We are truly on our way!!! We have visas in hand!!! On Monday we arrive in Kuwait!!!!!! We are so excited. We cannot wait to get o our new home and get settled before Christmas. Thanks for praying and cheering us on. We will update as soon as we can.

Today most of our possessions in our apartment were packed and taken away. I can't wait to see it all again, that will be truly an exciting day. Have a great weekend, we are off on our great adventure~

Hello All! Welcome to our new home : ) It is believe it or not beginning to feel like home. We are the proud tenants (albeit temporarily) of a three bedroom, two bath, laundry room and kitchen with dishwasher in Northern Virgina. our new home is within in walking distance to the Metro, Subway, a shopping Mall, a yummy Chinese restaurant, and The Smoothie King. We have a park across the street with a large playground and a huge library literally right below our building!!!!! I am a rabid reader and LOVE to read to my children, needless to say this is one of my favorite places in our new neighborhood.

I am homeschooling our children with the help of my mother in law. It is going very well, Faith even said the other day " Mommy, you my favorite teacher!" The kids all look forward to our school time and I am really enjoying it. I have little to no free time, but I sleep like a rock. We are hoping to take a day trip to Colonial Williamsburg this weekend for Faith's sixth birthday. I think she will love the costumes, she is my dress up girl.

Lastly here is a cute quote from Luke the other day. We were riding the metro to the the Butterfly exhibit in the Natural History Museum. We had hit the end of the morning rush hour on the Metro. Luke said " They (looking around at full metro car) are all wearing their boy dresses this morning." My response "What, buddy?" Luke sighed and said "Mom, you know Daddy wears on to the State Department." The light bulb goes on in my head : ) Kelly has been wearing a suit and tie every day, that is not his normal work day outfit. I couldn't stop laughing! Luke's new catch phrase " Boy Dress"= a Suit. I love these kids, they are always making me laugh. God Bless you and yours~

Hello All! Today most of my earthly possessions flew the coop, so to speak





My brother, Rick, and sister in law, Kristin, came over to our home to unload some things we don't want to store while we are going on our big adventure with the State Department. I believe strongly that my possessions are truly not my own, but God's. Today, God gave Rick and Kristin a few things to start their newlywed home. We filled up a 24' Budget truck with all the goodies. They had originally reserved a 17' truck, thank God they cancelled that and drove away with a bit bigger truck. We filled very full!

This was another painful "goodbye". I sobbed like a baby, I am so proud of them both. They are both committed to God and each other. They will do well, while we are away. I will miss them dearly and I am so glad we lived so close for them for this time in our lives. We love you Rick and Kristin, please come and visit us when you can! You are so special to us and we thank God for you!!

Just so you know after the truck pulled away this evening, I went back into the house to check "Mommy Chair". Both Rick and Kristin had threatened to snag my new favorite chair on one of the many trips to the big truck. Much to my relief the "Mommy Chair" is still here and I sit in it now as I type. Phew................ next we need to get the chair moved to our new post. I am off to bed on my new air mattress. Yes, Rick and Kristin even snagged my bed : ) Goodnight~

Hello All! I don't like goodbyes, but it seems like this week has been one goodbye after another. Don't get me wrong I love the people we are saying goodbye to, just not the future separation.

This beautiful lady holding our youngest, Hope, is Kelly's nurse, Barb. She has been a great friend to Kelly and me, a surrogate Aunt/Grandma to our children and an amazing coworker to my husband. I truly thank God for her generosity and love for our family. The kids love her and they know when she comes to babysit they are guaranteed a fun night. Thank you Barb, we love you so much!

I have figured out this evening why this move is so hard for me. It is watching it through my children's eyes that pains me.

I don't want to sound callous, but I have moved before. It is hard, but I know you survive. My children on the other hand don't remember much beyond this home and town being our life. Luke came home at seven months in 2005, so he has no memory other then Michigan as home. Faith was turning two when we moved, now four years later she is turning six. She has friends at school she adores, she is used to the routine here, she knows what season comes next her, Autumn. Grace, our oldest, does remember Missouri. She has an amazing memory. I don't think she remembers it all, but there are things that are clear in her mind. She was very young though the last move, she still misses our friend Mr. Edge from Missouri and his claw that he would tickle her with.

This evening Faith had a play date with a close friend from her kindergarten class. As they were running through the woods I heard her say, " I love you Trevor, I will always miss you." OUCH, that made me cry! When my children hurt, I feel like someone is ripping out my heart and stepping on it. Just because they are not the deepest friendships at 4, 5, 6 or 7 it doesn't mean they don't feel the pain and the loss of these special people. I am trying to be extra sensitive to that and chat with them about it as often as I can. I want them to know that I acknowledge it as loss. I want them to know they can share with me. I want them to know I have my own losses and sadness at this time in spite of the major excitement I am feeling.

So, to all of you sweet, special people in Michigan. We will love you, we will miss you and we pray the best for you and your families always. You will always have a special place in our hearts and our memories. Goodbye for tonight~

Hello All! The weather outside is supposed to get uite frightful in our neck of the woods. I am intrigued by the weather, always have been. Kelly thinks it is funny that I watch the Weather Channel. He feels they are always incorrect and true they are wrong frequently. When you grow up in an area where the weather can be extreme and affect your life, you pay attention. He grew up in San Jose, CA. The weather is perfect there, Not to hot or too cold in the "Silicon Valley". In Michigan, we have snow for a large portion of our year. That much snow means you pay attention to the weather. You have to prepare for the next day, do you need the hat, gloves and huge winter boots or just the average winter boots? I found an article here on line sharing the top ten Cities and States that have a variety of weather. Yes, we make the snowiest list in our hometown : ) Tonight we prepare again for the storm moving our way across the country. I think the fire will indeed be delightful tonight......... God Bless~ Crystal