Not in Kansas anymore

Ok, so other than driving through Kansas I wasn't there at all. But Texas is NOT Minnesota is what I'm trying to get across. lol
I like it here. I really do. But the hoops you have to jump through are so insane at times that I want to punch someone in the face. A lot of it is just annoying, like having to have our vehicles registered in order to get our licenses switched over, and having to have them inspected first and having to pay a $150 new Texan fee per person. But getting the kids enrolled in the high school is proving to be an exercise in futility.
For school you need to have proof of residency (of course), birth certificate (new one to me, never needed it before in MN or VA), Social Security cards, the actual cards, not just knowing the number (again NEVER had to do that, in fact, I refuse to give them out), and then you need a conscientious objection for immunizations that you have to send to the state for forms that could take as long as 30 days to get, and then have to have them notarized for each kid for each school. And THEN you have to fill out 12 pages of info for them and THEN they have to get the school records from our former school.
Guess how far we are with the high school enrollment in 2 weeks? Nowhere. And I have all the documents. But they will not take them or give us the stack of papers to fill out unless we go in before 10am because "the kids are at various lunches from then on."  Even if they are sitting on their butts talking to each other and have no other work to do. Seriously. I've called and complained to both the assistant principle and the district office. The district office has no idea why they wouldn't at least start the process, and were supposed to get back to me, but haven't, of course. So, I am no where.
The little 2? No problem! Went in, got the papers, took them home, filled them out, brought them back and got all the other stuff photocopied and they start school Monday. Even though it WAS after 10.
Between the high school and the horrible road construction that messes with everything I am ready to cry. Oh, and the stupid "Neighborhood Walmart" that I refuse to go to again. Not happy with their attitudes, either.
I like the weather!

Hmm, Texas......

I don't really know what to think of living in Texas yet. The weather was obviously nice when we got here, especially considering that is has already snowed back home in the week that we have been here. It got chilly this weekend, but it heading back up to the 80's this week.
Our neighborhood is gorgeous! I can't even fathom how we can afford to live here, but we can, and that is amazing! (in MN it would be double the cost for this house) We went for a walk on a nearby trail and had a great time. The kids' schools are both walking distance, too. It is very beautiful here.
The traffic, on the other hand, is atrocious! It takes forever to get anywhere. 15 miles to Donnie's work takes 45  minutes. It IS a metroPLEX, yes, but it doesn't matter when you go anywhere, there is always traffic. Just something you have to get used to.
People are not as friendly in Texas as they are in Minnesota. I will do my best not to lose my Minnesota Nice. There are nice people here, yes, and grumpy people in MN, true, but there is a noticeable lack here. I've talked to a couple of people about doing Pure Romance parties, and they have not had good experiences with the consultants, between outright rudeness and lack of correspondence.
We even tried out a church, we went to the one church that Donnie felt had been the nicest to him, none of the other churches even talked to him. Well, that was my experience, too. I tried to talk to people myself and they just didn't seem to have the time of day for me. So weird. We are going to try it again, because it is close, big and has lots of family events.

So, 1 week down in Texas and I am feeling kind of isolated. I am going to get out and get involved, but I am scared to leave the area, lol. I don't understand the roads yet, and I do not have GPS. Oh well! I am heading out to a Pure Romance team meeting tonight, so I will at least get a few contacts. It will be nice to at least know someone in the area to ask about things.

Texas Qtpies

I wonder if I should change my blog title now. We are now Texans, and there are only 4 Qtpies left at home.
So far this move is going pretty well. The drive was long, and mostly uneventful. Of course there were some moments, but we made it! We had to get a new vehicle for the trip because our old van leaked oil and looked like it was on fire with all the smoke coming out of the engine, so we would have had to stop and let it cool in order to check the oil several times on the trip, IF it even made it to Texas, and it would not have passed inspection here. We got a really nice Envoy with a hitch and a luggage rack, so I towed the fishing boat with me. We couldn't get the running lights to work on the trailer, so at night Donnie would follow me.
One night we stayed at a Wyatt Earp motel. It was something else! lol The next morning I got pulled over because NONE of the lights on the trailer were working. Something had chewed through the cords. Donnie pulled out his tools and reconnected them all on the side of the road, aaaaaaaaaaand still nothing. Not sure what happened, but at least I didn't get pulled over again. The only other incident on the trip was Trinity getting carsick, but even that she managed not to do IN the van.

We left Saturday night, stayed at a hotel in Souix Falls, SD, where we met up with Drew to deliver his wife and daughter back to him. We spent the morning with them and took off about noon. Spent a second night in the motel. Then finally made it home around 3pm on Monday.

The house is absolutely beautiful! We are all in awe of how amazing it is! I really feel like God thinks I am his favorite in this house! lol With our beautiful new-to-us SUV, and this gorgeous house, and this new job that allows us to afford to pay rent, we are just so incredibly blessed!

I am working hard at unpacking. We really left a ton behind so it isn't too bad. But the support board for the bunk beds did not make it, or the screws, so I have to head to the hardware store soon. Pictures will probably go up this weekend and it will start to feel like OUR home.

I am actually meeting a few people here in Texas already, and have 2 parties lined up for Pure Romance. I am confident that it won't be long to get my business back up and running soon! That will be a blessing, too, because I love what I do and I wouldn't want to have my business stop.

The only real problems we are having here in Texas are related to getting the kids in school. It is really difficult to do anything here, and that surprises me. We have to have an official birth certificate to enroll them, which I do not have for 3 of the kids, and we have to get official approval from the state for conscientious objection for immunization. Both the birth certificates and the immunization exemptions could take 30 days or more to receive! So the kids could be out of school for a month! The school doesn't care, which is strange to me since most schools work pretty hard to make sure your child doesn't miss a DAY. And another Texas thing is that I miss the Minnesota nice we left behind. People are not all the pleasant in stores here, or schools, lol.

Almost there!

Just a few days left here in Minnesota, and so much to do! But I am confident that all will be fine on the packing front. Donnie will be here tomorrow night!

I still need to make calls and cancel utilities and things, do some banking stuff, and see my friends one last time.

But mostly I am looking forward to being done with this move. I can't fathom being in Texas, it just isn't real to me, since I haven't been out there at all. Maybe we should have driven out to visit once and given us all something to look forward to. Hope is having a hard time with the moving, though I know she is going to be fine and love Texas, but I know I would hate to be where she is now. Hard.

Looking forward.

Looking to the blessing of this move.

Looking to make a new life.

Looking forward to new everything!

Chance to do it over, do it better, change things about ourselves that we don't like.

In less than a week we will be together in our new home, trying to get the kids in school, setting up beds, grocery shopping, etc!

AAAAHHHH!

You know, I think I have titled several posts with this title over the 6 years I have been blogging, lol.

But, WE ARE MOVING TO TEXAS IN 6 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to get everything done by then, and then MOVE! WOW!

I never really wanted to buy the house we are in right now, but after 8 years I can't see myself living anywhere else. It is tough.

I love our town, but it is just a town. Leaving my friends STINKS. Even the friends who have hurt me. It hurts that now I won't have my dream of making up and having them back in my life.

The packing is................. well, not going well? haha I have like 10 boxes packed. This week is do-or-die on the packing, and I have to get it all done. Nothing like last minute to get me moving! I always work that way, so it is no surprise.

This weekend I got through the basement, of which I am taking very little with us. I also have been steam cleaning my couches and area rugs so they are all fresh and pretty for the new house. Is that a distraction or a good thing?

Donnie comes home on Thursday and we will get so much more done together. I'm going to keep plugging along and hope for the best. If we can be done packing Saturday, then we have a going away that night, and church in the morning and we are out of here. Otherwise whatever we haven't finished packing will be done by our church friends after church. ugh! I just don't want to leave everyone!

Mixed blessings

We've been going through some annoying legal stuff with Cody. Long story short: he and his friends were on a playground behind a school one evening, and an officer came around the building. It was very dark, and the officer could not see them while pointing a flashlight at them from the far end of the school, so the boys had no idea it was an officer, just some creeper coming around the school. So they took off running for the parking lot where there was light and one of their brothers was coming to pick them up. The officer radioed another officer who came running from another direction and they were charged with fleeing police. They didn't even KNOW they were being followed until they came to the parking lot and saw a police car.

So we had our "pre-trial" today. I don't understand the pre-trial at all. He went to the arraignment and said he was not guilty and they set a date. That date was so that they could again try to make a deal outside of court or set another date for trial. Seriously. It was for nothing.

This means that we can't leave for Texas with an all-clear. We have to keep coming back for trial. The good part?? The mixed blessing???

His trial is set for December 21st, so we HAVE to be here right before Christmas, so we may as well BE here for Christmas! I am so happy to know that I will see at least Liam that soon. I am praying Drew will get the time off to come for Christmas so we can see them, too. And Devon better get a ticket out here, too!

I think my house is trying to keep me here

I am trying to organize and pack, but my house looks more like I am bringing my dining room somewhere and a bomb went off in the rest of the house, garage, yard.
Hope got sick right before school started, and now I have her illness. It stinks! I cough if I move, talk, breath. Basically just living causes me to have a coughing fit. We have been so sick since we moved into this house. We wonder if there is a mold problem, but short of tearing out the walls, how would we know?

The more I go through things to pack, the more stuff seems to appear. I don't want to have this much stuff. I am definitely going to downsize majorly and since we know that we won't be in our Texas home too long, we will NOT be collecting junk. It is my goal not to do this again. I think moving every couple of years will be a good way to keep from getting too bogged down in stuff. Ok, maybe that is a bit much, but for sure I don't want to end up with so much work again. My dad has been in his house for about 30 years, and he said he will NEVER move because he can't fathom dealing with everything, haha. He's going to leave it to us. Nice huh?

I am praying for this cough to go away, and not to infect the kids. I need to get busy! We leave in less than 2 weeks. I am so happy that Donnie decided to fly home and help me pack and move. I didn't want him to, so we could save money and keep him working, but I just need him here.

In the mean time I am enjoying my time with my grandchildren! Faith has warmed up to me now and plays with me. I love that she is happy to be with me, even if her mom isn't in the room. I let her go at her own pace, since I knew she would be here a month, and now we have so much fun!

Liam is getting to be so much fun, too, now. He is 5 months old, and play time is really interactive now. I have such a special relationship with him. It hurts so bad to leave him, but I know I will keep coming back to visit him.

Jannessa has been suffering from some morning sickness, so she bought some Ginger Snaps. Kaytlin came over with Liam one morning and she grabbed a Ginger Snap. Liam saw that cookie and reached out and snagged it right out of her hand! He went to TOWN on that cookie! He wouldn't touch bananas, but a cookie? Oh, yeah!

Kaytlin got him all cleaned up after his huge mess, and then he saw the box. The box! And he dove for that cookie box with all he had in him! So he got another cookie. :) And this time he made an even bigger mess.
It is probably a good thing in some ways that I won't be around him as often as I am now. I would spoil the snot out of him! I get in enough trouble with the spoiling I do with Faith! I give her candy and soda. And juice boxes. I have had to tell her No, though, because her favorite past time is shutting off my computer while I am on it. Her sneaky little finger has a knack for finding the power button.

Well, back to coughing and packing and coughing and not packing. I'd rather be spoiling my grandbabies!

The Slothful Move

Wow, it is so not going well with the moving. Way, way, way too much stuff. I hope that I learn a lesson from all this. If there isn't a place for it, don't keep it. And do not EVER take on other people's stuff. Even if they died, it isn't coming HERE.

I am doing pretty good at selling stuff. I sold a TON of my stamping stuff, and then went to lunch and lost $120 out of my pocket. That was a bummer. But, we look at it like God is using it somewhere else. Or I'd cry.

I could sell and sell and sell, but that involves more work than just donating a ton of stuff at once, and that more work takes more TIME. And time means I am not with my husband for even longer. Not that money isn't keeping us apart, too. So....... catch 22.

Big things on my plate at the moment:
1. getting Donnie's dad packed and moved. I've wanted to go pack his room, but he gives me looks like he isn't ready, so I don't really know what to do. But he doesn't have a choice today. I'm attacking his room with boxes today. He is moving tomorrow.
2. getting rid of our old van that doesn't run. In a way that we make some money.
3. replacing that money I lost so I can afford the electric bill. lol
4. Cody has court. 

All this stress is taking a toll on my body. Not cool. This move is for the GOOD of our family in so many ways! I wish I could not stress so much about it.

What stresses me?
1. The overwhelming amount of STUFF that I have to deal with in some form or fashion.
2. Money for the move, Donnie's paychecks are not exactly normal.
3. Doing it without my husband. It makes me angry even though it isn't his fault.
4. Leaving my friends.
5. Leaving while my friends are not talking to me over what I consider misunderstandings or total lies they are believing from the enemy. It isn't in my hands to talk to them, they don't answer my attempts, and I am left with no options. (still not in a cult, still love them)
6. Moving kids in the middle of a grading period. Or moving kids at all. Hope isn't happy about it.
7. Moving away from my kids and grandkids!!! This is the WORST!

But the blessings are just fantastic!

1. A bigger paycheck to help us get out of debt!
2. A new beginning! Those are always fun!
3. An adventure!
4. Our new house is beautiful!
5. No shoveling snow this year!
6. God took care of the house situation. It wasn't fun, but it is all working out with good timing. 

Here are some pics of our new house.
Our beautiful backyard, and yes, that is a ceiling fan on the patio! I hear it is hot down in Texas.

 This is a shot from the kitchen looking toward the dining room. There is a walk in pantry off to the right, and a built in bookshelf for cookbooks, and down that little hallway to the dining room there are cupboards built into the wall for more storage.

 This is the view from the front door. The stairs and loft area, dining room to the right, and a coat closet to the left.

 This is the kitchen looking toward the breakfast nook.

 And our main living room, with the breakfast nook off to the right. Donnie has always wanted a fire place! It can be a gas fireplace, or a gas starting wood fireplace.

So, you see, we are amazingly blessed! No use rushing, though, I can't leave until September is over, I have work, and Cody has court. If you don't mind praying for us, pray that we can resolve the issue at court on the first day, so we don't have to leave Cody behind to finish it up. Thank you!

New Year, New fun!

 I have been homeschooling for about 18 years now. I am SO tired of it. Even with my unschooling, lower requirements, I am just not giving it as much as I should be. I am worn out! So, I decided to put all the kids in school this year. Maybe I will homeschool again, but if not, it is OK. 
Today was Sam and Trinity's first day of public school ever! Trinity started 3rd grade and Sam started Kindergarten. Hope was supposed to start 10th grade today, but she was so sick, I wouldn't let her go. Cody started 11th grade in online school today.
Trinity and Sam were so excited to go to school today!

 Here they are walking to the bus stop. Where the bus never showed up. We were there from 7:35 to 8:05 and gave up.

 The ride home was even more dramatic, but I'm too traumatized to talk about THAT one yet. But the kids loved school, and I am hopeful that we can make it work, even with the transition to Texas next month.

 We also have another change coming! This picture is Faith, my little granddaughter, and she is going to be a big sister next spring!

Drew and Jannessa are due May 10th, which is my mom's 61st birthday. We couldn't be more excited! I'm not-so-secretly- hoping that Kaytlin gets pregnant soon, too, not that she is hoping that with Liam only being 4 months old.

Donnie is already living in our new home in Texas. It isn't fun to be so far apart, or for me to have to pack up the house and handle everything without him, but the move to Texas is going to be so good for us. God has His hands all over this move, so I am very excited about it!

Our new house is pretty fantastic, and I am so intimidated by it! I will have to blog pictures of it soon. It is a 2.5 bathroom, which I am THRILLED about! Right now we share our master bath with the main bath, and that is not fun having people use the bathroom when we are in bed. :) There are so many wonderful features that I am looking forward to. The kitchen has a built in book shelf for my cook books, and so much storage and a walk in pantry! I think the kids are going to love the loft that looks down on the living room, probably a little too much, and there will be lots of things dropped "on accident" to see what happens. The bathroom upstairs for the kids has a separate room for the sink from the toilet and shower/tub. And the master bath has a separate room just for the toilet. (THAT one is going to be appreciated!!!)

Donnie's dad will be moving to an assisted living place next week. That will be so nice for him. But a huge change for all of us.

So much new starting up for us! I am looking forward to the new, and dreading the process. Packing and downsizing is so much work, and I have a bad back and now a sprained foot. Not easy, but I HAVE to get things done. The doing hurts, and I have to rest frequently. And I feel lazy. But I don't want to be permanently injured, either.  Downsizing is pretty freeing, though! Looking forward to an easier life!

Beautiful surprise!

Kaytlin and Liam have been out in Montana with Peter for weeks. I missed them so much! I knew that they were coming home today, but I figured that it would be sometime between 10 and 12am. So when Kaytlin walked in the door with my little peanut at 8am I was just thrilled! I jumped up and ran to get him and looked up to see Jannessa walk in the door with Faith, too!
I had no idea they were coming! They hadn't planned it, either, just sort of a spur of the moment decision yesterday.
Jannessa is staying here for a month or more to help me get the house packed up for our move to Texas! She has been a source of blessing to us over and over! I couldn't ask for a better daughter in love! Devon, Cody and Sam have quite the role model to wife finding to live up to!

My 2 little morning surprises! I am in heaven!

Uff da!

Donnie and I have joked for a few years that we should pretend to move so we can get rid of a lot of junk. Oh my goodness, we so should have! Because now I HAVE to deal with it, haha!

Fish tanks we haven't used in YEARS, that we should have already sold. A recliner that is falling apart that we should have thrown out, but just haven't yet. And just WHAT is IN that closet anyway?

I am really thankful that I am not finding myself with a sentimental attachment to things. There really isn't that much that just has to go with us. Photos, some clothes, enough beds and dressers for all of us, the furniture that we need, but nicknacks? Not so much. Crafts? eh, haven't touched that in a year or more, so why keep it?

I am excited to majorly downsize my life!

Our Summer in Pictures

 Cody turned 17! He had his birthday at the Quarry and went cliff jumping.

 Liam is just stinking adorable!

 We spent some down time at Wall Drug on our way to visit Drew and his family. Sam and Trinity love the musical fountains!

 They clearly got SOAKED!

 These boring people did NOT run through the fountains!

 One day this little guy will run through them!

 Drew, Faith, and Jannessa, (and Sam pouting on the ground for no reason).

 Kaytlin and Liam. His first trip to Mount Rushmore!

 My crew, minus Devon and Peter. (the guy in red on over to the right are not my crew)

 My grandbabies! I could eat them both up!

 Drew hasn't changed much! lol

 I mustache you a question.

 We had a great time at Cosmo! That place is a must-see!

 The kids dug for geodes.

Then they got to crack them open.

Breaking through!

A little over a year ago, after more than a year of pain and heart break, I made a decision to start selling Pure Romance. It wasn't an easy decision, but after 4 months of praying, it seemed like God was telling me to do it, and telling my husband to encourage me to do it. (he wasn't too thrilled at first) So I took the plunge and did it! I know "friends" talk behind my back about it, and just don't get it, and that is OK, God knows what He is doing.
It didn't take too long before I saw part of the reason I was doing this. The leadership training is amazing! It transfers over to ministry leadership perfectly! The changes that I need to make in myself are being spotlighted and the training I need to learn HOW to do it are found in this company. Now I can see why God put me here. Bonus is having fun and helping women find new life in their marriage!
I recently went to a training seminar with the company and it changed me. I'm still working on that change, but WOW, it was just amazing how it hit me! This is another big reason God put me here!

One of our classes is callled Breaking Through. I really didn't have much expectation from the description, but it is required for first time attendees. He said some neat stories, blah blah. But then he taught us some neat things in relation to our mind and bodies. How we have control of our energy, which he then proceeded to walk me through having little energy to having LOTS of energy.

From there he showed is how our expectations limit our abilities, but that if we can visualize something we CAN achieve it, and we DID. (If you know me in real life, ask me to show you this, it is cool!)

We then had to think of the things that hold us back from the life we want, what is negative, or hurtful or whatever, that keeps me from living a better life? For me it was part laziness, indifference, FEAR, and it is keeping me from living life, being present in my life. I don't want to be hurt again, I actually FEAR being successful.
Next we had to visualize what our life would be like if we broke through that, who would it affect if we broke through that barrier? For me, it would look like Joy and Truth and being Present! It would affect all of my kids, my grandkids my husband! My business would be where I want it, and our finances would be better and on and on....... JOY!

He then gave us all 1 inch thick boards, pine boards, not balsa wood, That we wrote down what we need to break through in our lives. We then wrote a big X over it. On the back side of the board we wrote what our life would look like after that breakthrough and who it would affect.

See where I am going with this?

A leader in our business held the board for us, and we were taught some techniques for breaking it. But that was easier said than done. I did what I was taught, I looked past the board into the leaders eyes, etc. But I could not break that board! And it HURT! The more I tried to break the board, the worse it got. But then, I decided to break THROUGH my issues, I was not letting those stop me from living the life God wants for me! When I stopped trying to break my board and tried to break through my issues, I broke that 1 inch thick board like it was a piece of paper, did not hurt at all!

That was an empowering moment! I cried and cried! Well, I cried watching everyone else break their boards, too. So I cried for a long time! It was a life-altering moment.

I am still struggling with application of my breakthrough, but I CAN do it! It is a choice that I have to keep making. The timing of all of this is not coincidental, either. I NEED to do this right now! With a move to get through, I can't sit on the couch and be absorbed in Facebook all day. I have to have energy, I have to move, I have to do things I don't want to do, and did not think I could do.

I see God giving us a new life. A new gorgeous home. Maybe even a new vehicle (which is pretty amazing, and I hope it pans out!). New friends on the horizon! A chance at a whole new life!  A life we are not afraid to live. A life where we open back up, not afraid of the pain people can cause. New everything!

I wish I had a board to break through every day to keep showing myself that I CAN do this! But to keep it fresh in my memory, I use half the board as my mouse pad so I always see it and remember that I CAN.

You can totally see I had been crying for like an hour! But that is Ok, it was emotional and wonderful and life-changing! I BROKE THAT BOARD WITH MY BARE HANDS!

Life keeps on changing!

A few years ago we had this dream.
We bought a 6 bedroom home to raise our children in. The community was nice, great schools but also homeschool friendly, great churches, nice place to live and raise a family. We met some wonderful people that we thought we would be life-long friends with. We dreamed about turning the kids' bedrooms into fun play places for our grandchildren, bunkbeds galore!

The last couple of years have changed so much. We were hurt by our church family, even with reconciliation, the hurt is still barely tolerable. We lost friends over who knows what. The town because less safe, with bomb threats, bank robberies and a string of robberies in the strip malls. Not to mention all the bikes and gas cans and tools we've had stolen from our yard and garage.

But still, we have a new church, and still have wonderful friends! The really close connection and feeling of being home disappeared. We have felt displaced for quite some time and knew that God was getting ready to move us away. You know, like closer to my husband's work or something.

Donnie wanted to go somewhere warm, he is tired of shoveling snow. So how about Arizona where I have family? Um, sure, honey. But I'm thinking it will never happen. He interviewed a couple of times out there, but nothing. So I grew comfortable.

Donnie continued his job search, even though he adores his job, and his co-workers. Texas, Florida, Arizona, Minnesota. Just applying and going through the process. Nothing.

Then one day after a 15 minute phone interview for a job he wasn't even serious about he got a call that changed our life.

Hey, come work for us, with this 27% pay increase, and oh, by the way, it is in Texas and we want you here in 2 weeks, let us know tomorrow.

Um, yes, we were in shock.

Texas? Really? That is a big pay increase. But leaving our little grandson? Our family? But God has been leading us to move, preparing us to move.

So, we did it. We put on our big boy/girl panties/undies and took the plunge! He accepted and turned in his resignation and moved to Texas!  I am staying behind to deal with all of our loose ends. Packing, sorting, tossing, selling. School. Legal stuff. Moving Donnie's dad somewhere that he will be cared for. Finishing up my work schedule. etc.  We have no idea when we'll be able to be all moved down there. We weren't expecting it would be this soon, or so far. We are not financially prepared to put a down payment/deposit on a place down there.

Limbo.............. That is me.

And what I really want is to make up with my friends before I leave. I have no control over that, though. So I am just trusting God here, and knowing that in heaven it won't matter and we'll party up there. :)

So, I need to restart my business up in Texas! If you know someone in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, especially the west side, who would love to host a Pure Romance party, refer them to me, and I will reward YOU with a gift certificate! Or if you live there and want to host a party, I will give extra hostess rewards!  email me qtpies5 @ msn.com

Hope's Drawings

 She finds pictures online and turns them into drawings. These two pics are from the internet.

 This is Hope (above) and her self-portrait. (below)

She just blows my mind with her talent! My mom and my husband are both fantastic artists, and I have to say, and so do they, that she is pretty close to having them beat at only 15. Can you imagine where she can take this?

My Sailor!

 On May 25th Devon graduated Naval basic training. He is now a sailor! He is an Unclassified Airman and will be working with Sea Hawk Helicoptors in California. Such an amazing turn-around from 2 months ago when I wasn't sure I'd ever get him off my couch!

 I am so proud of him! I know he is going to love his new life and living in California. I hope he doesn't choose to stay there forever, but I am so happy for him. He better meet and marry a Minnesota girl.

Where did the time GO?

I look at the picture on my blog of my family and I think, man, that is outdated! But it couldn't have been THAT long ago, could it?
That picture was taken before Drew left for the military. I think he had just graduated, and we were taking Kaytlin's senior pictures. They were all still living at home, though!
Now life is SO different! Not only do none of us really look like that anymore. (well, maybe Donnie and I still do) But everyone has changed so much in other ways, too.
Donnie has a new job, and so do I! We are both so much happier with our career choices, too. Plus we go to a new church now.
Drew joined the Air Force and is an air traffic controller, has a lovely wife and adorable 9 month old daughter!
Kaytlin graduated college, married and has a 1 month old son!
Devon joined the Navy and is in A school, soon to move to California to start his job.
Cody is almost 17 now! He is doing online school now, which is so much better for him, though he is still struggling in some aspects, it has still be a much better decision for him.
Hope is 15!!!!! She is now an amazing artist! I'll have to post some of her pictures.
Trinity is 8 and Sam is 5. They look so different now, too. I am loving the independence that comes with getting out of those baby stages, and they love it, too.

Three of our 7 Qtpies7 have moved out! And we have added 4 new family members! Time for a new picture, but getting all of us together? That is going to be a challenge! I am hoping for Christmas this year. Devon plans to come home, but if he is out on a ship, nothing he can do.

My friend

I miss you.

Liam is here!

 Liam was born on Wednesday, April 18th. It took a couple of days, but he is here and absolutely wonderful!

I think he has a lot of family resemblance to my kiddos, lol. I expected him to look more like his daddy! But when his daddy is holding him, you can for sure see he belongs to him, too.

We are just eating up our moments with the little guy, he is so sweet!

The waiting game

We are still at the hospital waiting on little Liam. Things are moving slowly, but contractions are steady!

We got another letter from Devon. Those are always fun! He was a bit frustrated with his team, several are not trying and messing up the whole group, so they are getting a lot of extra "attention" in the form of discipline. But he is doing well! He is a Chaplain's assistant and he is trying to rally some morale with evening prayers with his group. He said nothing else is working so give Jesus a try! That's my boy!

We enjoy his letters so much! It is pretty much our family entertainment.

My mom took Sam to see a circus, Trinity wouldn't go because she doesn't like clowns, and then there were no clowns, so too bad for her. But Sam had a blast! He got cotton candy, rode a horse and even rode an elephant named Tiny.

Mom is moving away soon. That will be sad. I appreciate all the help and love having a parent close by. We have so rarely lived near each other since I was about 14. But I understand, Minnesota is pretty cold and not good for arthritis, Arizona will be better for her. And my brother could use his mom nearby.

I will update when that little boy decides to make his appearance!