2009 as we know it is ticking down. What will we remember about 2009? Perhaps that this has been the year for some home improvements, some planned, some not.
In January, we took out the carpet in our kitchen and bathroom in the entryway and replaced it with linoleum that looks like tile. Next up was replacing our square wooden columns on the front porch,(they were rotting from underneath) with round fiberglass columns. We covered the porch ceiling with siding to protect the wood from moisture and it looks great! We also replaced our broken shutters with some new ones!
The next planned renovation was to replace our single pane wooden windows with triple pane energy efficient windows. While this was going on, we hosted the middle school boys group from our church for a weekend. Our home literally busted at the seams! The best memory of all that was hearing the boys play praise music with our piano and their guitars! The music and their voices brought encouragement to our neighbors and smiles to our faces. What a great time, amongst the construction!
About three weeks after that, we thought we were finished. Ha! Our hot water heater decided to leak, causing quite a mess in the garage. Thanks to an awesome father in law it was fixed that very day!
Side note here, my neighbor and I decided to add to our yards this year and line the ditch that divides our lots from each other with fire bushes. We each bought 6 4ft. bushes. The great thing was our neighbor and I got a deal from the bush guy and for just $5.00 a bush we got the holes dug, a liner put down, the bushes planted and mulched! Whoo hoo!
On the outdoor note, Teri and I got busy buying some various day lilies and planted them in our yards this summer. We also planted some monkey grass. I pulled some old ugly bushes and used the grass to replace them. At Teri's home, we pulled weeds and recreated several areas in her yard. I have never shoveled as much mulch as I have this year. The end result is so beautiful!
A few weeks pass and we discover in the heat of summer that we have to replace our 20 plus year old airconditioner unit. The Lord provides and that was so far the last big thing we have had to replace in our home.
On a personal note, Chad was honored at Austin Peay State University this year with the 2009 Radiologist of the Year award. He had no idea he was even nominated! His work with incoming radiology students was recognized in a way that truly humbled him. We are so proud of his accomplishments!
In September, I was asked to become a staff writer for a local magazine, Clarksville Family! To say that I was excited is an understatement! A dream come true. To have something that I pour myself into for fun, to be published for the world to read and to get paid for it too! Whoo hoo!
Chad and I got to work with Extreme Makeover Home Edition here in Clarksville! I never got to see TY, but I was able to work with another star and help install a low flow toilet! It was a great experience to see how that comes together, and to be able to participate!
Cory is navigating middle school well, we are so proud of him! He is on his forth year of piano lessons with Mrs. Magnuson and it shows! His recent recital was an opportunity for him to show off his skills! Cory has true musical talent, it is neat to watch him grow and stretch himself and his abilities.
Brian was able to reconnect with several of his long time soccer buddies (they played together off and on since they were four. This produced a team of 10 year old boys that were able to claim the title of undefeated this season! Congratulations Brian!
Both boys have matured so much this past year. They have poured themselves into helping others by getting involved in community projects on their own accord! Through our church, they both have shown leadership skills in set up early Sunday mornings to leading the childrens worship working the sound and light boards.
We finished a year involved in a small group Bible study and have started up a singles group for 20/30 year olds. We also went to New Mexico and worked with the Navajo, and took a train ride in Colorado.
Second side note! We had an armadillo sighting in our neighbors yard! WOW!
This has been an eventful year, and we look forward to whatever God has in store for us in the upcoming year of 2010!
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