Hoosiers!

Since this blog is boring without pics, and I haven't had time to take in the computer -- I'm using old pictures.

Brant got the news Friday that we will be moving to Indiana. This is great, only two hours from "home", so the drive back for holidays and visits is far easier. We will be in Lafayette, right by Purdue University. I'm excited about finally knowing where we are going and getting started on the next adventure.


HOWEVER, Brant leaves Monday until ? to start his new position. It's a grueling ten hour drive from here to there. I've stocked with some books on c.d. to help fill the void

It seems a bit overwhelming. All those things that we do as a team are now on me. Taking care of the kids, keeping up the house, all the moving transactions -- all those balls now fall in my court. Wow, I'm sure we'll make it through, but I'm going to miss my best friend while he's gone. I suppose I'll fill the time. (I think I saw Twilight in the DVD aisle at the grocery. Hmmm, Edward.)


I'm having a hard time leaving the great people we've met here, but I'm praying Indiana will hold some great friendships for us too. Keep us in your prayers during the next few weeks as we try to sort all this out.

The Unknown

O.k. Well, it's been around a month since I posted, but seriously people, we are living in the unknown around here. First Brant was supposed to be transferred to Decatur. Fine, good, let's go. THEN, we were informed that they weren't sure where they were going to put us. It's been a whole series of corporate, cloak-and-dagger, runaround. Every two weeks, Brant is told, "We should know in two weeks". What? Really, his job here is done. He's beginning to feel some guilt about getting paid for no work. I'm to the point of "I will worry when I'm told to" -- a.k.a. "I will worry when they inform us you have no job." I don't really think that's the situation -- I think they are waiting on some retirements and other shuffling to settle. Ahhh -- corporate rumors. Good news though, my anxiety has totally kept Ben & Jerry's from suffering a financial hit. : )

Other bummer -- my computer is not reading any outside sources. No camera card, MP3, nothing. Very annoying. If any of my techy friends know the cause of this, please post a comment with the solution. We've tried all of our low knowledge skills (cleaning, gently kicking, staring evily). I might have to resort to paying someone. I still suffer the loss of my two techno neighbors.

That's the news from Mayberry. Maybe in "two weeks" I'll be able to post more info on where we'll be this summer.

Easter with the Big Heads

With all the kooky, crazy news we've had to deliver to the kids lately, we decided to whisk them away for the weekend. They had no idea until we loaded up in the van, that we were headed off to South Dakota. We tried to squeeze in as much as we could in two days. They "big heads" were a family favorite. So amazing. I know they just look like big heads on a mountain in the picture, but when you go through the musuem and watch how they were made and why -- very proud of our big American ideals.


The badlands area was beautiful, but the snow hampered a bit of the trail adventures. We able to do a couple, small jaunts in. Most of them were unpassable with snow for the kids, so we stuck to the simple trails and just amazed at the rocks around us.
We were home in time for Easter, although, we were a bit wore out. Too little sleep and WAY too much junk and candy causes for a crash. Though we all loved our quick, little get away, we are really not looking forward to getting back to the real world on Monday.

Like a Bad Penny

So, like a bad penny, we are returning to Illinois. Tate & Lyle is transferring Brant back to the commodities department in Decatur. We are not sure exactly of the timing of it all right now. Hoping to finish out the school year, since there are only seven weeks left. Brant may have to go on without us if worse comes to worst. I am thankful that Brant still has a job. That was our prayer priority, but. . .moving again after less than a year is not savory.

I'm having a huge stew pot of emotions over this. First, it will be great to be back near family we haven't seen this year. Second, I do miss being near conveniences and, um, culture. HOWEVER, this is such an awesome place to raise a family. They still have potlucks and church picnics. Neighborhoods have block parties. No one cares what they wear as long as you are decent. It's such a slow pace of living. Things that are really important push to the forefront in Humboldt: family, church, friends, community. *sigh* As much as I poke fun at our little Mayberry, I'm so going to miss my Aunt Bea way of life.

Lambow Commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho2hFm_HQg4

So I don't know how to post a video -- trust me people, I've spent like twenty minutes trying. Any way, look past my technology challenges, and the next time you are on YouTube check out Brant's commercial for our contemporary Easter service. He is doing a spoof on the Shamwow, called Lambow. He is just so cute!

Also -- yes, it snowed all day Sunday. I had a few phone calls from inquiring, warmer-weather friends. It snowed from before I got up at 6:30 to almost 5 in the evening. The kids are curious if we will have to hunt for eggs in the snow? That would be quite an egg hunt, very challenging. :)

April Fools!

Look at those devious grins! Paige and Claire have been planning for a month now to switch rooms on April Fool's Day! They really think they'll be able to pull it off. . . hmm, I don't want to disillusion them because I can tell them apart in an instance. We tried really hard to make them look as alike as possible. This was fun for me, because they haven't wanted to be "twinny" in a long time. I loved making them all matchy right down to the pig tail holders. Ike and Ava are full of April Fools' jokes -- "There's a spider in your hair!" "Brom ate your pillow.", and so on and so on (all day). They barely wait for the joke to set in for screaming all giggly, "Ap-wil Fool's!"

This is not an April Fool's. This happens almost every evening. These are our pet deer -- there's about seven that gather in our yard at dusk. In the morning we have a few pheasants that run along that back hedge row. It is fascinating to see them so "tame". They won't let us near them, but they aren't really startled if we watch them quietly. Now my husband loves to ruin this serene Eden by pointing out how many he could shoot in one minute. Yuck.

Dot Night

I keep forgetting to tell everyone about Awana. It's a a kid's Christian club that meets on Wednesday night at our church. It makes me think of having a weekly Vacation Bible School. There is always something crazy going on. This Wednesday was dot night. For every verse the kids could recite in book time, they could place a dot on the teacher's face. My rule was anywhere but the glasses. This was a crazy, good idea -- the kids have never worked so hard at memorizing their bible verses. I help with the K to 2nd graders. Brant helps with the gym and a bit with the older boys (they use his muscle threat in that room sometimes). I had somewhere near ten dots on my face, but after a few rounds of dodgeball and some relay races they fell off. Wednesdays always are a boost, just being silly for Jesus.