Gerald And Donna's Neat Thanksgiving With Friends

This blog post was provided to us last night in person by Donna and Gerald at their home, the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder.

We had a really nice Thanksgiving. Some friends from church invited us over to their house. They even rented a wheel chair ramp so we could easily get into their house with our wheelchairs. (apparently U-Haul rents ramps for a very affordable price).

For dinner we had turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes (one of Gerald’s favorite foods), and pumpkin pie and whipped cream.

It was fun to have a few little kids there. They add to the excitement with all the energy they have. You have to ask yourself, “Where do they get all that energy?” They can run around until they’re totally exhausted. Then they eventually tend to get tired and a little cranky, but that's how it goes.

The kids sure got a kick out of our wheelchairs. They thought it was like having a car in the house, and I guess they're right. They get us from point A to point B, just like a car does.

When we got home, we talked to mom (Gerald’s mom), and she's doing pretty well.  We found out that Gerald’s sister has moved to Texas. She gets around. She lived in Alaska for a while too.

Well, we’ll be putting up some Christmas decorations this weekend at our house, so that will make for a good time. Bye bye for now.

Rebecca's Thanksgiving

This blog entry was sent via audio email from Rebecca and followed up with a phone call to Rebecca to clarify what the turkey in the photo is made of.

Hi, I had a nice Thanksgiving at my parent’s house. I didn’t go to Zolo Grill for Thanksgiving this year because I was with my parents. I had turkey, mashed potatoes, a baked potato, and some other good food. When I got home we had some pie and ice cream. I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving.  This picture was taken at my parents house. 

PS: The turkey pictured below is made out of wood.

NY Yankees Are Coming To Denver Next May

This blog post was submitted by Jessica via a written note and phone call.

Hello, how are you? I hope you all have a nice Thanksgiving.

Last Thursday, November 15th, was my second anniversary living at Garden Place PCA. That night I watched the Buffalo Bills play the Miami Dolphins on TV, and they showed Niagara Falls a few times during the game. That was awesome. I enjoyed seeing the Buffalo Bills win. I like the New York teams. Next May (the 7th, 8th, and 9th) the New York Yankees will be in Denver playing the Rockies. I might go with my dad, that would be cool and great.

Also on my second anniversary at Garden Place I had a good day at work at the Pumphouse rolling silverware. After work I went bowling and had two games over 100 and a 99.

Well, bye for now, and happy Thanksgiving.

Update On Carl's Upcoming Trip To New Orleans

This blog post is about Carl, and was provided to us by Alan, one of the members of First Congregational Church in Boulder which Carl attends. Carl had recently told us he was going back to New Orleans on December 15th, so we contacted Alan for more information about Carl’s upcoming trip and Alan cheerfully obliged.

Carl will be going to New Orleans on December 15 by himself. This will be Carl’s fourth trip to New Orleans to help rebuild houses damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Carl enjoys the churches where we have stayed in the past while working on rebuilding homes through the St. Bernard Project, in east New Orleans. Therefore, he travels there on his own to experience special programs at several of the churches about which he knows, especially music programs. He finds all this out on the web.

In New Orleans, Carl has helped laying the floor, painting, sanding, drilling in drywall, and cleaning up. On top of that, when we get lost in the French Quarter or almost anywhere in New Orleans, Carl knows where to go. He has an uncanny sense of location. Even when he goes to New Orleans on his own, especially within the first several years after Katrina, he knew which buses would be working and which ones were not. He was able to locate the office of the St. Bernard Project. He also remembers every house he worked on and the names of those who live there.


Carl using a drill while repairing a damaged home in New Orleans.



Carl painting a damaged home in New Orleans.



Carl with friends Liz McCartney and Zack Rosenburg, founders of the St. Bernard Project.  
Liz was voted CNN's Hero of the Year in 2008.



Carl Will Be Helping Again In New Orleans

This post was given in person by Carl at Imagine!’s Thanksgiving potluck this afternoon. Carl has been to New Orleans three times already with members of his church, First Congregational Church in Boulder. Carl spends a lot of his spare time at the church listening to the choir practice and greeting visitors, and is a valued member of his church’s community.

On December 15 I’m going to New Orleans to help rebuild houses that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. This is my fourth trip there.

Are You Getting Ready For Turkey Day?

This blog post was submitted by John via an audio email.

Hi, This is your friend John. How was Veterans Day? Are you getting ready for Turkey Day coming up? I’ve got a good joke. “When is a car not a car?” “When it turns into the driveway.” I hope you understand that and I’ll talk to you later on, and hopefully I’ll see you sometime. Bye bye for now.

Griggs Likes Earning Money At Work

This blog post was provided in person by Griggs.

Hi.

Today we swept, mopped, and vacuumed.  I earned lots of money, working hard. I like earning a whole bunch of money. I can spend some in Omaha when I visit there. They have white cake, mashed potatoes, and lots of good food there. Tonight I’m going to talk to momma (Griggs talks to his mom almost every night). 

Griggs painted this piece of art at a CORE/Labor Source art class in Longmont.

Lana Chose A Winner

This blog post was submitted by Lana via audio email yesterday.

Hi, this is Lana. Obama won last night. I voted for him. I’ve been watching the race and stuff on TV. Talk to you later, bye.

This picture was taken in the living room of the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome, where Lana,
John, and Donna were eager to learn who would be our next president.  Lana, John, and Donna
were happy they got to vote. 

John Voted On Election Day

This blog post was submitted last night via an audio email from John. The photos were sent via email by Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome staff members Joseph and Chantelle.

Hi.  I voted already. I was doing that and then I had my IP which was really well. I hope you are watching the results of the vote.

I will not be at the Advocate Council until December 11. I just want to let you understand. So, happy election night. I have a really good joke. “What did one termite say to the other termite when he saw the house burning?” “Barbecue tonight!” So have a good night, bye.

John is pleased after having voted on election day.  Note his "I voted" sticker.



John, Donna, and Lana are watching the election results on their TV at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome.
John, Donna, and Lana all voted, and were eager to learn who would be elected president.   



Rebecca's Birthday Lunch At 3 Margaritas

This photo came to us via an email from Rebecca, and she told us over the phone that the picture was taken  on her birthday at 3 Margarita’s restaurant in Boulder, where she wanted to go for her birthday lunch.  She said it was a very good birthday meal; burritos, rice, and beans.  

Butterfly Resting On Jordan's Sleeve

This blog post was submitted by Tim West-Heiss, who is a Lead Counselor in Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department.

People served by Imagine!'s CORE/Labor Source department recently went to the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, Colorado, as part of a community activity and this picture of Jordan was taken there. You can see the butterfly (it looks like a Tiger Swallowtail) sitting calmly on Jordan’s sleeve.

Rae Paints A Picture For Her Niece's Birthday

This is a picture that Rae painted for her niece’s birthday. Rae is a resident at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder.