Hello to all of you who care about what is going on in our life. It has been nearly a year since I last blogged. During that time we returned to Illinois, which I guess we should call "Life on the Level". (Any of you who have been to corn and bean country know what I mean). We were surprised to find that being back in Charleston, Illinois required some adjustment. We were surprised because we were returning home and thought we would automatically just feel "at home". After the initial feelings of being a bit at a loss faded in a few weeks, we did get back into the swing of things.
The start of the school year helped to bring a sense of normalcy back to our life. Nina opted to try a year at Charleston High School where she enjoyed being on swim team, doing some shot putting for the track team, joined the marching and pep band and participated in the school musical "Oklahoma!" This along with taking Drivers Ed made for a busy and exciting year... she also managed to keep a straight A average in all of her subjects the entire year.
Kati returned to Charleston Christian Academy for sixth grade. She participated in basketball
and soccer and got very involved in Olympic style weight-lifting, even going to meets in Columbus, St Louis, and Chicago to compete. Kati had begun taking guitar lessons while in Portugal and asked to continue with that instrument instead of returning to piano lessons as Nina chose to do.
Mike was asked to return to EIU in his capacity of Student Teacher Coordinator and also taught a high school history class at CCA for the first sememster of the year. This kept him very busy...a little too busy.
All of us were actively involved in our church (CCC) Mike and I helping with AWANA and hosting a home group Bible study. The girls were busy with AWANA and youth group.
Then...one day last fall...I happened to look around at our life and realized that while our days were busy and our lives were full, there was something missing. I think it really started when my great niece, Lauren, was born. I realized that all my sisters had grandchildren right there in Charleston and were enjoying being a part of their lives. All of our "grands" were somewhere else and we saw them only a couple times a year. Mike and I started to discuss this aspect of our life and a seed was planted.
We began to discuss our feelings with our adult kids, exploring different alternatives. After some debate, we came to the conclusion that the most practical thing to do would be for us to move to MI (where the majority of the adult kids and grands live) with the goal being to eventually get all or most of them living there too.
The first of the year we put our house on the market. It sold May 1 and by May 31, we were on our way to MI.
We are at present living in a two bedroom apartment in Kentwood, MI. We have a house plan and a builder and a wooded lot. Our builder tells us they should be able to break ground next week and the hope is that our new home will be done in 3-4 months.
I'm inviting anyone who is interested in following our progress to check into our blog periodically as I plan to update it as the building process moves along. Nina has promised to post pictures for me and Mike wants all the imput he can get on what "doorknobs to pick."
The only picture I have at the moment is an empty lot...but hey...you have to start somewhere.
The start of the school year helped to bring a sense of normalcy back to our life. Nina opted to try a year at Charleston High School where she enjoyed being on swim team, doing some shot putting for the track team, joined the marching and pep band and participated in the school musical "Oklahoma!" This along with taking Drivers Ed made for a busy and exciting year... she also managed to keep a straight A average in all of her subjects the entire year.
Kati returned to Charleston Christian Academy for sixth grade. She participated in basketball
and soccer and got very involved in Olympic style weight-lifting, even going to meets in Columbus, St Louis, and Chicago to compete. Kati had begun taking guitar lessons while in Portugal and asked to continue with that instrument instead of returning to piano lessons as Nina chose to do.
Mike was asked to return to EIU in his capacity of Student Teacher Coordinator and also taught a high school history class at CCA for the first sememster of the year. This kept him very busy...a little too busy.
All of us were actively involved in our church (CCC) Mike and I helping with AWANA and hosting a home group Bible study. The girls were busy with AWANA and youth group.
Then...one day last fall...I happened to look around at our life and realized that while our days were busy and our lives were full, there was something missing. I think it really started when my great niece, Lauren, was born. I realized that all my sisters had grandchildren right there in Charleston and were enjoying being a part of their lives. All of our "grands" were somewhere else and we saw them only a couple times a year. Mike and I started to discuss this aspect of our life and a seed was planted.
We began to discuss our feelings with our adult kids, exploring different alternatives. After some debate, we came to the conclusion that the most practical thing to do would be for us to move to MI (where the majority of the adult kids and grands live) with the goal being to eventually get all or most of them living there too.
The first of the year we put our house on the market. It sold May 1 and by May 31, we were on our way to MI.
We are at present living in a two bedroom apartment in Kentwood, MI. We have a house plan and a builder and a wooded lot. Our builder tells us they should be able to break ground next week and the hope is that our new home will be done in 3-4 months.
I'm inviting anyone who is interested in following our progress to check into our blog periodically as I plan to update it as the building process moves along. Nina has promised to post pictures for me and Mike wants all the imput he can get on what "doorknobs to pick."
The only picture I have at the moment is an empty lot...but hey...you have to start somewhere.
As usual, your adventures continue, and it will be fun to "keep up" through the Blog. A brand new house, town, friends, schools, church...Wow!
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