New Glasses

Hi All,

Faith has just got glasses. She looks so cute in her new blue glasses. She was excited to get them. Doesn't she look like a school girl?

Happy Halloween everyone! Faith is going to be Minnie Mouse.

I have had a few days off of school because of the flu. Ishpeming had 27% of the students absent last Wednesday so they decided to close for three school days. The janitors will be cleaning the school during the time off. We will go back on Tuesday the 27th. It will be interesting to see how many kids will be out when we go back. So far I haven't been sick, thank goodness. Many other schools in the U.P. have been off too. Hope you are all feeling well.

Love, Debbie

The Leaves changing in Peachtree City

Paul and I took a great cart ride this morning around Peachtree to see the leaves starting to change. I thought you may enjoy the pictures we took.

Emily

 
 
 
 

Pete, Emily and Alaina came to visit.

 
 
 
 

Pete, Emily Ann & Alaina came to GA to spend a long weekend with us. We had a great time! We went to October Fest at the City Cafe and Bakery, had my art show and on Sunday Nana and Grandpa took Alaina to the pumpkin farm to pet the animals and get a pumpkin. We sure had a lot of fun but the time went by way to fast.

Emily Marie

Back to School

Getting on the bus!

Hi All,

Here are some pictures of Faith's first day of school. She is going to Headstart in the mornings. She was very excited about school.

It was a exciting day for Faith to go to school. We are proud of our school girl Faith!

Love to all, Debbie

So Much To Catch Up On

There really is just so much to catch up on - I could have made a million posts - but I think this recap will get us back on track!!

The day I flew in from Mom and Dad's house in Peachtree City I ran an 8K on Belle Isle to benefit United Way's 211 program. There were about 100 runners and I was almost the last one to make it in. I didn't really care, though, I finished in a good time for me - so it was a personal accomplishment.

The week before the kids came back to school, aka Teacher Week, my life was surrounded by many deaths. My friend Nate from Genesis the Church lost his battle against cancer - but I know that he felt the victory of walking into God's arms. He was an amazing man who left behind an incredible wife, Deb, and two children Morgan and Landon. You can read about his journey here - it will stir your heart.

Around that same time a well-loved middle school teacher in our district lost his daughter in a car accident.

Then my dear sweet Piggie started to not feel well. Her lungs started to fill with fluid and she was exhausted. She would rest and then try to "act peppy" to make me smile - but she just couldn't keep up. We brought her to the vet and had to have her put to sleep. I cried like a baby - she was so special to me. I still get choked up when I think about her. My house is not the same without her. Warren Woods Veterinary Hospital was such a wonderful place. They were kind, compassionate, knowledgeable, and understanding. They sent a beautiful card that week. Silly as it may sound, it was also so nice to receive the guinea pig stuffed animal from Aunt Linda. I had just brought the gift home from Atlanta where mom had been keeping it for me. Thanks so much Aunt Linda. It was perfect timing. The picture below was taken earlier this year. Piggy liked sitting in my winter hat all nice and cozy.

The weekend before the kids started a bunch of us went sailing on Lake Huron in Port Sanilac, MI - including Sailor Tim and Sailor Carrie. They had fun testing their skills in the scant wind. By the end, Bob sold Carrie and Tim his old Catamaran. (They worked on it last Saturday and it's ready to sail) It's cool cause it has an orange hull and a striped orange, red, and yellow sail. Do you have any ideas for what they should name it?

These are the first day of school pictures. I take them every year for a record. Berkley High School was named one of Newsweek's Top High Schools again which is great!!

Our dear friend Kim made Carrie and I a lovely dinner on Friday of the first week of school. She wanted to Celebrate Teachers! How awesome is that? What a friend!!! She is a Korean woman who was adopted into a wonderful family who is not Korean. Anyhow, she married a lovely Italian man and she learned how to cook the world's best lasagna I have ever tasted. It was SPECTACULAR - I was so thankful. Kim filled reusable goodie bags full of fun teacher supplies. I was absolutely THRILLED. I was also so tired that night and fell asleep by 10pm. Oh yeah - I also picked up cupcakes from Westborn Market that had "monsters" on top to remind us that we love the little "monsters" we are teaching. They were uber cute.

I am teaching biology and chemistry again this year. My students have been very busy. In biology we used the chemistry kits to make models of mono, di, and polysaccharides. I love this picture because it really is reminiscent of our new district logo which you can see on our web page.

The first weekend after school got started was super busy and included a "washers" party. I stink at playing washers but it was fun. I forgot my camera - and the only shots that I saw from friends were of the back of my head - my hair looked good - but really - you don't want to see that. The following weekend - which was last weekend (bringing this long post to a near end) I drove to Indianapolis to visit Pete, Emily Ann, and Alaina while they were partaking in Emily Ann's sister's wedding. By the way - Emily Ann was absolutely beautiful and adorable in her bridesmaid dress with her pregnant belly. Addison sure is cookin'. I had the privilege of watching Alaina all day Saturday. We had a great time - playing in the leaves, pretending like we were washing our hands, taking walks, and just having fun. Alaina has gotten really good at saying and signing "PEEEEEEEAS" (please) It's absolutely darlin'. The picture below shows her really sayin', signin', and meanin' it!

Alaina and I went to the church so that she could be in the family pictures. Look her beautiful smile. We were having fun playing peek-a-boo. I took a ton more pictures and I will post them in the next post.

Well folks, that's all for now. This weekend I have a music seminar, need to grade a gabillion biology scavenger hunt assignments, and will lead worship Sunday morning with my friend Matt. I hope you are all doing well and will share your latest with all of us!!

Hi All,

I just thought I would post the Christmas exchange list as a reminder to us all. Next year we will be blessed with another addition.

CHRISTMAS 2009
Paul buys for Ken
Emily Marie -- Winter
Tracy --Debbie
Tim --Carol
Peter N. --Peter C.
Emily Ann --Sara
Alaina --Adam
Carol --Addy
Ken --Emily Ann
Sara --Lindsey
Ryan --Bob
Joy --Alaina
Isaac --Faith
Adam --Tim
Linda --Ryan
Bob --Isaac
Debbie --Paul
Peter C. --Emily Marie
Winter --Linda
Lindsey --Joy
Addy --Peter N.
Faith --Tracy

Love from Debbie

Andersonville and Plains GA

Yesterday Paul and I took a day trip around Georgia. We have been trying to see as much as we can of the different Civil War sites as possible.

Andersonville, or Camp Sumter as it was officially known, was one of the largest of the many confederate military prisons established during the Civil War. It was built early in 1864 after Confederate officials decided to move the large number of Federal prisoners kept in and around Richmond, Virginia, to a place of greater security and a more abundant food supply. (I don't know why the food thing they did not feed them at all!) During the 14 months the prison existed, more that 45,000 Union soldiers were confined there. Some 13,000 died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, or exposure.

The prison, POW museum, and cemetery were really interesting. The statues were really impressive. You can find out more about Andersonville at this link or visit some pictures at Google images.


After a picnic lunch at the National Park site, we then went on to Plains GA. We visited there with Mom and Dad Nadeau in the summer of 1977. All I remember of Plains is Billy's gas station the white train station headquarters and that it rained so hard an old chair floated by in the ditch on the side of the road. When we got there not much had changed since then except no chair!!! Also it was really nice that a woman who own one of the shops came running out after us giving Paul a bright yellow sunflower because she said we had the prettiest car in Plains in a long time and the flower matched the car to the T.

We had a great trip and it took about three hours to drive home.








This is to show the area where the men lived. They had to have all their own things they were not given shelter, food, water, or anything for that matter. It was hot and buggy when we were there. I know it gets hotter and sunnier. It must have been unbearable!


This is at the entrance of the Cemetery It is really nice.


This is the Monument that was to honor all the men from Michigan:



This is the Carter headquarters. It looks the same as it did before LOL.











Billy Carter's Gas station. I remember us all visiting this in 1977




Daisy given to us by the shop Lady because we had the car to match!

Come They Told Me . . . Pa Rum Pa Pa Pum

What a lovely weekend - What a fast weekend. Pete, Emily Ann, and Alaina arrived late Friday night. We had the pleasure of spending the day together on Saturday. Since I saw Alaina last June, it seems that she has become a drummer! She loves all sorts of music, noises, and dancing!

Happy 39th Anniversary

This weekend I had the great pleasure of traveling to Peachtree City to visit Mom and Dad. I flew in on their 39th Anniversary from Detroit and Dad flew in late that evening from Japan. He brought back a very special card that he had a Japanese friend write in Kanji symbols. She also wrote a translation in English. We have always chuckled at how the translations don't always come out so smoothly. We have laughed all weekend at this one!