The Latest and Greatest!!

Have you ever wondered why you meet certain people and why they come into your lives?  Well, I have, and was pointedly shown why today.  More on that later...

As some of you may already know, Robert was offered a job as a Customs Officer with Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and has been assigned to Blaine, Washington.  I have been asked by quite a few people if they will ever transfer us. As it stands now, we can stay at the Blaine post for as long as we want.  There are, however, options for transferring at a later date.  I've heard it's not a very easy thing to do, but it is possible.  Robert left for Blaine, WA on July 3rd where he spent the next three weeks job shadowing and also was able to get to know the area where we will be living.  He then flew to Glynco, Georgia on July 25 to begin his training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). Here is a pic of us right before Robert left Alaska.

Robert was very blessed to get a room at the academy all to himself.  It's a small suite, complete with a kitchenette, sitting area, bathroom, bedroom, and desk area.  It is rare to get that sort of room, but because of the lack of funds for Homeland Security, they are not hiring and training as many Customs and Border Patrol Officers as they used to.  We're a little concerned that the Government will have to shut down and Robert will be sent home, jobless, but we also understand the way credit and debt works - even though it seems the leaders of our country do not.

I am so excited as I write this because we have updated our plans in the last few days.  My dad will be having knee replacement surgery on August 9th.  Our original plan included Dad and I driving our trucks down the Alcan in mid-October.  We have now realized that he will need more healing time than just two months - and even then should probably not sit for hours at a time in a cramped truck for a few days in a row.  I also found a house to rent that fits us perfectly.  It will be ready to move into on October 1st.  Soooo, my dearest (and most responsible) friend, Angie has agreed (insisted - lol) to drive down the Alcan with me and the kids towards the end of September.  We are both so excited about our last Alaskan adventure and can hardly wait for the time to visit and see the beautiful Alcan highway.

Now, about our rental house...remember earlier I said that I found out today why I had met someone.  Well, the summer before we sold our house in the Valley, I met sweet Margie Palmberg at a garage sale I helped with at her house in Wasilla.  I met her through friends of friends and I remember at one point lately thinking about all the people I have met in the Valley during the ten years we lived out there.  I remember specifically thinking about her and why I would have gotten to know her - and like her so quickly.  I know that might sound wierd, but I mean it in the best of ways.  :)  Anyway, I found this house on Craigslist the other day and right away I showed it to my mom and told her it was perfect. It was perfect because they offered a six-month lease (most are 12) and they included the utilities.  I spoke with the owner of the house the next day and they agreed to hold it for us with our security deposit.  That's when my doubts started. I began to hear horror stories about people who get scammed all the time off of Craigslist. I knew I needed to find someone who could go to the house, make certain that the owners actually live there, and I also wanted to make sure I wasn't sending money to a non-owner.  This is where Margie comes in.  She is actually from Blaine and her sister lives in Lynden, which is where our rental house is located. I was able to speak with her sister and, turns out, she actually knows the owners of the rental house.  She called me later today and told me that she actually drove by the house, the owner was outside and invited her in to take a look.  It really sounds like this has been a blessing for us AND the owners of the rental house.

So now I know why God placed Margie in my life - to USE her! :)  haha, just kidding, Margie.  I so appreciate all the well-wishes and offers to help from everyone.  As excited as I am for a new beginning, it will be bittersweet to leave all the wonderful people who have become such good friends to Robert and myself and our family.

And it begins...

Robert has left for training for his job as a US Customs Officer in Blaine, Washington.  He will be there until July 25th when he will fly to Glynco, Georgia (at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center - FLETC) to train until he graduates December 2nd.

We are all so excited for this opportunity and feel very blessed that he was chosen to work at the Blaine Port of Entry - near Bellingham - 2 hours North of Seattle.  We (my parents included) love to hear from Robert at the end of every day - whether he's telling us what he learned that day or how nice the weather is - we don't care as long as he updates us.  :)

My mom will be flying with me to Seattle in September to help us find a house to rent for a year or so.  I'm excited about that since Mom is always fun to shop with.  She also helps me see things from a different perspective which helps when I'm only looking at the big picture.

Dad and I are planning our drive down the AlCan Highway.  I always try to make him laugh when I say I want to be sure and take the kids to Hell's Gate.  Hilarious!  I even laugh when I write it!!  http://www.hellsgateairtram.com/index.html

Dad's pretty excited about the drive too.  We used to drive down every other year when we would visit family in the States, but now that my mom doesn't mind flying so much (you can ask her about THAT - haha), they just fly down every year.

Our other news is that we are now officially independent homeschoolers.  All these years we have been with IDEA and have enjoyed the allotment that comes with that program.  We will no longer accept funding from the State and I have to say that it is quite liberating.  No more turning in schoolwork or progress reports and no more meeting with contact teachers.  On the flip side, I am truly thankful for the five years we spent with IDEA as it gave me the foundation and structure that I needed to eventually become independent.  I was very worried about Washington's homeschooling laws as they seem very strict and intrusive.  I recently sent an email to the local Christian homeschooling group in the Blaine area introducing them to our family and giving them our background.  I mentioned in that email that I was a little concerned and leary of Washington's homeschool laws.  They recently sent an email that made me reassured.  This is what it said, "Our laws may look intrusive but they are toothless."  Toothless!!  What a wonderful and comforting word!  I plan to begin some lessons very soon with Robert, going into fifth grade, and Cheyenne, who is starting Kindergarten.  I know that we will have a very busy fall and should do as much as we can now.

Everything is pretty much packed and ready to move.  We even bought a "new" used truck - good for pulling and handling the rough road.  A 2004 Chevy Silverado 4x4 - diesel - with four doors.  The kids love all the room in the back seat.  I'm still hoping that once we get settled I can get another minivan.  Minivans are amazing and I really miss having one!

So that's our latest.  Thanks for keeping updated!