Freedom Writers (2007)

Freedom Writers (2007) - Movie Info - Yahoo! Movies

Julie and I watched this movie a couple of days ago. We both liked it a lot and thought it was a great drama. We probably both enjoyed it because we both like to help people. Hillary Swank played the leading role and she was passionate about helping high school students. The movie was based on a true story.

Thankful for my job...

We all have frustrating times at our jobs. The government vehicle I drove today got a flat at the home of one of my patients and I had to wait 90 minutes for a ride. Engineering decided to leave the vehicle there overnight (which was fine with the patient) and fix the flat tomorrow (it was raining hard). I got home 90 minutes later than normal.

Aside from that, it was a great day. It is very fulfilling to help my patients and my coworkers are great people to work with. During the difficult economic times our country is facing, many Americans have either lost their jobs or lost the earning ability they need to meet many basic family needs. My job not only meets our needs, but I am always home before the kids are in bed.

I am very thankful for my job.

Four Seasons in NC...

It is getting close to a full year since we moved to North Carolina. We moved this past Summer and it is now Spring. Things are very busy for us and there have been many adjustments for us all.

Julie is now working full time at a social services agency for children and adolescents. Amanda and Emily are keeping busy at school. Both are doing very well. Julie and I were relieved to finish our taxes this past weekend and are looking forward to the rebates that the government will be sending out. We are still working hard to pay off debt, but have been making good progress over the past few months.

We have not had any offers on our home yet. It went on the market in June, 2007. We lowered the price again and our Realtor is having an open house on 4/23/08. We are hopeful we will get some interest. The market is very difficult now.

Merry Christmas 2007

Dear Friends and Family,

In July of 2007, we moved from Michigan to North Carolina and Dave took a position as a staff psychologist at the VA Medical Center in Salisbury, NC. Dave provides psychological services to elderly and critically ill veterans in their homes. He has been at his new job for about 6 months and loves it. Dave’s work caring for elderly veterans is very fulfilling.

Moving from our home of 6 years has not been easy. We miss our neighborhood, our friends, and our church. Dave’s parents have let us live with them while we wait for our home in Michigan to sell.

Julie was happy to be able to visit Seattle, Washington and spend some time with her mother this Fall. She was pleased to find her mother doing well. Julie was able to enjoy the beauty of Washington State and visit some childhood friends. Dave, Amanda, and Emily were glad she had a good time, but missed her every minute until she returned.

Emily started Kindergarten and Amanda entered 4th grade. They miss their friends and had a very good school in Michigan. We are very grateful that they have had a good school experience so far here in North Carolina.

After about 4 months of trying various churches, we finally found a church home. We attend Christ Wesleyan Church in Winston Salem, NC. We are enjoying our church, making friends, and finding ways to get involved. We are especially enjoying our Sunday School Class.

Thanks for your friendship. Please call, write, or email us any time. We’d love to stay in touch. God bless you and your loved ones. We hope you sense God’s peace and grace during this Advent season.


Love,
Dave, Julie, Amanda, and Emily Spriggs

Julie’s Midlife Thoughts

Well, ya'all (trying to fit in the southern states) It is official now that I celebrated my 40 something birthday yesterday. I am well on my way to the "middle years" of a human life span. It seems odd how my memories can take me back to when I was twenty something; how much freedom I felt to choose my career, my friends, my lifestyle. The years pass by and you come to realize that you are still the same person but in different circumstances and appearance, too.
Today, I have a supportive and loving husband of 11 years and two happy (most of the time) growing girls and even our pets, Cinnamon and Victoria are great companions.
It seems the simple things in life have more meaning to me as I grow older. There has been difficult times in my life in which it seems unbearable and even painful but through each hardship. I can only hope that I will continue to grow wiser with my decisions, stronger in my character and integrity, and eventually more intimate with our maker, God. My life is shared with those I love and care for and that I am grateful for. It has been a wonderful life thus so far!!
I was able to take a trip to Seattle, WA in September. I visited my 77 year old mother who continues to live in her home of 20 years. She maintains her good health and remains active. She is considering selling her home in the spring time and I will help her find an independent living apartment here in North Carolina, which would be a great for our family. I hope that all things will fall into to place for her to move closer to us.
It has been about 5 months since we moved to North Carolina. I have been trying to find a part-time job to contribute financially to our household. I will be starting very soon at an afterschool tutoring program for about 2 days a week and 5 hours a week. The Brame Institute contracts with the Guilford County public schools for teachers in which I am hired to teach the curriculum provided by Brame for kindergarten or first grade students who are not performing well academically. It is in compliance with the federal law "no child left behind" they provide the funding to the public schools. I am really looking forward to this opportunity.
I have been reading numerous books about homeschooling education. My "mom" heart yearns to build a closer relationship with each of the girls in all aspects of their maturation (spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and physically). Also, another reason is for control- isn't that a strange thought? but as Amanda will enter middle school she will eventally be taught about sex. Who, what, where and when should she be told about that subject? is there any bias toward what our culture says about this issue? also, friends that they will choose, exposure to the arts, time to study, things of this nature can make homeschooling very appealing. I sometimes imagine how we could share our thoughts, build a harmonious relationship between sisters, challenge each others intellect. I don't know the outcome but I will have to keep you posted.

Thanksgiving 2007

Every year, we have much for which to be thankful. This year, our family had a wonderful Thanksgiving together. Julie prepared the meal at my parents' home. Here are some pictures of us enjoying Thanksgiving Dinner together.





Amanda and Emily have been taking Dance lessons each Saturday morning. In a couple of weeks, they will have a dance recital.



Here are the girls enjoying Halloween a few weeks ago, along with my parents' dog Jack. All three are dressed for the occasion.



This year will be over soon. We have had many changes and many blessings in 2007. Happy Thanksgiving.

Time Flies…

Summer and now the Fall have really gotten away from me and I haven't made any blog entries for 3 months. I have stayed very busy in my work as a psychologist at the VA Medical Center in Salisbury. I just received my first review and obtained the highest possible rating, which was very encouraging. I am very fulfilled in my work of serving elderly, homebound veterans.

Julie, Amanda, Emily and I were sad to say goodbye to my grandmother, Opal Spriggs, who passed away on September 6, 2007. She had been ill for a long time and was always near loved ones during her last days. Julie and the girls and I would go for walks with her (I would push her in her wheelchair) and we were able to do this just a few days before her death. I was honored to give a eulogy at her funeral and I will attach it as a comment to this entry.

Unfortunately, I was not able to attend my college reunion at Olivet Nazarene University for the class of 1992. I had gotten a few emails from friends who were looking forward to going. Julie and I would have enjoyed it, but with our recent move and my lack of accrued vacation hours, the timing wasn't right.

My cousin introduced me to geocaching and we went a few times this Summer. Here is a good picture of Amanda and Emily having fun with their cousin, Autumn, on 8-11-2007.