for some reason, when i view my blog, the paragraph breaks that i put in are never there. so, please forgive me if you end up reading a great big, run-on block of text. it's wednesday evening, and after running around like mad the past six hours, i'm home alone, and it's ever so peaceful. daniel is working on the new space he got for skreened, julianna is at a bible study, and i'm savoring a drink with the pets. i just got back from spending time at a nursing home with our small group from church. it's one of only two all medicaid nursing homes in ohio, so everyone there is essentially out of places to go, and in need of long-term medical care. small groups from our church are there every week, and this week it was our turn. we sang christmas carols, lit the advent wreath, took turns around the circle sharing the best thing that has ever been given to us, and ate peppermint brownies. it's a great place, (and a kind of horrible place) but i have to admit that i have a hard time being there. throw me into a room of mentally disturbed and abused children any day and i'm just fine, but i have a hard time connecting with the residents at bryden place. tonight was ok, though. i met a lovely lady who actually called me lovely, and prayed with her to request safety for her son, who is "driving all the way from kentucky to visit me." another lady gave me a little book of stories about mother teresa. the highlight, though, was talking to a staff member who i helped in the process of gaining custody of her nieces and nephew last year. success is a relative term in my profession, but this family was, hands-down, one of my favorites. so, it was good to get a huge hug and check up on my kids... i'm going to relax some more now. g'night!