Thanksgiving and More

Oh, it is amazing how time slips away. It is hard to believe that the month of November is already gone and we are only days away from Christmas!!!!! It is also quite unbelievable that it has been more than a month since my last post.

Anyway, things have been extremely busy at work and at home. The budget crisis in Virginia and the overall downturn in the economy have been wreaking havoc for us. We have had record numbers of applications and caseloads. People are really struggling right now and that means that our business is booming. Not a good thing, but at least we are helping people as best as we can. We are doing a new Christmas for Seniors program called Senior Bells which is a great program, but is creating even more work. It always feels great to actually see the people we are heping and this is one of those programs where you see actual results. It helps make what we are doing a little more bearable. It is quite difficult work, but these types of programs are really rewarding.

The whole child welfare transformation in Virginia is also creating some new challenges for us. What they are asking for us to do is a huge challenge and not giving us any more resources to do it with. The last administrative increase our agency received was in the early 90's. I would love to see how other programs would operate with no additional funds for over 15 years; however, speaking to it would be like beating a dead horse over and over and over again. Anyway, we have two days of managing with data tomorrow and Tuesday in Abingdon. I truly can't contain my excitement!!!!!!

Shatlyn finished up cheerleading at the beginning of this month and decided not to play basketball this year, so that is giving us a little more free time now that we don't have to do all the practice and games that go along with any sport.

My friend from Iraq was just in for a couple of weeks before he went back for another three months. He works for one of the contractors in Iraq and just finished his one year contract. Now he has the decision to re-up from month to month. He truly thought about not going back this time; however, making around $100,000 per year virtually tax free is certainly enticing. I just hope he stays safe and isn't exposed to too much violence in his trials.

I continue to bowl in my league on Thursday nights. Due to work, I was only able to make a couple of the nights during November. I am averaging in the mid 180's which is closer to where I want to be, but certainly not back to 200+ where I was when I was bowling year round on at least two leagues, but still close enough to where I am pretty happy with it.

December brings the joys of Christmas and all of the Holiday season. Hope that everyone is well and all of you and your families have safe and happy holidays!!!