Happy New Year to all!
Here we go again. My new year's resolution is to once again try to keep in touch with everyone through this blog. If you cannot enter a post, let me know through my e-mail and I will try to help you out. Todd is the mastermind behind this blog, I know he can get us all up and running.
Through the holidays it is always so good to be together and hear from one another. It is my wish that we can keep that going throughout the entire year.
Danny and Becky, we so enjoyed the picture of Tommy and Maria and shared it with everyone through the Christmas holiday.
Mike celebrated Christmas Mass on Christmas Eve at the convent and we were all invited to attend. That was really a special event for us all.
New Year's Day brought us all together with Fr. Mike and Fr. Rick. There was once again so much good food, games, and just enjoying one another's company. Mike prepared a huge pot of 'soup' for our dinner. Everyone wanted the recipe, so I have included it below. (Yes, it does say 88 ounces of broth! That is not a typo)

Just an update to get things going.
Things in Florence are winding down now that the holiday season is just about finished. It has been terribly cold here but no snow yet.
Grandma is doing quite well. She is like the energizer bunny. Nothing stops her. I think she has some plans for doing some special sewing projects during the winter months.

Andy was in for Christmas. It is always so good to be with him and experience his unique sense of humor. As always, those visits are too short and we don't really get to visit as much as we would like. Perhaps we need to go to Boston!

Todd and Ken did not make it in for Christmas this year due to Ken's health situation. His headaches were quite severe and on Christmas day needed to go to the hospital again. He was in ICU for a little over a week. They are now
managing his medications and he will hopefully be returning home tomorrow.
For those who do not know, Ken has been diagnosed with a disorder which affects the vascular area of the brain. He required brain surgery and experienced 4 strokes over the past 2 months. He is improving but still has some hurdles to overcome. Please keep them both in your thoughts and prayers.

Kim and Amy are as busy as every with all the usual juggling that mothers today are required to do. Kim, Brian, Amy and Dave have recently started a exercise program that involves 'running'. For the life if me, I cannot imagine why. But they all seem to be enjoying it and sharing their experiences with one another.
Amy has entered a mini-marathon for next October in Disney World. Kim and Brian are working on putting together a trip to LasVegas sometime this winter.
That will be a lot of fun.

All 'the kids' are doing well and staying very involved in so many activities - soccer, indoor soccer, volleyball, basketball, academic team, scouts. The list goes on and on. But they are all thriving and doing well. This year will see Michael turn 16 and learn to drive and Emily will be leaving middle school to be a Freshman in High School in the fall. Allison and Nick will be moving on to Middle school. Sean will start Kindergarten! Where does the time go?

For now enjoy the winter months, and if you get a chance stop by and give us an update on what is going on with you.

Hope to hear from you soon. bj




Father Mike's Pasta Fagioli
3 tsp Oil
2 lbs. Italian Sausage
1 large Onion
4 cloves garlic crushed
14 oz. Carrots, slivered (you can buy match stick carrots at grocery)
14 oz. Celery, diced
48 oz. Tomatoes, diced canned
2 Cups of Red Kidney Beans (canned)
2 Cups of White Kidney Beans (canned)
88 oz Beef Stock
3 tsp. Oregano
2 1/2 tsp. pepper, coarsely ground
5 tsp parsley
1 ½ tsp Tabasco Sauce
48 oz Spaghetti Sauce
8oz. Ditalini (small tube pasta)
Preparation:
Brown sausage in oil (drain if necessary), add garlic, onions, carrots, celery and tomatoes; simmer for about 10 minutes. Add drained and rinsed beans and beef stock, oregano, pepper, parsley, tabasco sauce and spaghetti sauce. Simmer for about 45 minutes until carrots and celery are tender. Add pasta and cook prior to serving.