Days at the park...

I've scoured every block within a 1-mile radius of our place here in Wheaton, and there must be over 15+ available parks for the kids to use. Okay...okay...I grew up here so I already knew where they all were - but I have checked them out and taken the kids to many of them. It has become one of the more favorite past times of Elizabeth, Sammy and I. We have 2 or 3 that our favorites and I snapped a couple pictures so you all could see some updates of the kids. The park I snapped all the pictures at is made specifically for 2-5 year olds which is great. Elizabeth can safely (this is key) play on every object there which allows me to focus about half my time on Sammy so he doesn't feel left out.

Underneath the slide shown in the picture above there is a little table with benches to sit at. Elizabeth thinks this is a dinner table and always brings me sand food and wood chip drinks to taste - yummy. For those of you that enjoy my own personal suffering, I've hit my head near bleeding multiple times on the walk way above this table. This little bench also seems to be where all the kids like to congregate in the playground, even Sammy likes it there (e.g. silly smile to the right).

Connecting two separate pieces of the equipment are this mesh metal tube that the kids like to climb through. Elizabeth asked me to try - so I foolishly did. I'm not sure if I am just a) Old or b) much heavier than she is - but those little strips of metal went digging into my surgically repaired knee. Two things followed - immense pain lasting 1 minute and then numbness for several more. Needless to say, dad will no longer be going through the tunnel. Instead, I just walk on top of it which freaks Elizabeth out and no doubt provides Sam with aspirations to do something similar which will simply worry me.

We miss everyone in Richmond but are enjoying getting reconnected in Wheaton. I've signed on to be a youth leader for a small group of guys in Student Body (Wheaton Bible Church's high school ministry). Tonight is the first night that I'll be going to the small group so pray that the other leader, the boys and I will be able to break down barriers and build some new friendships. In a situation like this, its easy to have huge visions of all the great talks you will have and spiritual growth you will be able to impart on the youth - but as a book I've been reading reminds me - the problem with that is that it is about YOU. Mind you, it is good to try and have deep talks and help people grow...but...this core group might grow by 300% or it might fade away. It is important for me not to get overly excited or disappointed by either of those - rather - to know that God has a plan for me and the boys, and to lean on him for help as we proceed through the year.

The Great Adventure

The adventure that I speak of is Elizabeth's first extended trip away from home and mom and dad - with Grandma and Grandpa! My parents are coming in tomorrow and will be leaving Wed morning with Elizabeth to spend a couple days up in Michigan together. I've heard of all sorts of fun events planned from the zoo to parks to museums and even making strawberry ice cream together. She might have so much fun that she decides never to come back! Although I am sure Christy and I will miss her, we'll enjoy a little down time with only Sammy to care for. We will see her soon enough on Friday when we had to Michigan to meet up with the entire Meyer Clan to celebrate my birthday on Saturday (feel free to send cash, gifts and other goodies my way).

Its been a while since I posted my thoughts on random articles that I see online - and I have a whopper to view today (not really). It has to do with something only slightly less cool than the pigeon hugging monkey I posted about last time. Today it has to do with missile silo homes. Maybe its just a guy thing, but missile silo homes and also the idea of purchasing an island was a topic of conversation and online searching at least once every six months while I was at Capital One. For all you rookies who have never dreamed so big, I've included a link to help understand the greatness that could be owning a house over an old Titan or Atlas missile silo and/or your own private island get-a-way. Christy and I were considering a private island in Costa Rica - but after examining our bank account we learned we were a few million short. To be honest though, the drive would have been a bear from the ocean to San Jose.

Another article that caught my eye was on the UAW labor contract disputes with GM. These disputes, along with similar ones that are always seen in the airline industry, are amazing to me. I guess I can understand the union position (e.g., you promised us this, now you need to pay) but at some level they need to understand they are running the company into the ground, and when that happens - no one wins. No retirement benefits, no job security, no nothing. Clearly we are a ways off from this; however, it has just always seemed like a dangerous game of chicken. They might actually get more now than they will when the company is very weak and can't afford to concede anything.

Until next time...

Settling into Wheaton

Well, Christy and I have been in Wheaton together for two weeks now and I must say it is better being together than being apart. My last two weeks in Richmond were fun as I got to say goodbye to all my friends and close out work at Capital One, but I did miss the family tremendously. Christy has started her job at Wheaton College as an adjunct professor and appears to be settling in nicely. I have given her sound advice on how to fail students properly but she does not seem to be listening - which is probably best for everyone. I've been mainly a stay at home daddy which is a big adjustment for me, but a wonderful (probably once in a life time) opportunity. The kids and I spend alot of time going to parks, museums, the public library, shopping for milk and other activities. I've also been able to try my hand at making several meals including Pad Thai, Red Curry Chicken, Spanish Rice and other meals. I even went shopping at the oriental grocery store for thai egg plants - I got some strange looks and had to search for someone to speak English, but I got the egg plants and they tasted great.

Christy and I had our first get together at the condo today and 7 different folks came. We had great fellowship together and everyone was so supportive of the move to Costa Rica. We've also enjoyed beginning to get plugged into Wheaton Bible Church. We have been going to service and also gotten plugged into a community group there. I'm also looking forward to being in the men's bible study on Thursday mornings and also involved in other capacities (not having a job has the perks of having more time to serve in the body).

Elizabeth and Sammy are doing well. Elizabeth's most common phrases (besides 'Milk Please' and 'Lets go see Nanna and Pappa') is 'Dad, lets go to the park' or 'Dad, I just have to get out of the house.' Sammy has started calling Christy and I 'Hey-dad' and 'Hey-mom' because Elizabeth will say 'Hey Dad....hey dad....hey dad....hey dad....hey dad...' until I answer her. Awesome.

Cristy was able to update many pictures of the kids (click on the link in the upper right) - I highly recommend everyone go take a look. My favorite is with all the cousins plus a few second cousin piled on the couch. I was in Richmond when that picture was taken, and with that many kids under the age of 5 in one area, I am kinda happy about it.

Before I go, I'll leave everyone with this picture. It is a picture of a monkey hugging a bird. I saw this on drudgereport and it is the cutest picture I have ever seen (minus any of my kids of course). Basically, this stray monkey has buddied up with this pigeon, and they are friends for life. Does it get any better than this?

Internet works!

Well, its been a while but I have an excuse...It took us a little longer to get the internet up running than we thought it would. I am happy to say that Christy and I have medium speed (I won't call it high speed because we went on the cheap and got the 700K download speed for 10 dollars a month instead of worrying about getting maximum speed for 40 a month) up and running. It is fast enough to surf the web, write emails, and stream music without any hassle at all. Hurray!

I'll be better about posting here and emailing everyone. Hope all is going well and we'll be in touch soon.

I caught a fish THIS big

Okay...so maybe it was a little smaller than I remember it being. I guess the digital age is not all its cracked up to be - it keeps us guys honest about our stories.

It has been a little over a week since I came back down to Richmond to finish out work and I am really looking forward to getting back and seeing the family. Things have been rough for Christy as everyone is sick (including her). Certainly something to pray for as Elizabeth has a 102 fever and Sammy has an ear infection. I guess when it rains it pours. All this and Christy has to start teaching her class mid next week and the storms in Chicago knocked out power for the next couple days.

I've been trying to keep busy around here with what little work there is left to do, exercise at the YMCA and lots of movies. I was also able to send out our update letter which I am hoping most of you have received by now. The most exciting thing I did by far this week was go fishing (see picture above) with two friends from church. My last few days are filling up with activities at church and meals with friends. It is hard to believe but our six year time is finally coming to a close here in Richmond.

Its been good Richmond.....

I'm off to play some bored (har-de-har) games with friends now. I'll try to get another post in before I head home.

What to do....What to do...

Between all the traveling, the move and the fact that we do not have internet at our place yet it is has been hard to get the blog updated. However, one thing I did not have before (time) - I seem to have an over abundance of now. I am down in Richmond finishing out my last two weeks of work - but Christy and the kids are up in Wheaton continuing to settle in there. Although a one or two hour break can be so nice when you are with the kids all day, my first three days of the fourteen day trip has left me really missing the Elizabeth and Sam. I managed to complete all my errands that I needed to do down here on Thursday and Friday, and I was able to spend some time today addressing, stamping and stuffing our next prayer letter. Keep on the look out as they will be in the mail soon!

We've settled in nicely to the new place in Wheaton. In between work I tried to spend time with the kids (cosley animal farm, children's museum, runs in the jogging stroller, etc) so that Christy could start preparing for her class. She starts teaching at the end of the month and is nervously excited - so hopefully everything will go off without a hitch on the first day.

A couple new posts of the kids below. The first is Elizabeth being cute while laying on the couch - the other is Sam-I-Am with a silly grin. More than likely he is thinking how much fun it would be to take the camera and chew on it. (I guess better that than Elizabeth's leg).

To sign off tonight, a quick note from devotions that I liked from yesterday. (Proverbs 4:25-27) 'May I let my eyes look straight ahead and fix my gaze straight ahead of me. May I ponder the path of my feet so that all my ways will be established. May I not turn to the right or to the left but keep my foot from evil.' I wish I could say that all actions I take in my life are the direct result of me focusing on Christ, but clearly that is not true. Clearly a verse to pray over and ask for help. Until next time...

We've moved!

This will be a short post, but I wanted to let every one know that we have officially moved. We packed up the truck on Monday, drove it up to Chicago Tuesday and unpacked on Wednesday (thanks to everyone that helped!) - we are now taking some time to relax in Michigan at my parents place. Our plan is to go back to Wheaton - and our large mess - in a couple days after some time with family and with Matt and Lisa Befus (the missionaries we will be working with in Costa Rica) who are driving up to Michigan on Monday.

We're looking forward to getting settled into our new place in Wheaton. If you would like to contact us you can use:

111 North Wheaton Unit #407
Wheaton, IL 60187