Hello to all of our Arizona members :wave:! Hope everyone is having a great December so far. :) I know it's already halfway through December and I'm late getting this started...sorry about that! :slap: I have been dealing with finals at school but I'm glad to say I am now off for a month! :yay:
Is everyone getting all ready for Christmas? Finished all of your Christmas shopping? Sent out the Christmas cards and decorated the house? I have my tree up and have the house decorated and I finally got my cards sent out yesterday, but I still haven't done my Christmas shopping. I know...I'm a big ol' procrastinator! :o

Happy Holidays to everyone and Happy (late) December!! :)

Hello Az members!!! I hope everyone is doing very well and is looking forward to the holidays. I am actually pretty much done with my shopping. My college classes are over, and I have 2 weeks off work for winter break!! woo-hoo, life is good!!! :D My sister flies in from Seattle in Tuesday, I am looking forward to that.

I hope everyone is having a great December!!

~Aimee

Tis the season......greetings AZ members. All is well AND COLD up here in New Jersey. Things are moving along and with no real complaints. I am finished petty much with my decorations, the tree is up and all of the shopping but don't have the wrapping part "wrapped" up quite yet. LOL Kids are excited and looking forward to their break from school. :rolleyes: I will be starting a new job in January 2006 and things appear as if they are finally falling like snowflakes into their rightful place. :thumbsup:

Have a happy holiday everyone and watch out for that mistletoe. :rock: :rock:

You guys are ahead of me. House is decorated but not clean. Only cards sent are ones to penpals. I've been too busy at work and volunteering to get donations of gifts to Native Americans on reservations in South Dakota, Mexican immigrants in Colorado and to homeless teens at the shelter where I work. Now it's time to shop for my family.

My kids are grown now and I'm so fortunate to have a grandson. Christmas isn't the same without kids. I can't wait 'till he's old enough to do crafts and bake cookies and be in school plays. Enjoy them while you can, ladies!

Sunday I played piano for hospice patients at a residential facility and will attend an ecumenical service there for Christmas. After the service, one of my penpals will try to call me, despite the fact one of my daughters isn't too thrilled about my writing inmates but she'll get over it. Then I'll cook a big meal which always takes me twice as long as I anticipate for all my kids and some of their friends who have nowhere to go.

I need 2 more weeks to get ready!!!!

My son in prison calls more often at this time of year - which is a big treat. I am printing "packages" of information off the Internet and mailing them to him. He thinks it is a big treat. At least it is something I can send to him.

I plan to go visit the other son for Christmas. I'll be there 5 days. Then I come home and go to Baltimore to see my sister. So my holidays are filled with family. I wish my mother was alive to share Christmas with me as she always did.

I have several days off at work, which is very nice. However, I LOVE my job, so working isn't a hassle as a general rule.

We had a Christmas party the 10th of December. We had about 40 people who showed up. The house is all decorated and all the Christmas cards have been sent out. I have finished all the shopping I plan to do.

Merry Christmas to all.

NJ

Hi everyone!
Yes, my shopping is all done and cards were sent out already. But I just can't put up a tree and fully decorate. I just mostly want it to pass. My family lives out of state. I will go to church on Christmas day and come home like it was any other day. When my honee comes home one day, then we will do it up big again.
I had a nice visit in Nov for 4 days. So that will hold me til the next one in Feb. Thank goodness for phone calls!
I wish all of you a wonderful Christmas! Take care and God bless.

MsVicki,
I hope you'll do something for yourself--have a nice meal, eat some chocolate, pamper yourself. Will you get to talk to him or be with family or a friends that day?

Hi everyone!
Yes, my shopping is all done and cards were sent out already. But I just can't put up a tree and fully decorate. I just mostly want it to pass. My family lives out of state. I will go to church on Christmas day and come home like it was any other day. When my honee comes home one day, then we will do it up big again.
I had a nice visit in Nov for 4 days. So that will hold me til the next one in Feb. Thank goodness for phone calls!
I wish all of you a wonderful Christmas! Take care and God bless.

Hi everyone!
I will be visiting my husband on Christmas Day. I am so excited! At least we will be together and get to eat junk food out of the vending machines.

Tessie

Chintath..... yes, I get to talk to my honee everyday, thank goodness. I am staying home after I go to church by my choice, on Christmas. Last year I was able to get thru it by not being around family or friends. I think if I was around anyone I'd probably break down. So by staying home alone. I kinda make like its just another day and keep busy with all my chores and stuff. Not to worry I'll be just fine. One day at a time! But thanks for your concern.
Take care and God bless.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

I spend my first Christmas away from 3 of my children and my grandchildren this year. But I am with my husband, who is a very happy man at present and my two teen sons. After Rita hit Texas, I managed to relocate to within walking distance of my husband's unit here in Florence. So, from the storm came a great blessing.

Things are different, but we end this year with the hope that we will early next year recieve the help that we need to try to prove Eldon's innocence. Chintath may not have an ear left, by the time that decision comes,however.

This forum has itself been a blessing this year, in many ways. Thanks to all of you, who have shown your caring and concern. My prayers are always with you and yours.

God bless you in all you do, in the coming year and beyond!

You can have my ear anytime, Eldon's wife!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

I spend my first Christmas away from 3 of my children and my grandchildren this year. But I am with my husband, who is a very happy man at present and my two teen sons. After Rita hit Texas, I managed to relocate to within walking distance of my husband's unit here in Florence. So, from the storm came a great blessing.

Things are different, but we end this year with the hope that we will early next year recieve the help that we need to try to prove Eldon's innocence. Chintath may not have an ear left, by the time that decision comes,however.

This forum has itself been a blessing this year, in many ways. Thanks to all of you, who have shown your caring and concern. My prayers are always with you and yours.

God bless you in all you do, in the coming year and beyond!

Good news today Chintath. The project is really seriously trying to help us. My husband is beside himself. Give me a call, when you can.....

Hi everyone :wave:, Merry Christmas!! I hope you are all having a wonderful day! :) Today has been great for me because I got to spend it with my Dale. :love: I am now getting ready to head over to my mom's house (with my dogs along for the ride :p ) for dinner. The visiting room was packed today. I was surprised to see so many people after there were only 5 families there at Thanksgiving. It's always good to see alot of families there spending the holiday together.
I hope that all of you were able to either visit or talk to your loved ones today! :)

P.S. Chintah, you have done some wonderful things for alot of people for Christmas. May God bless you for your kindness. :grouphug:

Hello everyone,

I'm new but I would like to check-in before December ends. The heart felt love here is a god send.

Happy New Year everybody. So glad you are all getting to see your loved ones. Got a great upbeat letter from Eldon and thanks for the kind words, Dale. I'm not doing great things, just facilitating what generous people in my community are doing.

Look forward to a better 2006 and hope the overcrowded, understaffed situation improves and legislators are finally enlightened and realize the sentencing laws need to change.

Be safe everyone!

I have just added to the understaffing situation as I have just reached my sentence end date on Dec 28th. :D I'm out of there. I would have stayed about five more years but DOC doesn't want to pay us. About three years ago they promised us a raise of about $4,500 and then cancelled it...Poof, just gone. :eek: I am also done with the state of Arizona and am moving in the new year to another state, Arizona is so crooked that a coil looks straight. Folks, these guys don't have any voice but yours please become active on their behalf................... limey

As much as I am sorry that the DOC lost such a valuable employee, I'm glad that you are able to be "free" of the system. :)

Like I told you before, please don't forget about us here once you move. And by all means, now that you can say whatever you want........:thumbsup:

Thank you Limey for the personal help you've given to me and the rest of the gang. You will be missed personally and professionally and hope you'll stay in touch. It's a shame they make it impossible for good people like you to stay. Good luck with future endeavors. I am happy for you.