point-and-shoot vs. the new DSLR. Much, much, much to learn.

My Christmas tree was a nice subject for practice, too. 

As is our tradition, we spend every New Year’s Eve with old friends. Our drive there and back again takes us across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, south of St. Petersburg, FL. We stopped for a break on the north end of the bridge, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The sunset was spectacular. I only had my old camera with me, but the photos were still great.

So, that’s it for now. I’ll try to stay caught up a bit better, but these days, I have my nose in a book more often than not. 

Ta-Ta For Now

Feeling sadness

Several years ago, around Christmas 2006/New Year’s 2007, Carolanne and I began virtually “visiting” each other and leaving comments on each other’s blogs. Over time, our virtual visits turned to IM’ing (instant messaging) and emailing. Carolanne lived “down under” at the time with her then-husband and son. We tried to figure out how to meet each other, but over the years, that never happened. That didn’t keep our friendship from growing, however.

Over time, things happened and changed, and Carolanne found herself planning a wedding and a relocation to the US. She married her Prince Charming in June of 2010 and was warmly welcomed into his family. Life was good.  Was.

Early this morning, I received an email from Carolanne that her beloved husband had passed away suddenly and completely unexpectedly during the night. I am broken-hearted, but I can’t begin to imagine the depths of her broken-heartedness.

Several of my blogging friends may remember Carolanne from her blogging days. She wrote “C Outside the Box” up until late 2009, when her life began to take this dramatic change of course.  Now more changes are in her near future, but right now, she needs prayers for strength to get through the next several days…weeks…months…years.

May God give you comfort and peace, Carolanne.