Happpy Ground Hog's Day from Mary Jo

Dear Family,

I was beginning to think you had all abandoned the blog and were communicating some other way that I didn't know about!! Needless to say, I was pleased to see the new posts. All of the pictures were great, too. Unfortunately, I have nothing impressive or interesting to show, so I will try to "paint a picture with words".

I have loved everyone's posts...the wedding pictures, Nikki's account of the marathon. (That is something I will ONLY experience vicariously, so thank you for the description of the prep, the wardrobe, and the event. I was very impressed, and congratulate you.) Congratulations to Kelly and Paul on the addition of Lily to your family. She looks like a lovely little lady. And to the Meyer's I send sympathy regarding the (impending) loss of your pet. I THINK I remember when Shadow was just a tiny puppy and Alex brought him to one of the family picnics. I believe that was the year a number of the Bull grandsons had a variety of casts, braces, etc. , as documented in the family picnic album. One of the pictures was of Alex (with cast) napping in a lounge with little Shadow on his lap. Pets are important parts of family life, but it is so hard when their lives end. We enjoy our three cats immensely, and were grieved when one of them disappeared for over a week this summer. However, there was a happy ending as Ike came home, no worse for the wear, and offered no explanation as to where he had been! We are down to just one lonely hen now. We had two, but a neighborhood dog killed one when we were at church one Sunday, as evidenced by the feathers and skin remnants we found. So far, Speckles (the remaining hen) doesn't seem to be developing any psychological problems, so we will probably just let her be an "only hen". She does still lay regularly.

We are all fine. I'm still working at building up my leg muscles, but I'm convinced my BONES are in great shape. I fell part way down the basement steps and stumbled over a cat within the last month, and nothing broke or loosened! I can walk and stand with NO pain, but still have a little limp, strictly from weakened muscles, which are supposed to be "improvable". No marathon runs for me, but lots of flexibility and strengthening exercises.

Hope you're all well, and that some more of you will be inspired to check in.