Throughout our greeting are links that give you a picture of some of what we mention.

The Raders want to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

2008 has been a good year for us. All in our family are doing well.

Dathan graduated from High School in May. He worked for a trim carpenter in Murfreesboro for a little while. In the late summer he started his own trim carpentry business. Acutally, he and Donnie are partners in the business. They have one employee (Zach Bruce from church). That allows Donnie to only go out on the job one day or a day and a half a week.

Krista and Dan bought a condo this year in the east end of Louisville. They were glad to get out of the small apartment. Since Krista is such a dog lover, they got a Bichon puppy that they named "Pebbles".

In April, Joan's parents moved into the apartment we built for them. This made the work Joan had on her much easier by having her mother (who needed so much care) just a few steps from our back door. This year would have been very hard without having them close by. Sadly, Joan's mother, Annis McKinney, died September 26. She had reached the point that her quality of life was such that death was a welcome relief for her and the family. Dorris, Joan's dad is doing well. When the weather is good he stays busy in the yard and garden.

Donnie's parents are doing well. They are still living in Columbia, TN, where he preaches for the Mooresville Pike congretation.

Like every year, Donnie had several meetings that kept him busy. However, Donnie has trimmed his schedule for 2009 back for three reasons: (1) So he will not have to be gone from the local work so much, (2) To help Dathan in the carpentry business, (3) Donnie doesn't like to travel.

2009 will be different for Joan. She has been needed so much in taking care of her mother, the year ahead will be a change. She stays business taking care of Donnie, Dathan and her Dad. She is enjoying working in her craft room (making cards with Stamping Up).

We lost two of our best animals we have ever had this year. Our dog, Snuggles, that we had for eleven years died in August from a heart attack or stroke.Within a couple of weeks, we lost the best horse we ever had. Dathan's horse, Misty, got out of the gate (which she opened herself) in the middle of the night and got hit on the road. She had a four month old colt that had not been weaned. He survived and is doing just fine.

2008 was a good year for our family. We hope that 2009 will be just as great. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.