Happy New Year!!!

Hello my bloggy friends!  I am back (not sure for how long) but for today, I will update you on what has been going on in my life.

Anna- our foreign exchange student left us in June.  With mixed emotions, we took her to the airport and cried and held on.  We went through alot while she was here.  I am sure she thinks we are crazy Americans as our life is nothing as they portray on German television.  We had some good times as well as times-well lets not even talk about that.  We miss Anna very much and wish her the best with her life.

School started in August for all of us.  I now have a junior in HS and an 8th grader at the middle school.  My girls are both in band and for the most part enjoy being a part of the band.  M is in the top of her class and makes us very proud.  This school year has brought us some challenges with both girls.  C is smart but she likes to have fun so that causes us some grief in the house.  She doesn't get into trouble, she just chooses not to apply herself. 

September was C birhtday.  She turned 14.  We didn't too much for her birthday as band consumes most of our time in the fall.  We celebrated with cake and some gifts for our sweet C.

In October, our house went through some changes.  M turned 16 and with turning 16 came a drivers license.  I am proud of M.  She drives a mustang which her dad bought her for $850.00, then promptly restored the car to its beautiful grace.  Her "Sweet 16" party was held in September at our house.  She enjoyed her day.  We then had a bonfire for her actual birthday party.  Maureen came for 2 weeks so celebrate with us. 

November brought us my nephew living with us.  TJ has had some issues in FL and decided that living with us and working here, life would be good.  He was able to obtain a job within his union and off to Atlanta he went.  We loved having TJ here but while he went home to discuss some options with his attorney, the union offered him a job with more money.  As sad as we all were to see him go, we know he is better off living in his environment. 

December is a busy month all around.  I started it off at our church with Advent by Candlelight.  I have always enjoyed this beginning of Advent.  It prepares me spiritually.  This year, it was a bit different and only had one speaker.  She started off speaking of her puppy (which I do not like dogs) then she tied it all together to have Love, Faith, Hope, Joy.  It was a great evening.  We were busy at school, making all the ornaments we do.  This is one of my favorite times of the year with my class.  They are so adorable when it comes to Christmas.  I had my annual Christmas Bingo party.  I had a great time this year.  There were lots of gifts and lots of laughter, not to mention lots of wine going around.

The middle of the month, J got offered and took a position with a previous employer.  YEAH!!!  More money, promotion and closer to home-almost forgot day hours!  What more can we ask for.  At this point we do not have health insurance so no one can get sick around here.  We decided that paying $1100 a month on COBRA is excessive.

The end of the month, did not bring me good news.  Everyone is healthy and I am very thankful for that.  ON my birthday, we received notice from an attorney our house is foreclosure.  OH MY! is I was able to think when J called to let me know.  After figuring out what has happened, our payments have not been applied.  I called the bank, talked to numerous people and have come up with a solution-however, it will take some time to clear up as they do not move that quickly. 

The last day of the month, we received a letter from the IRS.  Apparently our accountant didn't include my salary with our income.  I am sure it will handled appropriately-again more paperwork.  At this time, I am waiting for a phone call from our accountant to see what we need to do.  Not sure who is responsible for this but it did not make for good New Year's Eve.  I am glad this came in 2010 to end our year.  I am looking forward to only good things happening in 2011.

My friends mom, Gale, will undergo some more tests this month to see how far the cancer has spread.  AT this time, she is comfortable and will determine what the next course of treatment will be if any depending on the results.

Yesterday, SM and I spend the afternoon together.  WE talked about our blogs, other blogs we read and what to do with ourselves this coming year.  My goals for this upcoming year is to more organized and to lose weight.  I am not going on a diet but a life style change.  I hope to do this for myself.  I read other blogs and see how other people have lost weight and they do it for themselves.  I need to do this for me!

Have a Happy New Year!

"D"