Checking Out!

Dear Friends and Family,

I guess I should change that to Dear Framily, Because I do value all of my friends as family.

Well Dave has taken Mike to seminary and as soon as he is back to the hotel we will begin loading to meet the movers and begin our new lives. This has been a wonderful journey so far and I am sure that it will continue to be so. I think we will all be glad to have a home cooked meal and sleep in our own beds again. I think that even Gillis will be glad to check out the new scents and we hope that he will quickly learn the new invisible dog fencing at the house.

The walk through yesterday went well and all was in order. Despite any comments that might have been made by Dave, I do like the house and think that He did a wonderful job in finding this home for us. I look forward to the opportunity of making this home ours. The boys all liked their new bedrooms and are going to be grateful for the added space, especially having a real closet to store their clothing and treasures in. It will be fun watching how they make the rooms their own. I really like the addition of a basement. This will be a great space to set up a fun family/rec room, and to have my sewing space that I so needed. All the sewing stuff in one room will be great.

Well this may be the last communication for a few days, as we are not sure how long it will take the internet service providers to get things connected. Until then, I hope all is well with all of you, and that you are all healthy and happy.

Love to all,

Diana

First Sunday in our new Ward

Dear Friends and Family,

I will certainly be happy to get into our home the end of this week.  I would never guessed that I would be glad to do dishes and laundry again. Even eating out and living in Hotels has lost it glitter.  I have gained a new perspective about the joys of housework.  Oh I hope I don't regret saying that.

We very much enjoyed attending our new ward.  The boys all were made to feel very welcome.  During Sacrament meeting there was an announcement that the youth would be going to the temple on Thursday.  By the time Dave met up with the boys for the beginning of Priesthood meeting Mike and Jon had already received their interview to be able to attend with the ward.  Jon has already made a friend in our neighborhood, and Mike met a young girl who spotted him at the restaurant we had eaten Saturday night.  I remembered seeing her also, and wonder why she stood out among the hundreds of people coming and going.  So He is willing to be up this morning to go to Seminary. I am sure that the kids are going to enjoy being back in school.  Jon has mentioned several times that he misses being in school, and that living in a Hotel is boring.

It was nice to be able to attend our new ward.  We met some very nice people, and were made to feel very welcome.  We met one family who lives just down the street from our new house,  they have a boy just 1 year younger than Jon.  There is one other family in the neighborhood but they are serving in the Spanish branch which meets in a different building right now and do not attend the ward.  We were wetly greeted,  I am not sure that is a real word, but it rained most of the day Sunday, and were pretty well soaked running from the car to the building.  The rain drops were huge,  I am not even sure I could call them drops!  We were accused of bringing the rain with us.  And as if we needed another verification that we have done the right thing the opening song in Sacrament meeting was Dave's all time favorite hymn, "There is Sunshine in my Soul today". ( He has made me promise that we would sing this hymn at his funeral.)  We felt the spirit telling us that we are in the right place.  What a comfort!

Today will be a busy adventure,  getting the boys to their schools on time, and then trying to register our cars.  I was stopped by a police man for the first time in my driving career a couple weeks ago in Kent.  I asked him what I had done wrong and he stated my license tabs were expired.  I stated that I had until the end of March.  He looked at me and said, well it is April!  So the van has been on time out not being driven except to get it to the Jenkin's to be picked up by the transport company.  Now to see if I can get it to where we need to go without being pulled over again.

Hope I am not boring anyone with these notes, and if I am please let me know and I will not send them to you anymore!

I hope you all realize how important you are to me.  I will be forever and eternally grateful for the great influence you have had on my life.
Thank You to and for all, you have helped to make my life wonderful.

Love
Diana

Our Second Phase is beginning

Dear Friends and Family,

Well phase one of the adventure is coming to a close.  We are packing up and heading out to the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn.  It has been a fun and adventuresome few days downtown Chicago.

Tuesday the boys and I drove (opps in my dreams, we walked) all around downtown Chicago.  I got a kick out of the boys reaction when they asked if I knew where we were going and I plainly told them NO.  David's reaction,  "Are You Kidding".  I didn't and we walked some more.  Saw several stores and shops several times!

Wednesday Dave went to St. Louis for some business meetings.  The boys and I drove out to Crystal Lake to make sure that all the school registrations were in order.  The boys and I had decided that we would not try to find our new home and let Dave be the first to show it to us.  Then on the way to Jon's school the boys said, "Hey!  That is our house!"  Sure enough we drove right by the backside of the house and property.  So since we didn't try to find it and found it anyway we took a little drive by after the trip to the school.  It looks just like the pictures, but the pictures do make it look a lot bigger.  That was fun, and then on the way to Mike's school we passed by the church building.  Jon was a bit worried because it was so small, but relieved to know that it does have a gym. I think that this house is the closest to a church building than any of the others we had looked at and were considering.  Dinner tonight was at a pizza place called Gino's East.  Quite the place,  authentic Chicago style pizza with the deco centered around graffiti all over everything.  Walls, tables, chairs, lighting fixtures, ceiling.  All over the place. They even provided color crayons to add to the decor.

Thursday,  The boys and I  took the bus to the Lincoln Park Zoo.  There we saw the animals and other things you see at zoos.  Then when Dave got home from work we went to a Brazilian BBQ.  They gave us a tour of their kitchen and it was amazing. Look for pictures from Dave on our family web site,  I am sure as soon as we get situated he will have pictures posted. I think we could have fed our family for a week on that bill!  Once in a lifetime experience I keep telling myself.

Friday we did laundry, and Dave got home from work early and we took the trolley to the Navy Pier.  Then back into town do have dinner at a hamburger joint called Ed Debevic's.  This place is well known for their rude waiters, and it is a wild and noisy place.  Filled to the brim this night.  I think there was 3 different groups with bus loads of High School kids on trips.

Thankfully earlier in the week Dave made arrangements for us to come and visit His office.  Another lady and her daughter were waiting in  the lobby because their husband/daddy didn't plan ahead!  Thanks Dave!  We had fun seeing Dave's new office and the fun art collections and displays in the building.  We helped Dave retrieve all his belongings there that He has been accumulating over the past several weeks.

On our way to Crystal Lake we drove through our first thunder and lightening rain storm in Illinois.

Once we arrived in Crystal Lake We drove by our new house and we also drove by our other favorites houses. The only one I was sad not to have was the Crandon Place House.  Even saw a goofy teenager walk out of it. How dare her!  I think Dave did a wonderful job finding the Erin Ct. house.  I think we will be happy there.  As we drove through the neighborhood we do have a lovely home, but oh you should see some of the mansions and castles there.  They are on the other side of the neighborhood.  I enjoy the humble side of things.  They fit me better. I am more happy that way.

We have our three vehicles now and the truck driver had quite a scenic trip across the US trying to avoid the weight stations.  The first weigh station he came to in Oregon he got caught not for being overweight, which he was worried about when He  picked up our cars, but for being to long. He told us he was not willing to risk it again.  That is why He took the scenic route.

Tomorrow we will have the opportunity of attending church in our new ward.  This will be an exciting yet scary adventure.  I really don't like being the new kid on the block.  I would rather be the one welcoming the new kid.  We do know that this is where Heavenly Father wants us to be at this time, so we will go and do whatever we are asked to do, and enjoy.

Thanks to all who have written such supportive and loving comments to us.  We have truly left behind some wonderful friends and family in Washington.  We will let you all know when our Christmas Open house will be this year, and all know that you are welcome to come!  Just a little longer drive this year!

We Love You all,

Diana

Dear Friends and Family,

Just a quick note to let you know we have arrived in Chicago. And it's raining! We will be here until Saturday and then we will be moving to a Hotel in Crystal Lake. The boys and I will tour and walk the streets while Dave is at work tomorrow. Dave goes to St. Louis on Wednesday and we will again tour and fill the time with what ever we can. We are hoping to drive out to Crystal Lake so we can at least see the outside of the new house and the neighborhood. We should be able to move into our new home on April 30th. I will try to keep you all posted and will do my best to write a quick note letting you know how and where we are.
I cannot express how grateful I am for each of you in my life. There is not a way possible to thank each of you for the goodness you have had in my life. I know that friendships are forever, memories will keep us close and will not end due to miles of separation.

Thank You all,
My Love to You,
Diana