Did you ever lose something very special, mourn its loss thinking it was gone forever, and suddenly you find it?!

Well, that happened (at least, the “finding it” part) to me yesterday when my husband came and told me he was going through an old hard drive before formatting it and came across pictures from our visit last year to South Dakota.

I discovered these pictures were missing a couple of months ago, when I went back to print some of them out and instead learned that they were gone.

These pictures are priceless to me, because my mom and dad saw my son Micah just one time during his entire first year of life, and Micah’s “happy pictures” from that visit were completely gone.

I had downloaded most of my pictures onto my dad’s computer in South Dakota, so he sent me what he had, but the pictures I really really wanted were taken the last night of our visit, after I downloaded my pictures for Dad.

Here’s just one picture that gives you an idea why they were special: My mom, my sister, and my little Micah-man enjoying some smiles.

There are a lot more–and one particular picture I want to print in black & white. A few with my sister, saying good-bye to the kids at the airport. To me, these are just priceless.

When my husband showed my these pictures, I couldn’t help it: I hugged him. And cried.

I was so very happy.

It’s that time of year! Thanksgiving travels (or company). Planning for Christmas: Shopping. Parties. Baking. Maybe more travel or more company.

Add to my list the 40 hours of continuing education to keep my CPA license current. (Don’t ask why I have waited till December to complete my CPE every single year since becoming a stay-at-home-mom!)

I have 20 hours down and 20 hours to go. Sooooo while I’d rather be blogging. . . I don’t want to lose my license.

I’ll post again in a few days.

Over the past week and a half.

My brother and sister-in-law came a week before Thanksgiving, and stayed Wednesday through Thanksgiving Day.

My sister arrived a week later, and spent Wednesday through Saturday with us.

My sister-in-law was also home from college from Wednesday through Sunday.

My parents came in Thanksgiving Day and my mom is staying through December 8.

On Sunday after Thanksgiving, we had a reunion in New Jersey at the church where my dad was the pastor for 10 years (when I was 2 – 12 years old). I was able to revisit my childhood home for the first time in literally 20 years! Wow! What memories!! . . .

We went wedding dress shopping with my sister.

My dad did a TON of home improvement projects for us while he was here. Thank you, Dad!!

Daniel had about a week off work. (And Micah is now totally Daddy’s boy!)

Although he also got his first black eye, falling down the stairs, while Daddy was watching him during my doctor’s appointment . . .

Oh, I had another Ob appointment, and now they want to see me every two weeks because of the contractions. 🙁 Which might not be all bad, since tonight I had a couple hours of contractions 4-5 minutes apart. . . Thankfully, with two hours of rest, the contractions went back to normal.

All that to say . . . we’ve been busy! But there is plenty to blog about.

So stay tuned!