Hello From Crystal Lake

Dear Framily,

Well it is beautiful here in Illinois. I love waking up in the morning to the sounds of the birds singing. The very first day we were here we were greeted by the songs from a pair of Cardinals. Later in the morning we noticed that a Robin had built her nest right outside the kitchen dining area. It is in a low bush (must not be too many cats around here, in fact I have not seen one since leaving our Pretty Face behind) that is about waist high. So we can walk by and see right into the nest. David took some pictures of her, and I will post them as soon as we find all the cables and etc. we need to do so.

The area here is very open. It is almost like being out in the country. What a contrast to the week we spent downtown Chicago. There will soon be fields and fields of corn growing. We find most of the same stores here. Some have different names but same parent company. The one thing we have noticed and miss is they don't have any purchase and take furniture stores anywhere around. Laura better appreciate the sofa and chairs we left her. We are all vying for a place to sit around here. It is order and wait 6 to 8 weeks for the furniture to be delivered. We were able to find one sofa we liked that was on clearance and they would sell it and let us take with us. So that will have to do until something is ready.

The neighborhood is wonderful. It is turning out to be a positive here where fences are not allowed. This in the sense that you look out a window and are not sure where the boundaries are. I our case we will have a lot to keep up, the neighbors all have a gardening crew that come in and maintain. I don't think my crew is as motivated. I hope we can keep up with their good work. We have I think 4 member families in the neighborhood. Two we can see from our front yard. Jon is happy about this because one has a son just a year younger and they have a very large sports court open to all the neighborhood kids. A fun small world story, Sunday after Sacrament meeting in church a lady (Bonnie Milner) came up to us and introduced herself and told us she had grown up in the Seattle area. The conversation revealed that we had grown up in the same area of Burien, attended the same High School, and been in the same ward Seattle 9th growing up. My Mother used to pick her up for seminary when she took my older sisters. Her parents have been dear friends of our family for many many years. Shortly after we moved into the then 2nd ward, we realized that her parents lived right across the street from us in the Soos Creek Village. Lloyd and Wilma Mc Donald. They moved from the Park Orchard ward about 2 years ago, and since Wilma has passed away and Lloyd is about to celebrate his 92nd birthday. What wonderful people they are. It is Bonnie's daughter who lives down the street from us and have the sport court. This just verifies to me that home is never far away.

I hope that all is well with everyone. Please know that we love you and appreciate the good influence you have had on our lives.

Love Diana