Amazingly, we are still in Georgia and it appears we will be here for quite some time! Brad is working at 11 Alive, the NBC affiliate in Atlanta which also happens to be a Gannett Corp. station (as was channel 12 in Phoenix), so we are back in the fold. It is so nice to not be moving any more and finally getting unpacked.

While most of the year has been very upbeat for us, there was one discordant note. Our son, John, and his wife, Alison, split up in February. She took the children to TN where they live with their great-grandparents. The one good thing about this is that we have gotten to see quite a bit of Taryn and Drake.

This past year has been a busy one, with a lot of traveling. Late February/early March found my sister, Eileen, and I heading for Florida to visit our Mom. This was a three-fold trip: visit Mom, her sister (our Aunt Ruth), and our sister Peggy; meet our new step-Dad, Frank Doyle whom we affectionately call 'Pops'; and gather info for the family tree on Mom and Aunt Ruth's side. We had a great time seeing everyone, and Eileen got some new info and pics for the family tree.

April was a very busy month. Early in the month, I flew out to AZ as a surprise for our son, John's 30th birthday - and he was surprised. Then on Easter week-end, Brad & I headed for Monmouth, IL, stopping in Pigeon Forge, TN on the way, to visit with our grandchildren. We had a lot of fun with Taryn and Drake, and they ran our dog Simba's little legs off! Drake got hold of Grampa's camera and he got a few interesting shots, tho most were of the grass or sky. We stayed at my Dad's house and went to church with him on Sunday. Joda was still working week-ends then, so she had gone the evening before. Had a nice visit with both of them.

We headed on North to Monmouth where we helped Brad's Mom celebrate her birthday. The festive party included Brad & I, Mike (his brother) and Jane, their son, Josh with his wife, Mindy and son, Riley, and the folks, Lester & Helen. It was a fun time spent with loved ones. On our way home, we made a couple of detours - Hannibal, MO, and Carbondale, IL. I had never been to Hannibal and it was fun, even tho we didn't do the cave. What a quaint town! Then we headed over to Carbondale, IL to visit the campus of SIU and try to find some of Brad's old haunts when he was a student there. Actually did find a couple of the houses he lived in off-campus! Also visited Giant City State Park outside Carbondale where Brad and pals used hang out, grooving on nature.

This past summer, John was here with Taryn & Drake. We had a lot of fun with them, even though the time was rather short. John, Simba & I drove up to TN to pick the children up and when we came back, we went over the mountains by way of US441. Stopped at Newfound Gap and took some good pics. We all went out to Stone Mtn Park one day. The kids seemed to have a good time, especially wading in a little stream by Miss Katie's restaurant. Their whole visit was fun.

In the Fall, Brad and I took a couple camping vacations. In September, we went up to Black Rock Mtn State Park, in NE corner of GA. Had a great campsite! Simba loves to camp and we really enjoyed that trip. Then in early October, we rented an A-liner camper and headed to Grandfather Mtn area of NC - by way of TN, of course. Grandfather Mtn was really something - couldn't believe the strength of the wind at the visitor center near the top. The swinging bridge was something to go across! Had to leave Simba in the truck as we were afraid he'd get blown away!

Thanksgiving week, we had our nephew Josh, Mindy, & Riley Newberry here along with Mindy's 13-year-old cousin, Jeremy. Brad had an especially good time as he got to play Skittles with Jeremy, plus we all played various other games together. Riley was ill most of the time they were here, but he was still fun to have around. Such a good baby.

Our daughter, Teri, came in for week in December just to visit. We had a lot fun with her and really enjoyed getting to see her when there wasn't an agenda to follow. On the 17th, we took her up to TN as she was accompanying the grandchildren to AZ where they were to spend Christmas with their Father. Since the 18th was Teri's birthday, we went to Connors in the Five Oaks Center for lunch. Dad and Joda met us there and we had a good time. Then we went and picked up Taryn and Drake, and drove to the Knoxville Airport. Since there was a while to wait at the airport, we went over to the Hilton and had dinner. Of course, Taryn had a cheeseburger dinner and Drake had chicken nuggets! Their flight out wound up only being delayed by 10 minutes; they made all connections, and are happily enjoying their time with their Father! And of course, with their Aunt Teri and Uncle Wayne!

I have become involved with a group called the New Neighbors League Club. I am also the newsletter editor for this group, which I am afraid is partly why this is so late! This groups' goal is to help newcomers make the adjustment to a new area and to have some fun doing it. I have started to overcome my hermit tendencies, which were beginning to get the upper hand and I wouldn't go anywhere except grocery shopping - and that was a stretch.

Brad is doing well at work. Back with all the familiar scenarios as well as some new ones. He enjoys once more being part of the Gannett family and he sincerely likes working at this station. His biggest surprise is how much he actually likes living in the South! Brad says that other than the commute, living here in Roswell makes it all worthwhile. I have to agree. We have all the feel of a small town with a lot of the benefit of a city.