Hats Off to 2008

I have read some of the other blogs reviewing 2008 and thought I might give it a try.

February- I flew to Dallas to visit my sister Nora. Flying is a big deal for me-I do not like it. It was so worth it, though. We had such a wonderful time.

April- The month of the big flood. April 10th our house flooded. We had about eight inches of muddy water throughout our home. The next day was spent moving everything out in about 2 hours. So many people helped us that day and for many days after that. I could never name them all. However, I have to mention two of them who went above and beyond the call of friendship. Those two are Curt and Becky Gwartney. I cannot begin to express what they did for us during that time. They opened their home to us for two months! We could not have made it through that difficult time without them.

A short week after “The Flood” I travelled to Hot Springs for NG5, the annual getaway with my sisters. They were so sweet and kind and helped me forget for just a little bit all the trouble back at home. The time passed too quickly and it was time to say goodbye. I will never get used to telling them goodbye.

May- Our youngest sister, Vicki, was hospitalized and worsened very rapidly. She died peacefully on May 29th. She was only 49 years old.

June-Finally, some good news again. After many, many hours and thousands of dollars and we were able to move back into the house! New walls, new floors, new trim, new paint and lots of little details to finish. Are they finished? Ask me again later.

July – I was offered a promotion at my job of 14 years. I accepted and became the Compliance Officer at my bank. It has been challenging but rewarding and I love it. We also went to Branson, MO and had a wonderful time. We love Branson.

August – Time for a week vacation and a trip to Hot Springs to see my sister Debe and her husband David. It was only my second time there but it was Dennis’s first time and he loved the old part of Hot Springs. If you go there, tour the bathhouses.

Blair started working at a hospital as a Nurse Tech and loves it. She is waiting to get into LPN school.

School started this month for Katie-5th grade. She is growing up too fast. I want her to be 3 yrs old again.

I went away for a week to Compliance School. It was a hectic, fast paced week full of classes and studying and tests. I loved every minute of it.

October-Our son, Aaron and his wife found out that the company they work for is closing. They will both be looking for work.

November- We took our grandson, Izaac, with us to Branson. It was our first time to be there for the Christmas lights and all. It was great. We stayed at the Hilton at Branson Landing and we are now spoiled for all hotels forever!

We travelled again to Hot Springs for the Jernigan Family Thanksgiving. This is my favorite holiday of the year because these are my favorite people in the world. It was too short, but great.

December-Well, Christmas and all that goes along with this wonderful season took up the whole month. I love this time of year and do not wish it away as so many do. We enjoyed Christmas Eve with our family – Me, Dennis, Blair, Katie, Aaron, Jami, Ricky and Izaac. Then, a quiet Christmas day with just the four of us. We really do like it that way. So much so that we spent New Year’s Eve the same way-only just three of us. We didn’t even stay up to watch the New Year creep in. We just got up the next morning and said……………

“HELLO 2009!”