Ups and Downs

So! Yesterday was...frightening, and fun at the same time. Lanelle's sickness got so bad that her stomach started paining her in a way she had never felt before. I felt helpless. All I could do was hold her, pray for her and ply her with warm water, which eventually helped. After a nap, she was right as rain. The rest of the day was spent in getting ready for her father's New Year's Eve Eve party, which was a wine tasting party. I didn't partake, but I learned a lot about wine, taste, its legs, aroma, and anything else you can care to name. Lanelle's dad (Harold) is quite the conesseur (I know I didn't spell that right. Sorry!) Along with the wine tasting, we also did what are called "Party Pieces." It's an Irish tradition. You get up in front of everyone and share something, be it a song, poem, skit, whatever else have you. The idea is that yopu're giving people a piece of yourself, but it doesn't have to be that. Most of them were downright hilarious! Harold and I performed a piece by Seamus Kennedy called "To Moro." Great song, and he's really good at the gyuitar, and the notes were right there in the perfect range for both of us! Lanelle and I did a segment from the Princess Bride (The Battle of Wits. She played Wesley's part, and I played Vizzini.) I was the last to put on a party piece. I sang an SCA song called "Fruit of the Yew."

Today was spent mostly in happy nervousness. I asked Harold if he wanted to have lunch together...just him and me. We went out for Mexican. He shared some great stories with me, and I got to know him much better.What I was nervous about was when I told him my intentions regarding Lanelle. I told him about my promise to myself not to propose to anyone until I had at least graduated college (only 3 more semesters! Boo yah!) and I wouldn't get married until at least after I had a job that could support at least me and someone else. He agreed and stressed the wisdom and importance of waiting. I left lunch feeling quite relieved. He's a great man, a very wise one, and a very Godly man who has done a wonderful job doing what he can to raise four children every other week.
After I got back from lunch, the day was spent in a mad frenzy cleaning house, preparing for New Year's. Mostly, I think I helped most by staying out of people's way, and I kept Lanelle's younger brother, Aven, occupied with martial arts videos and parkour videos online. He's a good kid, I like him.

Tomorrow...who knows? Keep watching!