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Home is where the heart is


It has been a crazy year for us! I am starting this blog because I MISS MY FRIENDS from all over the place! After living in Utah, then Arizona, then Texas and Oklahoma, I feel so disconnected from so many people I had gotten close with through church, being neighbors, dental school, book clubs, kid's schools, all of it! Please reach out to me and let me know how your family is doing, I'd love to know more details outside of the occasional instagram post and Christmas card. 

 Here's what's new with us. We are so grateful to be here in Indiana, of all places. Richard applied for a Medical Recruiting position here in Indy, and was denied, and then ACCEPTED, so we ran with it and now here we are. Even though he is giving up full-time dentistry, he is excited to do some moonlighting and more. But you'd have to talk to him more about that.

 I'm thrilled to death the be near my family. I've been made fun of for my Indiana obsession over the years, but truly it's a great place to raise a family. It's also a great place for us to shop around to buy a dental practice once he's done with the Army in a couple years. Did I mention there's a temple here now?? So close by?? Also, our town has more than one grocery store! It's funny the things we appreciate after living away from "home" for 10+ years.

 Abby is in Kindergarten and is finally starting to make friends and adjust to all the change her little heart has been through. Technically she did not make the cut off date of Aug 1st to be in Kindergarten here in Indiana, but since she already started the school year in Oklahoma (cut off date was Sept. 1) she was able to maintain this grade level. It makes her pretty young, and she's had to play "catch up" at school. Her teacher has been teaching 20 years or so and knows my mom so that's a huge bonus! We just love her.

 She loved her school in Oklahoma and the first few weeks of school here were very difficult for her. She would cry before bed almost every night because she missed Faye and her old friends in class. She was overwhelmed by all the new faces and names to learn. Now she's settled in pretty well, but we do have homework every night in order to catch up with the Indiana curriculum.

 Richard is adjusting to his new recruiting job, and has had fun doing his podcast. He's always coming up with new ideas and is very excited about every new development in his dental life. He has to commute quite a bit to work, but it's worth it living so close to my parents and sister! (AKA free babysitters!) And my grandma Eileen. Richard's job is just down the street from my grandma Mary. So it's just been wonderful to see family multiple times a week (yes! I'm not lying! It actually has been wonderful!) And to see my girls getting to know their Indiana family in such a close way has made my heart very happy.  

 Our home is a bit smaller than in the past, and the weather is the coldest and wettest we've experienced EVER, but home is where the heart is so it doesn't bother me one bit. As long as my rental company lets me put pots of butterfly friendly plants all over the backyard I'm a happy camper.

 As for me, I'm not going to go back to teaching anytime soon because of Richard's schedule at the moment. Renee is only in a two morning a week preschool, so she's home with me most of the time. It's been too cold to take her to many places, but I work with her on academic stuff at home and she helps me cook and clean. Currently she's watching youtube on the ipad so I'm pretty much winning at life (yikes).  Right now I'm serving in the Primary as a counselor at church and helping a bit with organizing meals for families in need. I'm hoping to volunteer at Abby's school and possibly my mom's school too. I'm looking for a good hobby and purpose. So far I'm just trying to not get cabin fever from being indoors all the time. And I'm writing this blog I guess, that's something right?
Best,
Kristine









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