Loading Up!

We had a GREAT team of helpers you very generously gave of their day to help us

load the ABF truck.  But on the flip side, it was a wonderful day of fellowship and great fun!

Isaac and Joshua were a huge help, not only in the packing up, but in loading totes!

Pastor Paul was the master in organizing the interior of the truck!

I think Mr. Chad and Joshua quickly decided that four totes at one time

was too much!

Plenty of food to go around for all of the hard workers!!!

Mr. Kaufman and Joshua horsing around!

The Crew!

Zach Ryan, Luke Kaufman, Pastor Paul, Chad Peterson, Josh Ryan, Mike Kaufman, Joe

Thanks everyone for your wonderful help!

Visiting Rachel's Family!

The day before we headed north, we went into Tucson and spent the afternoon at Rachel's.  Joe had a last minute dental appointment, and then we were good to go!  Not much to say here, but just a great time of fellowship and lots of pictures!

Enjoy!

Nathan wanted to be in on the fun so badly!

Joe, showing Nathan his form in push ups!

Love these two girls so much!!

Love you all so much!!

Packing and a Visit From Friends!

Packing is HARD WORK!  We worked for months on purging things that we no longer

needed, gave things away, and then packed what we wanted to take to Nebraska in these

wonderful, sturdy tubs from Costco!  We labeled them, filled them, and then stacked them up.  This was so much easier than trying to find cardboard boxes!

Joe kept the shredder going all day long!

About a week before the moving truck arrived, our dear friends, the Doughtys, came through

Tucson to visit friends.  Actually, just Nancy and Amanda came, and we were thrilled

to be able to see them for a day!

Amanda is approaching 20 years old, and when we first met their family, she was five.

The boys love it when she visits because they know they have a willing player in all of 

their games!

We managed to put a meal together from what was left in the refrigerator!

We have a long standing tradition of spending the Fourth of July together (until they moved

to Arkansas), BUT........we have a plan for next summer already!

Kraughty/ Douse Reunion #1

more details later

Amanda, these "little boys" are catching up to you!!

We missed Mr. Doughty, as well as Ashley, and all of the rest of our family scattered around!

We do seem to get crazy and have a hilarious time when we get together!

Good friends forever!!

A Walk Around Holmes Lake

Holmes Lake is a beautiful lake in eastern Lincoln.  We enjoyed a beautiful sunset

after a very long day.

Trees! Real Trees!

I love this Blue Spruce, in direct line of our living room window!

We love all of the beautiful trees on the property.

 

Joe's having way too much fun on that mower - borrowed from a good friend!

Crazy boys!

Isaac and Joshua really had fun playing and goofing off in the grass, without having

to worry about snakes or prickly things!

Nebraska, the Good Life!

We arrived!!!!!

We were so travel weary, but managed to stop at Walmart to pick up some food items.

We've focused on the interior remodeling to get the house so we can move in

comfortably, but I can't wait to change the color of the outside, too!

It was wonderful to see all the lovely, but very overgrown, flowers all in bloom!

I was very glad to discover this nice big strawberry patch off the back deck!

First stop after we were unloaded?

Valentino's!

Changing Direction

Life is a journey.  It has many twists and turns, many of them unexpected.

After living in Arizona for almost 15 years, we have decided to change direction 

and head back to Nebraska.

We are mid-westerners at heart, and we very much felt the Lord prompting us to make this move.

However, and that's a BIG however.....we will still plan on coming south for

the winter months. We love our little town and the many friends we have here!

In other words, we will become snowbirds!

Several weeks ago, we headed north to wrap up some details that needed to be

dealt with before we officially transplant ourselves.

We had a great trip and enjoyed many unique places along the way.

I-70 Diner in Flagler, Colorado

Joe had been there with David a number of years ago, but this was a first for the boys and me!

Diner food?  Yes, with plenty of grease thrown in.

But the atmosphere, music, and uniqueness of the place will have us stopping there again!