I'll admit I haven't been great about keeping my blog updated lately. :( It's been a busy past month as I was fully inundated with year end mailing responsibilities. We sent out 13,212 year end letters. That means I printed 13,212 envelopes and 39,636 sheets of paper (it was a 3-page letter). It takes 500 sheets 11 minutes to print if there are no interruptions, so that comes out to about 15 hours of printing. In addition to that, the envelope printer was having issues, so while those printed I had to have my hand on the envelopes at all times to keep it from stopping. It wasn't until the last 500 that I finally figured out the problem.

But, this year, for the first time, we had all our letters and envelopes printed and folded before we started stuffing and I'm proud to say that it took us only 14 hours to complete the stuffing this year! In the past we've been rather disorganized and it has taken up to 2 weeks. But this year we had all the staff put in two full days instead of a few hours every day and it worked like a charm.

One great thing about this year is that I didn't have to take the mail to the post office! If you have never done bulk mail, you won't really understand how much of a blessing this is. In my experience, it generally means loading everything up (62 mail trays weighing a total of more than 600 lbs) and going to the bulk mail unit. You sign in and then you wait. It could be 5 minutes, it could be 45 minutes. And while you sit there it usually appears that the people working aren't doing much work, and if they are, it is being done very slowly. It certainly is a way God continues to teach me patience. Then when it's your turn you have to unload all of your trays into their carts and help them weigh it and then more waiting as they finish the paperwork. If I've learned anything at all, it's that you want to make these folks your best friend. One friend of mine said she took the people at her post office cookies. I think I might try that.

But, I missed all of that this year because I headed home to Iowa for 12 days during Thanksgiving. I flew out of New Orleans in the evening and was fully expecting to spend the night in Atlanta because that's what happened the last time I flew in that late. However, we arrived in plenty of time for me to go to another concourse to get Starbucks and stretch my legs before boarding an on-time flight.

With all the recent talk of pat downs and body scanners at the airport, I was a little apprehensive. I've been patted down twice and, honestly, it was no big deal. The body scanners that essentially see you naked however, I'm not really sure how I feel about all that. But, God is good and they hadn't yet installed the scanners in the concourse I flew out of so it was just a simple metal detector. It also seems that the more I fly, the more anxious I get about getting on the plane. It's not the thought of flying or small spaces, it seems to be more the worry that I won't have a place to put my carry-on bag. So, I like to make sure I have plenty of time to sit and relax to avoid all that anxiety.


It was really good to be home and not have any responsibilities for a 12 days. It was, however, a little chillier than I had expected. Initially I had flannel sheets, two fleece blankets, a down blanket and a comforter on my bed. I did adjust some as time went on, but I guess I've just gotten used to much warmer weather for a much greater portion of the year.

For the past two years Andrew has come here for Thanksgiving which is always fun, but it was good to have the whole family together again. I know that those years will be fewer and fewer once John graduates and becomes and active duty Marine. So the time was good. We played games and watched movies and just hung out. I was able to spend a day in Des Moines with a great friend and was also able to see two of my past co-workers who have also become great friends.

Perhaps the best part about Thanksgiving vacation was knowing that in just 21 days (now 18) I will be returning for 14 days. It certainly made leaving easier because usually it is at least 6 months between visits.

I'd like to say that I came back to warmer weather, but it's still been chilly. They say it's going to be near 70 this weekend and will then drop to the 30's overnight starting next week. It was good to see my guinea pigs again though. It's always hard to leave them, but I haven't yet figured how to travel with them unless I drive. It's weird, when they aren't around I can swear I still hear them squeaking and those who watch them for me say the same thing.

We should be having a fairly calm few weeks here before Christmas. Hurricane season officially ended November 30 (yay!) and it was an unbelievable blessing not to have to evacuate this year! We have a Princess Tea for the girls in our church tomorrow and our annual Christmas program will be December 12. I'll be sure to be better about getting some of those photos posted as soon as I can!