Sushi, anyone?

If you know me at all, you'll know I'm not one for sushi. Except for this kind of sushi.

Fun to make and yum to eat. And they didn't even need wasabi.

Chocolate Chip Cookies.

With a glass of cold milk, this has to be the best after-school snack ever. Hot from the oven, they're full of warm, melt-in-your mouth scrumptiousness. Scent the kitchen up good too!

Only problem is that too many of them will subtly expand your waistline.

And funny thing, it's pretty hard to eat just one.

This year, I think I'll postpone my New Year resolutions.
At least until the jeans no longer fit. And this morning I got them done up without too much effort.

So, pass me another cookie.

Jet Lag.

Back home again. Flew across eight time zones in twelve hours, so for the last few days my body has been desperately trying to overcome the effects of the dreaded jetlag. Hopefully this morning is the last of waking up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 3:30am.

My trip was good. Good that my mom actually had some pleasant days during my visit. Good to chat with my dad. Good to spend time with my little sister. Good to see extended family and friends.

But being there with the family definitely made the reality of mom's situation sink in. To see her constantly resting, swallowing pill after pill and gingerly moving around, was certainly very different to what I had been accustomed to seeing on trips home before. A huge change that was difficult in many ways to accept.

Yet, for a few days, just being a part of her world again meant the world to me.

Family.

Had supper with the siblings at a nice burger restaurant. Served us the biggest, juiciest whopping burgers I've ever seen. Too bad I couldn't finish mine! Good food, good times.

Then back to the brother's place for tea and biscuits. And Quality Street chocolates. Yum. More good food.

And lots of free entertainment, compliments of Grace!

A Cold Welcome.

It's freezing here. Has been snowing on and off, making some of the roads a little treacherous. Black ice, they call it here, and "it's wild slippery". You always have to "mind yerself"!

But other than the cold weather, the last few days have been mostly pleasant. Mom and Dad are holding up despite the circumstances, and I am grateful to be here with them, truly enjoying every moment in their company. The new pain meds seem to be giving Mom a little extra relief, for which we are extremely thankful. Her daily appetite seems to be on the increase, so hopefully her daily strength will increase also.

Met up this morning with some special friends at a coffee shop outside Newtownards. It was nice to get out for a visit, and enjoy some good table conversation. The coffee was amazing too, and the 500-calorie scone I ate with it was so delicious that it's bound to have parked itself on my hips for life! But never mind, I enjoyed every bite. And this evening, Little Sis and I are going out for dinner with Big Bro and his family. Looking forward to seeing my Irish nephew and nieces again.

Thank you to all our friends and family who have been continually holding us up in prayer. Please keep praying.

Safe. Sound.

YVR to YYZ. YYZ to LHR. LHR to BHD.

And BHD to Glenholm, where they all say... helloo, seven oh double one four five.

Definitely different circumstances, but thankful to be here safe and sound. Sharon got her cast off today and is looking quite normal except when she's doing her wrist exercises and wrinkles up her nose. Ouch. Dad is looking quite fine with a little midriff extra which also puts me a little more at ease. Mom is looking better than I expected and has a good appetite.

More tomorrow. Now off to bed.