Season of Change ...

Hey folks! Isn't it nice to see, at least around our parts, that there are signs of change on the horizon. The forsythia bushes are starting to turn yellow. The crocuses are sticking their purple flowers out of the ground and the daffodils are getting ready to "spring" to life.

Well, as nature changes so do our lives sometimes and we are preparing for a change in our family as well. We are moving at the end of this month (March). It might seem sudden, but we have been considering it for a while and it is something that we need to do as a bridge to our next phase as a family. I have started a new job, but it won't be until the second half of the year that I start making money as it is a commission-based job. So, in the interim we are going to move out of our townhouse and in with Silvia's parents. This will allow us to rent our current house and make some money there. We have always planned to rent this house when we move, we are just making an extra step along the way. We will stay with my in-laws until we are financially ready to buy another house and then we will move again. We are putting most of our furniture into storage in one of those PODS, so when we are ready to move, they will just put the POD on a truck and deliver it to our new location.

We covet your prayers during this time. We are confident that this transition will go well, but are more concerned for the girls than anything else. We just pray for a smooth transition for them as things will be a little different than they are used to. Oh, by the way, Hunter is going to live with my parents during this transition, so that will be a little different as well.

We will keep you updated on our search for a new home and we hope to be in a new place within 6-8 months. We are truly blessed to have family to support us in this way as it will be a big change for my in-laws as well. Pray for Sam and Tina's sanity with two preschoolers running around their house all day.

Love to all,

Jeff and Silvia

A New Trick for Hunter ...

It's not too often that Hunter's name reaches the blogosphere, but today he is certainly worthy of mention. For those of you who don't know Hunter, he is our 9 year old 100+ pound Golden Retriever who puts up with just about everything in this house (Picture below).



He is truly a great sport, especially since he was here before the girls. He has adjusted to the being ridden like a horse, having his tail, ears, whiskers and other more personal parts yanked by his well-intentioned red-headed "friends".

Well, today Hunter tried to learn a new trick, thanks to our ever-helpful Olivia. Hunter is trying to learn how to blow bubbles with bubble gum. Not easy for a dog, you say? No, not easy at all, but Olivia figured it was worth a try. Silvia was looking for Olivia (as she does hundreds of times a day) and it was quiet in the house (that's never a good sign for parents of toddlers). She finally walks into the foyer where she finds Olivia, with a pack of gum she had found in Mommy's purse, sitting on the floor next to Hunter feeding him stick after stick of chewing gum (wrapper on). Hunter seemed quite pleased with the new treat and we haven't seen any signs of digestive distress yet, so I guess all is well. I wonder how long gum stays in a dog's stomach, because I think it stays in a human's for 50 years or some nonesense.

It was nearly impossible to reprimand Olivia, because it was just too funny and she thought she was being a friend to Hunter. And Hunter will take any attention he can get, since he is the odd man out most of the time as far as attention goes.

I will give you any updates if I notice any remnants of Trident coming out the other end. It is truly amazing this dog has survived this long in this house.

Feel free to share any interesting pet stories that might fall along the same lines. They are always good for a laugh.