January

Yes, I'm cheating a little by just entitling this post " January". Unfortunately my camera cable isn't working so Arthur has to download the pix onto his laptop, send them to me and then I have to save each one individually; a much more tedious process. It's easier doing a batch at once. January has been a good month so far. We got our car back (again!) and we are hoping that's it for car troubles. Arthur and I are trying a new budget for 2009 to pay off all our debts and get control of our cash. It seems to be working well so far - we are cash only, no debit cards!It's amazing how much money we actually have when we stopped using the debit cards! We started attending a new Calvary Chapel on Sundays. We had been going to a Calvary church plant in Clayton on Thursday nights but had continued to go to Raleigh CC on Sundays. We felt that it was time to make the break and focus on Clayton. Most of the other families at Clayton are attending the Apex Calvary for Sunday services until Clayton begins having Sunday services so we have gone there the last couple Sundays. It's a big adjustment to go to a church with 2000 people but so far we are learning a lot. We get the fellowship more on Thursday nights.

Rachel has had a positive start to her new year. She did get approved for SSI although we don't know how much at this time. The best part of that is that she gets medical assistance. Right now she has no health coverage so that's terrific. She also has gotten approved to work with Vocational Rehabilitation which will help her find a job and provide her with a job coach. Keep praying that God is preparing a new job for her.

Dan is enjoying a semester off college while he decides what he wants to do - Air Force or full time college. He's meeting Pastor Mike at the gym and for discipleship. He's looking to perhaps get involved with a College and Career Group at a local church since RCC doesn't have that but feels he belongs still working at RCC.


Sierra is still in her apartment and working at Applebee's. She's taking the final classes she needs to be promoted to key hourly at her store so she's pretty excited about that.

The older boys are fine but too far away! Andy turned 23 on January 12th (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!) He and Christine are shivering in RI and Ben and Natalie are shivering in Kansas! So that's for now. Here are some random pictures that I've taken.

We gave Rachel this 1500 piece puzzle for Christmas. Here it is all put together.

This is a recipe from the Providence Journal 2004! Plaza Grill Pasta.

After church one Sunday, Arthur and I visited with Melody and Brian. This is one of her birds. He's quite a character.

Sky pictures from one of the cold days we had.

More sky pictures

JANUARY 1ST, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We had a wonderful relaxing New Year's Day. Southern tradition is to have collard greens and black eyed peas on New Years. I made collard greens, black eyed peas and ham biscuits. Yum! Hopefully, 2009 will be much better than 2008!

December 31st

The past 3 years, we have gone out for Chinese food with a couple of our neighbors. This year, One of our neighbors had just gotten out of the hospital so we decided to have take out. We ate a lot of Chinese food and then played Taboo most of the night.

I didn't get any more pictures because Dan came by on the way to his New Years Eve party at one of the girl's from youth group house. I let him take my camera (and it made it back!).

This is a very bad shot of Matt and Dan

A shot of some of the gang

December 28th

My mom flew back to RI Saturday. Today, it was 72 degrees. After church, I sat outside and read in the screen porch for awhile. Arthur went down to watch football with Joe and then they towed back Arthur's car (yes, again!), while Rose, Lisa and I watched a movie.

December 26th

My mom and I went to A Southern Season in Chapel Hill. It is one of those stores with all the gourmet food and odd kitchen things. We had a good time browsing and then split a salad at the coffee bar.

December 25th

Merry Christmas!

This year was much quieter. My Mom was here but the Andy was with his soon to be in-laws and Ben and Natalie were in Kansas. My pictures are out of order again though. My mom arrived Tuesday night. Christmas Eve we went to Christmas Eve service at Calvary. I enjoyed going to a Christmas Eve service again! Then we went to Rose & Joe's for our neighborhood Christmas Eve party. Christmas Day, Sierra came over and we opened presents and had dinner. That night, we went to see Marley and Me while Daniel picked up his friend, Matt who flew in from RI. Here are some pictures from that day.

My Mom

Great minds think alike! Both Dan and Arthur gave me small coffee makers!

Don't we look attractive first thing in the morning?

Unwrapping presents

Dan playing Santa

Arthur and Sierra relaxing with intellectual reading

I think Gracie needs a haircut!

Twice baked potatoes

Dan making salad

Flipper - also known as Sierra. She cut her hand at work.