It All Fits!

IT ALL FITS!!! To those of you who have seen my parent's garage in the last few months, you know what a miracle that is!! Dan got the truck all loaded in just a few short hours with the help of several friends. Thanks to all of you who helped...this time or last time! Several people have dropped by to say hi and he is having a ball now that the work is done. Please pray as he comes home over the next two days. We love you and miss you all so very much. Lost Boys, Mama K loves you especially.
Blessings,
Kristy and the Man Crew

A Relaxing Holiday...Who Knew?

Don't ya just love those self-taken pictures??
Here is Dan on his first day as Foreman in front of the company truck....so proud!!

Dear Friends and Family,

I am here to report that relaxing holidays do exist! I was quite surprised myself, since I've never had one. This was my first Thanksgiving away from home ever, Honest!! No snickering. Yes, I am 33 and even though I've been away from my parents home for a holiday now and then, or they were out of town for a holiday, we've always celebrated together at some time around the holiday. Not so this year, but I enjoyed myself quite a bit at Mama Lou's house. She is a bit of a character...I ran into her at Wal-Mart not long after I got here and she was wearing a bikini top and cut off short shorts. Big Deal, right? Except that she's 81 years old! So, on Thanksgiving, she shoves right past Karen and I to waltz up to Dan and say, "So who is this you brought with you, Karen?" What a hoot!! Anyway, as the wierdo factor is right up our ally, we had a good time. We spent the rest of the weekend just laying around and relaxing. It was great! I started back to school this week with a refreshed mind and renewed patience, which I have been needing, LOL! All of this to say, that even though I am missing everyone sooooo much, the Lord is blessing us here, also. He is providing us a chance to renew our relationships with each other without all the hubbub of our "former" life. I wish I was up there sometimes, but I cherishing the lack of demands on my time as well. I have time to do things that I have nearly forgotten how to do, like read a whole book in under 6 months, or paint my toenails, or take a nap on a sleepy Sunday afternoon. I appreciate all the prayers that so many of you have been praying on our behalf. Keep praying...it's working! Dan is trying so hard to make the right choices and we are rebuilding our life one brick at a time. Speaking of Dan, he is coming to your town as of Thursday evening, and will be in town until Saturday morning. If you want to stop by and see him, I'm sure he would love that. He will be loading the moving truck all day Friday and then driving back on Sat and Sun. Sounds fun, right? Anywho~ I need to scoot, Derek is getting into something by now, I'm sure!! We miss you all so much! To the Lost boys, Mama K loves you! Love to all!

Blessings,

Kristy and the Man Crew

Some New Pictures

Hey everyone! Yes, I realize that I just posted last night, but I got some pictures developed this morning...yes, Candy and I are the still using 35mm, but we love it, darn it! Anywho...I have pictures of the house and Dolli's visit with us, so hang on, we're going for a ride down memory lane.

Karen and her Dolli-Gator share a snuggle before she heads for the Azores.
Dan and David show off our new home
Another view of our home with Dan, David and Patrick

Patrick and Derek are still the best of buds and love to play together!
Here we are in front of our home, in all of our radiant glory...thanks Patrick!

Thanks for going on a ride with us! See you soon! Love from the Man Crew

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Happy Friday, WooHoo! I hope everyone is feeling as good as me today. Do you ever have those days were you just feel like everything is as it should be for a brief moment in time? That's the way I feel today. The boys are finishing up their best week EVER in school, I reserved the rental truck for Dans trip to IL last night, I know a few happy secrets (which is always fun...it IS getting to be the holiday season) and...Dan got offered the FOREMAN position at work on the next job!! Ain't God Great?!! I just feel like skipping around and singing a happy song. I am looking forward to being a family this weekend and enjoying one another's company. Anyway, gotta go, those two year olds don't watch themselves!! Lost Boys, Mama K loves you! We miss everyone and hope to see you all soon. LOVE to all,

Kristy and the Man Crew

A Visit with Dolligator

This past two weeks has been a wonderful, long visit with Dolli and her husband John. We had never met John before and found him to be a delight...not to mention he makes a mean Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli! Hurray for a night off from the kitchen. School was cancelled the second week, much to the boys delight. We simply weren't making any progress anyway, so I quit driving myself crazy. Anyway, I digress...on Thursday before she left we all got to share in the joy when Dolli found out that she was pregnant after a year of trying! It reminded me of you, Candy ;) finding out at "home" with your parents. So, we spent the day calling everyone and then celebrated at the Red Lobster...hurray for endless shrimp!! Anyway, I digress again...I will say that after two weeks of late nights, no planning whatsoever and our schedule going right out the window, I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend, before heading into a new week of life and school. SO, if you have called me and I haven't returned your call, I haven't died, I'm just taking a day off to recuperate before Monday rolls around. If I have returned your call and sounded retarded, try again in a few days...maybe I'll be making sense by then. Not likely, but worth a try...lol! Other than that, life has been good. We are still enjoying the new church we are attending and are considering joining and putting the boys in their AWANA program. Pray for us as we pray about that important issue. Pray for Patrick as this last two weeks of unscheduled-ness has thrown him into a tailspin that's making the rest of us nuts!! Pray for a better school attitude from David, the complaining seems endless at this point and I'm pulling my hair out on some days. Derek is well, still cutting those molars, but almost done with that and ready for the next adventure...potty training. He seems pretty willing to sit, but so far, nothing is happening. Oh, well, that one definitely takes time...lol. As an important development, Dan is planning on flying into Chicago on Thursday, Nov.29 to rent the truck and drive it to us down here...anyone want to pick him up? Just Kidding. He will be loading the truck on Friday and then leaving early on Saturday. Anyone want to help me move again??? Not quite kidding ;) I will not be joining him this time because I am waiting for the graduation season to begin in May. I really am signing off this time...really! LOVE you all soooooo much. Lost Boys, Mama K loves you!!
Blessings,
Kristy and the Man Crew