Holiday Blessings

Work continues to get more and more hectic!!!! As we get closer to D-Day there are more things to think about and plan for. Every time I turn around I am adding things to my list of things that need to be done. I have delegated as much as I can, but it still seems to be overwhelming. The phone never stops ringing. Customers with tons of questions, management with things for us to do and other branches giving us more work.

On the other hand, at this time of year I always like to stop and take stock of the blessings I have. I have a job which is wonderful with the economy the way it is. I have my health. I have a nice house to live in (even if it is small). I have a wonderful family. And I live in a warm and caring community. The only thing I wonder about is my sanity. Sometimes I feel that slipping away from me. :)

I am sad that Randi, Travis and the kids won't be with us for Thanksgiving this year, but Denver and Danielle will be here. I am blessed that they live so close that they can come for holidays. And now I better get ready for work so I get back to the madness and mayhem!

Madness and Mayhem

Well, the merger mania has begun!!!! I have been putting in 10 hour days lately and I have to say, it is getting old already. The projects that need to be accomplished are beginning to all blurr together. Even with 10 hour days, there isn't enough time to get everything done.

Thankfully I had a little bit of a respit this weekend. Randi, Travis and the kids came home for a few days. They actually came home to see Rachel in her roll as Belle (Beauty and the Beast) in the high school musical here in town. It was so nice to see them. I still cried when they left. Denver and Danielle were home too so that was very nice as well. I haven't seen them for quite awhile either. They will be home again for Thanksgiving and then they will all be home for Christmas.

Well, back to housework. . . . . . . . . .

Just Relaxing

Today is Veteran's Day so that means a day off. It is the only minor holiday that close. It is wonderful. I am cleaning and doing laundry and just putzing. It has been a very long time since I had a day like this. It seems like our weekends are so full that we don't have time to just sit and relax. For my mental health I need time at home once in awhile. I can tell when I haven't spent enough time at home. I get depressed and edgy. And we are coming to that time of the year when I start feeling depressed anyway. It seems like the less sunlight we have the deeper my depression. I seriously think I suffer from SADD.

We got word on Monday that D-Day has been finalized. D-Day will be after the close of business on December 4th. That is going to be a very long, busy weekend!!!! The 2 weeks between Thanksgiving and D-Day are going to be a whirlwind of activity. I had a meeting yesterday about it. I will be overseeing the conversion on the operations side. That includes a ton of training and overseeing of personnel. I am honored that they think I am capable of this much responsibility. I hope I can live up to it. My big questions will be after conversion. What will be my roll in the new organization? Who will I report to? What will be my responsibilities and job title be? So much to think about . . . . . . .

Fall is here!

It was a pretty busy weekend. We finally have had some nice weather so we took advantage of that. On Saturday we worked outside doing yard work. We got rid of some leaves and cropped off all the perennials and put stuff away. Then of course Saturday night I passed out candy to all the little gouls and goblins that came to the door. Leon was at the fire hall to pass out treats. Sunday we finished up some yard work, cleaned the house and then settled in to watch the Vikings game. The game was a little unnerving. I thought they were going to lose it in the 3rd quarter!

Then today it was back to work!!!! I just feel snowed under again. I can't get caught up. I feel like I get further and further behind. I need to get as much done as I can. D-day is coming up fast and I need to be on top of things when that day comes.

Starting to Feel Better

Well, more than a week has passed since I ahd to say goodbye to my babies. I feel a little better right now. At least I don't cry so much. I have talked them a few times on the phone and Randi and I email back and forth almost every day. It sure helps. I sent the kids a Halloween package and they got it today. Lauren was so excited about it. She called tonight to thank me for it. It was fun to talk to her.

On a different note, I think there is a chance the kids have their acerage sold. I am very excited for them if it does sell. This has been such a worry for them. Cross your fingers and say an extra prayer.

Things at work are progressing. They have set a tentative date for December 4th. It will be getting very busy now. We have a lot to do before December 4th, but it will be the days following December 4th that will be the busiest. There is a lot of training to do and there will be a lot of trying to figure out what everyone's place will be in the new comination bank. I am excited, but a little nervous. I don't really know what my place will be. I have thought about it a lot, and there are several ways this could all play out. I guess we will see!

My heart aches

Well, I am back from Michigan. The trip out there was pretty trying. The flight from Sioux Falls to Mpls was 2 hours late so we nearly missed our flight from Mpls to Kalamazoo. We were about 2 seconds from missing it! Once we got there it was nice. Randi and Travis had a few trying times during the closing of new house. They got it done on Tuesday though. The movers came on Wednesday with all of their things. It took them 6 hours to unload the semi that they had everything on. Randi and I unloaded some of the boxes to find essentials - towels, toilet paper, dishes, etc. Thursday we unloaded a bunch more boxes then we went for a sight seeing drive to see Battle Creek. Thursday night I spent a lot of time with the Logan and Lauren. I gave them a bath and read to Lauren. I couldn't help crying through the whole thing. Lauren kept saying "don't be sad Grandma. I will call you and make you pictures and things." I didn't sleep much that night. Then it was up early and off to the airport for the flight home. I cried all the way home. It was very, very hard for me. My heart aches. . . . . . . . . I am so glad Denver lives pretty close. At least we can see him almost whenever we want to.

Seriously, winter?????

I couldn't believe it when I woke up this morning and there was snow on the ground. I actually woke up to the pager. There was a one car rollover by Hadley and they were calling for the fire department and ambulance. then I heard there was a one car rollover by Jackson. They were detouring traffic off of I90 and the helicopter was going to land at the sceen. After I heard all that I got up and discovered why - an inch of snow on the ground. Yipes, it is not even the middle of October yet. Geez, it is going to be a long winter.

The movers have been out to Randi's and everything is packed up and on the road. She and the kids have been staying with us the last two nights. We headed back out there this morning to fininsh up cleaning and finding a home for all of the stuff the movers wouldn't pack. We have a little more to do tomorrow. We didn't get the fridge cleaned and we need to wash windows again.

Monday I fly out to Michigan with Randi and the kids. They close on their new house on Tuesday and the movers come on Wednesday. Randi wants to do a little painting so maybe we can get that done before the movers get there. I fly home on Friday. That is going to be so hard. I just know I will be sobbing the entire time I am on the plane.

Well, I better go start packing. . . . . .