Who ya' gonna' call?!

So, since I'm catching this thing up. Here is what the kids decided to be for Halloween. They came up with the idea and I helped put it into action. Now, before you judge. I have only let them watch Ghostbusters on the TNT made-for-TV version. They absolutely loved it. Of course, Brant and I jumped all over them replicating a dear part of our childhood.

They're proton packs don't show up in this picture, but they were a thing of beauty. Comprised of cereal boxes, various plastic packaging, and a paper plate all spray painted in matte black -- awesome and awesomely cheap.

This neighborhood didn't give out tons of candy, but what they gave out was the good stuff, whole candy bars and even a couple quarters. Don't you love having older neighbors.

Living in Lafayette

I know, that's us, wearing full blown Purdue gear. Jeez. Sad to admit, but it's Boilermakers or nothing around here. I procured tickets for the Illini game for Brant's birthday. We had to wear our local gear to blend. Seriously a sea of gold and black around here. Felt odd not cheering, "Juice" every time Illini made ground, but we yelled, "Boiler Up" as if it was all we knew.

Other greats about Lafayette (besides Purdue):
> Any kind of shopping you can think of (not that I go).
> Huge public libraries.
> Pizza like no other.
> Our backyard, note picture.

So far so good here in Indiana. Resisting any and all temptation to become a full-blown Hoosier, but could see us living here for quite a while. Maybe I should phrase that as, "Please, Lord, let us live here for quite a while."

Sorry for the Delay

Jeez -- I think it's been three months since I've blogged. It's just a series of unfortunate computer events (boy do I really miss my old neighbors who were total techies -- you know who you are). Also that whole moving thing kind of slowed me down. This last move was nuts. There was about two weeks in banking delays. This was not only a pain for us, but a pain for the family we were buying the house from. Finally we moved in two days before school started.

To say the least, we will always remember this first day of school. Paige and Claire started third grade, which seems like a huge grade to me. They actually have real homework and are reading thick books now that require book marks. Ike and Ava started kindergarten (sniff * sniff*). It wasn't as hard as I thought. They only go in the afternoon (Indiana still has half day kindergarten). I was so busy unboxing and settling in here, that there send off to school was sort of nonchalant.

So keep checking back, I promise to catch this thing up.

Summer Update

Has anyone even read this of late? We are no longer in Iowa, BUT I wouldn't really count us as residents of Indiana yet either. We have been in the Homewood Suites so long now that the kids know every worker by name and can completely run the waffle maker by themselves. I have quite counting in days and am trying to keep a joyous spirit. Our Iowa pastor calls this God's "refining" period for our life. Curious how refined we can become.

We packed up in Iowa on Thursday. Supposed to close on Friday, but found out that a water sample was required. The water test failed (small fix -- not a big deal), but here we are praying we can close on Friday. School starts on the 12th here -- poor kids won't even get a week in the house before school starts. I know it will all work out in the end, but I sure would like to get into a house. It's sort of embarrassing to give your address as a hotel.

Exhausted!

Poor Ava fell asleep right in the middle of coloring. This is how we've all felt -- just exhausted. Brant is officially in Indiana. The new job is working out fairly well. He is the logistics manager of the south plant in Lafayette. He is living out of a suitcase in a hotel for now until they can find him an apartment.

As for the rest of us, we are still going on here. This is the last day of school, so tomorrow we are going to go see Brant. Nine hour drive just me and the kids -- one of many things I can now check off of my list of never-thought-I'd-have-to-do-alone. I can also check off, mowing an 1 1/2 acre yard, putting a house up for sell, taking an 83 pound dog to the vet to have blood drawn. That last one was the worst. It involved me "gently" pinning the dog to the ground while the vet tech muzzled him and took the blood. Jeez -- who knew my gentle giant of a dog was scared of needles. I am bruised from head to toe.

We had previously thought that the company would buy our house right off, BUT they have changed the rules in the whole, whopping year since our last move. We now are required to have the house up for sale for 90 days before they will even start this process. O.k. Doing the math that puts us into September before buying another house. Alright -- now, do the math again, no permenant residence before the start of school. I'm just praying someone swoops in and buys this house. I keep repeating -- God has a plan for my life.

Hopefully, visiting Lafayette this weekend will bring clarity to everything that is unfolding. But it's back again to mow the grass, check on the dog, pay the bills, make sure the house didn't burn down. I think this summer is bound to be another kooky one for us.

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.