The weather was this winter was great! We had some lovely experiences! We enjoyed several visits from friends and family! But it was not a typical winter in Florida for us, at all!
We arrived in Florida 2 days after John got out of the hospital! It had not been a heart attack and we thought he just needed to rest up and renewed energy would follow! That didn't happen! Visits with doctors while we were home for Christmas revealed that fluid had accumulated in his right lung which would need to be drained. Once again back in Florida, after that procedure, , we thought he would start feeling better pretty quickly!Again that didn't happen! Over the next 2 months tests were run, x-rays were taken again and again, medications were adjusted and adjusted!! It felt like a long time before we saw improvement and life started to feel more normal! But very grateful as we prepare to return to Greenville that John is finally feeling much more like himself!!!!
Our first task upon arrival was to purchase a refrigerator to replace the old "dead" one and with that went the decision to replace all of the kitchen appliances. What a job!! We also bought a new king mattress for our room and replaced the 20+ year old HVAC system! Ouch what an expensive winter!
Winter Park Christmas in the Park Concert with Tom was absolutely magical, possibly the best we have ever seen and we have seen many!!
Birthday dinner with John at The Tavern in Celebration. Even though it might have seemed like just another evening out, I loved spending time with him, enjoying a wonderful meal outside on the patio on a perfect weather evening in Florida and all seemed right with the world!
FSC Christmas Concert as a surprise for John for Christmas!!!! I actually surprised him and he actually loved this Christmas gift.....both are actually very challenging!!
FSC faculty recital with Stacey McColley and John McColley!! It was so much fun seeing the McColleys again after so many years and the recital was fabulous!! Who knew that clarinet and harp were so magical together!
Worship at First Pres. Winter Haven for John Reiter's last Sunday!!! So many years have passed and so much has changed!!! It was great to see the Reiters again!
Linda and Ken Beckham came for a quick visit, just overnight, but I just loved spending time with them! Almost like visiting family!
Ruth and Gary Swetnam @ Florida Southern to see Somethings Rotten!!!! We really had no idea what to expect but the play was fabulous and I loved sharing it with two lovely friends!! I highly recommend it!
Krista was in Florida for a work/vacation trip and swung by to spend some time with us! She had never seen our Florida house before and it was fun introducing her to not only Solivita but retirement life! Plus it is always special to spend one on one time with your adult children!
Riva invited us to enjoy time at her Cape Canaveral condo and see a launch so we took her up on that generous invitation!! Although there were several canceled launches, we were able to see one launch which was really interesting!! Definitely worth the trip! And we enjoyed some fabulous food while we were there!!! Thanks, Riva!
Jenna, Jack, Sam and Merrick came to Florida for Spring break and stopped by for a quick visit with us!! What a treat!! We made the most of our time including an airboat ride and time at the pool in our neighborhood in Solivita. I do love these people and it was fun to spend time with them before we head home!!
So much of our time in Florida this winter was punctuated by Carol's continued falls, Denis' slow recovery and Darryl's decline! We have known each of these friends since our first winter here in 2012. We all know that life is going to catch up with us at some point and that illness and injury can be part of that journey but it is so painful to watch that happen no matter what the time or circumstance. And so we watch, do what we can to help and pray!!
I don't have a lot to show for my time here this year but pottery and house portraits have been a fun distraction!! Our little Florida house was my first house portrait subject and I am pretty pleased with the finished product!
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