3 months in bullet points

There have been quite a few happenings around our place during my 3 month hiatus, most of which are depressing and one in particular was beyond tragic, so I will give a quick synopsis and get it out of the way so we can move on to happier things.

- John and I separated and were living in different residences
- my grandmother was in a car accident - broke both wrists and shattered her ankle and is still recovering in a rehabilitation center
- my dad had a mild heart attack that required me to go to Branson, Missouri and be with him (no, having to stay in Branson is not the tragic part:)
- my friend that I golf with in the summer - her son who was 18 years old and friends with my oldest daughter - hung himself. We are still reeling from this, as you can imagine.
- Kino (remember Kino? My 85 year old Japanese buddy?) also went into the hospital with chest pain and a suspected heart attack - which turned out not to be - so some good news.
- the same day Kino got out of the hospital - our house caught on fire with a chimney fire.
- we are currently displaced to a rental farm house while the gutting and rebuilding of our home is being done which will take roughly 10-12 weeks.
- John and I are now living in the same house again because he moved into the house I was renting while we were separated. We figured this would be best for the kids as they were already having a tough time with the separation and now their house burning - how much can they take at once, right?

There. Now in case some of you are afraid to even come to my blog for fear that my bad luck might jump through the screen and 'get' you, have no fear. Don't they say bad luck comes in 3's? Yeah, about that - I should be good for at least 2 years, right? So, you're safe.....I hope.

Now on a happier note, we feel we are coming through it all and we are all still standing. We are also realizing we are fairly resilient and helping the kids to understand that no matter how bleak things look, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

Having Winter on its way out and Spring on her way in is very helpful. Aside from the melting snow and the mud & muck, there are some sure signs of Spring. We are currently planting seeds in the greenhouse; lettuce & onions in the hoophouse and are anxiously awaiting baby lambs and baby chicks. All signs of new life and hope.

What's that saying people are always saying when they are trying to be helpful? "What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger?" I feel like the fucking Incredible Hulk.