SO HAPPY TO BE HOME!!!

Home as in my 'original' home! My Illinois home! After the worst experience I've ever had at LAX (or any airport for that matter) early Tuesday morning, a very bumpy flight due to bad weather, a rough few hour drive from St. Louis to my parents' home in Southern Illinois, again, due to bad weather....I finally made it home!!! So happy!! We did stop at Cracker Barrel after we got out of St. Louis and on the Illinois side of the Mississippi - chicken and dumplins, fried okra, sweet glazed corn, mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits, and sweet tea!! HEAVEN!!!

Tuesday night was spent inside because of the heavy duty downpours of rain and toronados flying around. It's been a long time since I've sat around the TV watching the weather and preparing for a toronado. It's flooding like crazy around here. Loving every minute of it! That is one of the things I miss most about the midwest, the change of seasons, so I like the cold rains and even though I'm terrified of high winds, I like the thunderstorms!

I got to go to school and pick up one of my nieces and one of my nephews. That is one of my favorite things to do when I'm home. When they saw me in the car they ran and smiled all the way to me....I'm loved by Olivia and Bryce. Seriously, these two are really good at loving their Aunt Debbie!! They are both 13, just a few days apart...Bryce belongs to my sister and Olivia belongs to my brother. We had so much fun hanging out. Then my two older nieces made time for me too...which is huge considering they are 16 and have quite the social lives. My sister came over for dinner with us and the kids, always great to catch up with her. That's me, Bryce, and Oliva from earlier today at the top!

Tomorrow is mom/dad/debbie day. We are heading to the mall to do some shopping, lunch out, basically bumming around. Then tomorrow night I'm heading to Benton, about 20 miles away, to spend the evening with my BFF Margaret. She was my BFF all through high school and college. We both were each other's maids of honor - so I can't wait to see her, her husband and boys.

Poor Darren called me and said, "did you already forget about me?" How cute is that?! I get so busy when I'm home that I don't check in - only at night before I head to bed!! It's good that he misses me!! :o)

Speaking of...probably should head to bed! Even though it's 11:30 here, for my body it's only 9:30, but my crazy aggravating dad likes to 'check' the fire alarm every morning about 6:00am!!! Read my previous post about my prankster father and you'll get it!

Donna G - my dad asked about you....wanted to know "how's my friend Donna doing?" I told him you were still the same Donna we know and love!!