Anna’s Blog

At a time when most of us are rejoicing in a new year and praying for a relief from the financial woes of 2008, its always good to step back for a few minutes…maybe hours…and reflect on what this next year will look like for each of us.

At Therap, being the leader in electronic documentation for agencies that provide supports to people with disabilities means that we are always striving to be better than we already are. To stay the leader we have to keep pushing the envelope. Automated training, enhanced applications, custom forms, provider user groups, 24 hours support…the list goes on and on. Its exhausting…but we keep on doing it as we grow across the nation providing the best products, support, and seeking to exceed our customers expectations each and every time.

In 2009 we won’t let you down. Therap will continue to improve on the applications that we currently have and offer new and enhanced features that you have yet to play with (its okay Renee, you’ll be one of the first to know, sweetheart!).

As for the activities of all of us at Therap USA, well…Justin has hinted about his activities this upcoming year… Allison’s New Year’s note gets you thinking as she crosses most of Oregon this next month getting several new agencies up to speed…. Mrs. Candelori is happily covering matters in the Connecticut office and giving out donuts…. Miss Maureen is all over the nation and soon to be training our newest agency in Alaska… and Sir Richard is busy….well…he’s just busy…always…even in his sleep…busy…busy…busy!

As for me…I am here and yonder over the next couple months. Next week I’m around Kansas City and over to work with our Missouri customers. The following week I’ll go to Arizona and meet the new Leadership Institute winter class then briefly over to Portland for a visit and back to Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas…wow…and that’s just JANUARY! February you can find me in New York, Colorado,and a bit of time in Kansas. Yo-Ho-Ho…a Therapite Life for me!

~ Ciao

Question - What does a rather high-energy Therapite do when she needs her battery re-charged? The answer…she disappears to a lake house just outside of Lawrence, Kansas (Go Jayhawks). At least that’s been my solution since 2002. It is also the site of where I spend each New Year’s Eve holiday with my boys, nature, and close friends. A couple days of rest, a bit of writing (I secretly think I’m Hemmingway), a snack from the kitchen every now and then, and I go back to the real world a renewed Therapite.

The weather was slightly brisk on New Year’s Day, somewhere between 18 degrees in the early morning and warming up to around 45 in the afternoon. I took out on a quest to grab some pics from around the lake. Hope you like them. The tree house is awesome. Its just across the water from the house.

My Hideaway

Susan preps the appetizers for the NYE party while Jeff plays taster-tester.

This is a happening place in the summer

The only ice still remaining in Kansas

This is the most awesome tree house!

This is the back of the most awesome tree house ever!

Okay girls…you know what I’m talking about. Its ALL about renewal, and this Therapite is doing a lot of that as of late.

This morning I renewed my sense of what cold weather is with a run in 18 degree temperatures…gosh it was cold! Then it was a renewal of my senses with an awesome cup of Hazelnut coffee, and off to see my very favorite stylist, Marty Kimmell, with best girlfriend, Susan, for new hair. Fun…fun…fun!

Sue and I model our new cuts with hair genius, Marty Kimmell

Therap has a new team member in the form of Mr. Jeff Case. A native of Indiana and now living in Overland Park, Kansas, Jeff is our newest Customer Support Specialist. His primary focus will be the Missouri/Indiana area but expect to see him around the conference circuit. You can also meet up with him at the upcoming Therap Provider Administrator Conference being held in Fishkill, NY. next month (have you reserved your spot?).

Jeff is spending the next few weeks with me getting to know our Midwest customers. I hope you have the chance to meet him sometime soon. I’m giving him the Therap thumbs-up! He is a blast to work with and will be a great asset to our team…I even think I’ll have him in Therap-wear before the month is over…we shall see!

Kansas Sentator, David Haley, stops to say hi to this Therapite and meet Jeff

Therap is excited to be working with Kristin Dehmer and the Development Homes team to implement electronic documentation in their residential program.

Therap welcomes Development Homes to our list of quality providers!

Chaz Volavka manages Paws for a Cause in Troutdale, Oregon

I love hearing from our customers when something really awesome happens at their agency. So, when Chaz Volavka told me about an article being written about Paws for a Cause, I just had to share it with our Therap provider family. Check out the article featured on the front page of the Oregon Outlook to see this awesome entrepreneurial project that ALS has created to provide competitive employment to people with developmental disabilities.

Congratulations Chaz, Brett, Melissa, Mel, and all of the ALS team. Way to go!!!

The Ritter family Christmas party is one more annual tradition that we enjoy during the holidays and last night was no exception.

For anyone that has never experienced a LARGE Catholic family, I have to tell you that despite the huge number of kids that run around and the noise level, it really is quite special.

The Ritter party brings together all of my step-mom’s siblings and their children and their children. Consider the exponential effects of 7 siblings and their 3-5 kids apiece and their 3-5 kids apiece. It makes for a HUGE Party.

Traditionally we begin with the story of Mary and Joseph and their trip to Bethlehem, followed by a potluck meal, then the $0.05 per card Bingo games (Connor and I both won a buck!), and then the kids all open their presents (very crazy…loud…experience).

The highlight this year was a snow-making machine! I got some flakes for Christmas after all! The machine sent “snow” across the room every time there was a “BINGO!” The kids LOVED it!

From my family to yours...Merry Christmas

Dear Santa,

I have some passions in my life…my children, Therap, chocolate and football (high school, college, pro) just to name a few…but I am quickly gaining another passion…for the Portland Trailblazers.

As I’ve been spending a lot of time at that area as of late, I took the opportunity to attend a game recently. The excitement and energy alone pulled me in as a fan…well…not to mention how adorable Rudy Fernandez is…

I have been a good girl this year so if you can find a way to put a couple Blazer tickets in my stocking I’d be ever so grateful.

Your long-time fan,

Anna

It has been years since Kansas has seen a white Christmas. I have to tell ya, I’m a bit jealous that my friends in Portland, and my sweet Therapite sister in Vancouver, WA. have not only gotten their white Christmas (Hanukkah) but they have gotten enough white for Kansas, Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida…about everywhere my Therap family is this week.

My friend Alison Burt, sent me some pics of what things looked like a couple days ago. Since then they have added another foot. Can you imagine how many snow angels I could make?

To Allison and Archie, Brett, Alison, Lynn, Chaz, Paul, Mary, Cheryl, Rene’, John, Danny, Melissa, Debi, Kevin, Kandee, Krista, Amanda, Kristina, Amy, Morgan, Nina, Tanya, Scott, Carrie, Pat, Rita, and Marie…I know all of you are frustrated with the inconvenience of the conditions but just think about those of us in Kansas that get the cold blustery temperatures…but none of the snow. Can you send a little of that pretty white powder this way…I’d love to wake up to a White Christmas.

Treasure your glistening treetops. Merry Christmas to all of you. May you be safe, warm, and spending the holiday with all of those dear to your heart. See you in 2009.

I have a few Christmas traditions, the putting up of the tree, the annual picture of my boys, Christmas Day at my Dad’s, and the one I look forward to each year…the cookie baking day with my sister and our kiddos.

Yesterday Amy and I spent the better part of the day entrenched in recipes, cookie dough, icing and lots and lots of help.

My boys have, over the years, each decided that cookie decorating is no longer on their list of favorite holiday activities. They have since replaced it with record consumption of the finished product. My nieces and nephew still think decorating several dozen cookies is a blast. Check out the fun we had!

Abby creates a masterpiece

Richie and I get a little silly with the flour

Amy and Caroline cut out the next batch of cookies