Happy New Year 2008

not out of the woods yet!!

I had hoped that the worst of our germs and sickness were behind us but I guess I was wrong. Syndie, Emily, and Josiah all have terrible hacking coughs, Emily went through an entire box of Kleenex by herself yesterday, and Syndie flu morphed into a head and chest cold. We have had to alter our social plans on Friday, Sunday, and yet again tonight. Samantha and I are till illness free but we are outnumbered! I am going to go and take my immunity booster drink as soon as I finish this post.

Local shelters in need of help

This morning I came across these two articles in the online version of the Westland Observer. There are two local groups in need of help. The first is the homeless shelter in Westland that our family made donations to before Christmas. The article does a good job explaining what they do and why they need help. The second is a warming center in Westland that is in need of help and donations. Here are two good local causes in need of help please read and consider helping out.

Homeless Shelter article from Westland Observer

Warming Shelter article from Westland Observer

My merry christmas

Christmas is not primarily about gift giving but I did get some nice thoughtful gifts from my family this year.

My daughter Emily bought me 10 carbon offset stickers for some of my books from eco-libris.

My daughter Sam made me a homemade snow globe and coupons for special favors.

My son Josiah got me a carved figurine from 10,000 villages of a monkey and it’s baby (representing us).

Syndie got me a cool t-shirt and a  coffee mug.

I am very thankful for all of my special gifts and the special bond I have with each giver.

syndie back to life again!

After a rough week fighting off the flu Syndie is finally back on the mend. She was up and around today and starting to get back into the swing of things. She is still not 100% but much better than she was. It is always  hard when someone you love is sick and there is not much you can do but help them ride out the storm.

just finished

Yesterday the kids asked me to take them to the library. I picked up three books that I have been wanted to read. I checked out The Starfish and the Spider, Tipping Point, and Deep Economy. I already finished the Starfish and the Spider. Easy read, very informative. A book I will read a again. I was very intrigued by the idea of "leaderless organizations". Lots to mull over in the year to come.

movie night

The kids and I went out and saw the Bee Movie at the dollar theater. We all liked it. http://www.beemovie.com/

syndie sick today

Syndie is still not feeling well today. She continues to suffer the ill effects of a real nasty flu bug. She has spent the entire day in bed sleeping. I feel bad that she has been feeling this way for a full 48 hours +.

New Year Blessing

found this on the blog of Tony Jones

A Franciscan Benediction:

May God bless you with discomfort,
at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger,
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

My God bless you with tears,
to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war,
so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their
pain to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness,
to believe that you can make a difference in this world,
so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

Amen.

back home again

We are back home again from our time in Canada for Christmas. We had a good time and a lot of fun with Syndie’s immediate family. The only problem was Syndie came done with a nasty flu bug while we were there and spent all of boxing day in bed with a fever, chills, body aches, and cough. She is supposed to be at work tomorrow but I am not so sure. There is still water in the basement so I am not sure what we are gong to have to do.