Post Family Farm

What a perfect autumn weekend!

Congratulations, Kim!

Here I am with (three of my four) college roomies!  Lindsay Walcott, myself, Kim Rubin and Jo VanderPloeg.  Kim and her hubby, Aaron, are due for a baby boy in December and we're all so happy for them.  Kim's sister, Melissa, threw a wonderful shower for her on Saturday.

After college the girls & I lost touch.  There was no real reason, just busy, I guess.  Six years later we reconnected and have kept in touch every few month since then.  I love these ladies!  I think the fact that we reconnected years later makes the relationships even sweeter!  Funny thing:  Lindsay & I married guys named "Jon," and Kim & Jo married guys named "Aaron!"

Welcome, baby Rubin!!

Francis House Update

Just in case you're interested in a Francis house update, here it is:

We're in the process of working with Habitat for Humanity in order to make a donation.  We're trying to figure out if we can donate it as is or, more likely, demolish it and donate the property.  If we must demolish it, we will work with Grand Rapids Community College's School of Deconstruction around mid-November.

Thankfully we have been paid quite well from our insurance company.  We have high praise for Citizen's Insurance!

Thanks for caring.

Angela

A Song for You

I taught my kids this song!

Great green globs of greasy grimy gopher guts

Mutilated monkey meat

Dirty little birdies feet

French fried eyeballs swimming in a pot of blood

I forgot my spoon - YUCK!

Drama, drama, drama!

This week's Mulder family drama: two stitches in the back of Isaac's head.  Yes.  The stitches are a result of climbing on a rack of clothes at Target.  It fell over and he hit his head and bled all over.  Thank you to the anonymous shopper who was tremendously helpful in my time of need.  Also, an extra special thank you to PA-of-the-year, my friend-for-life, Heather.  Really, Heather, you are the greatest.  (If you're wondering, that's a grape flavored tongue depressor - yum!)

Happy 4th Birthday, Isaac!

My baby man is four today!

This past weekend we celebrated with family at the lake cabin!

We even took a special cake to school!

And had all of our best friends over for a party tonight!  What a great birthday.  

Vandalism

We met with the insurance company, fire inspector and others at the Francis house today.  The fire inspector determined that on Wednesday night some people came to steal our A/C unit.  They cut wires and rattled it around, but for some reason couldn't get it.  However, their tampering caused an electrical fire which, as you know, was discovered and extinguished Thursday early am.  On Monday evening, after the holiday weekend, we stopped by and all was well with the house.  On Tuesday afternoon I went back and found the A/C unit like this:

The top was popped and the insides were stripped.  Today when we returned we found this:

Gone!  So, at some point last night they finished the job.  Yeah.  Really.  I can hardly believe it myself, but this was the fire inspectors assessment.  

So, Citizens Insurance did right by us today and we have every confidence that they will continue to do so in the future.  I hope to sing their praises (and God's!) during this process!  Jon & I have many decisions ahead: do we rebuild, tear down, sell?  But, today was a good day.