2006 is Almost Gone

Wow! Can you believe 2006 is almost gone? I hope you all got our Christmas card and letter. I hope your 2007 is blessed and happy!

Things here are doing okay. The plumbers stopped by today to fix a leak we had under our main bathroom. Now the garage renovation can continue. I hope to start ripping off the wallpaper throughout the house next week.

Lee switched from first shift to third shift late last week. It is difficult because he works Friday-Tuesday and gets Wednesday and Thursday off. It really interferes with his time with Taylor, but he is going to start picking her up from school one day a week and spending that extra night with her. I think that will definitely help. We don't know exactly how his schedule is going to work with the holidays either. He is still looking for "normal" employment and has an interview with ACUI (Association of College Unions International) soon. He also tested for one of the 911 operator positions that are open. They will have continued testing until they hire two people officially in February.

While Lee was sleeping this weekend, Taylor and I spent some time together. We went to see the Santa Clause 3, went shopping and bought Christmas gifts for her dog, and she helped me wrap some Christmas presents for family and friends (and for Bandit the dog).

I am off of work next week (both jobs), so if possible, Lee and I are going to get away for a night that he has off and spend some much needed and much deserved relaxing time together. We put a lot of plans on hold when he lost his job, so hopefully we can pull this off.

Well, everyone keep in touch, and if I don't write again for awhile: Have a great Christmas and New Year's. Be safe, happy, and healthy. May you have a wonderful 2007!

3rd Month's a Charm

Thanksgiving for us was wonderful, and we have included some pictures to show you. Lee, Taylor, and I went to Lee's grandma's house first and then to Basswood Apartments (our old stomping ground) for Lee's dad's family's Thanksgiving.

In early afternoon, we split up. Rachel went to her family's Thanksgiving at her sister's in Indianapolis (a first). Lee and Taylor stayed in Bloomington and had quite the remainder of the day. They went back to Lee's grandma's and then showed out of town family our new house. Then Lee took Taylor back to her mom's and spent some of Thanksgiving evening with her family. It was a good holiday for all!! Lot of people to see, but not too much heavy traveling.

Lee also got a new full-time job. He now works for First Lease, which is a place that maintains fleet big rigs. He gets to clean them, maintain them, and get them ready for their next time out on the road. He loves it!! The only bad thing is that he'll be working third shift. But we will figure out how to work around that later.

He no longer works for Big Red Liquors or Sears. He only went to one training day at Sears before he was offered the First Lease job. He intended on keeping his Big Red job, but the district manager came and fired everyone in his store and essentially put the manager on probation. Apparently, the DM didn't like how things were run and took it out on the wrong people. Oh, well!! I think he is better off without them.

On another up side, I recently received a job offer from Indiana State University. I ended up turning it down, but I was lucky enough to receive a pay raise from my current job. So, I think and continue to hope that things remain looking up for us. It has been a rough three months, but I hope this is a turn for the better.

Happy Thoughts!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Remember, Christmas is less a month away - yikes!!