So the latest news is...

* We're painting, plumbing, cleaning, building in our lease space to be prepared for the actual coffee roasting to begin and to pass the myriad of inspections we keep finding out that we need.

* The girls are having a fabulous time in San Antonio spending some time with each set of grandparents - what could be better than that?!

* Greg's truck currently has a flat tire which he and his brother Brian did not notice until the back of the truck was loaded with lots of cedar wood they ripped out of our lease space. Hmmmmm, tricky.

* We have a beautiful bright red, shiny roaster sitting in our "shop" just screaming to be fired up. Pictures to come...

* There are bags of amazing green coffee beans sitting oh so close to our roaster just screaming to be roasted.

* The house is waiting to be closed on and then cleaned, re carpeted, and painted.

* I am having the most wonderful opportunity to connect with old friends. We had dinner the other night with Charlie and Meredith and their family who were our dear friends and Greg's boss while we were in seminary.
I had lunch a couple of days ago with one of my best friends from college, Leslie, who was also a bridesmaid in my wedding. Our lives have taken us collectively to Iowa, Kansas, Indiana, Georgia, and now here we are both in the Dallas / Fort Worth area.

* I better get a move on in case Greg needs a ride somewhere...

Score: Greg 1 Kelly -1

So, life has been fairly surreal for the past few months... A little intense, we're a slight bit off normal - you know all that. In light of this, I keep forgetting things like how old I am, what day of the week or month it is, etc.

On Valentine's Day, I had no card for my amazing husband; and I figured he didn't have one for me either until...

I walked back to the bedroom and found one laying on my pillow. I opened and read...


I would totally throw myself on a bee for you.

Totally.

The front had a picture of a cute, rather nervous looking little bee (with a ferocious looking stinger, however). It was so romantic I almost cried, and I did laugh. He wrote other wonderful things in it too which are just for me, and I will not share them.

I love my husband.

Let me introduce myself...

Has it been awhile? Time flies when you're house hunting and starting a new business.

The thing that has most occupied my thoughts and prayers (and stolen hours of my sleep) over the last weeks of my blogging void has been house hunting. No, the house in Kansas has not yet officially sold (please keep praying), but due to God's grace and loving family, we were able to start looking for a home of our own even while we wait upon the one we're selling to close.

We found a great deal on a foreclosure in a wonderful neighborhood with great schools. The closing will be at the end of Feb., and then we can get in there and paint, replace carpet, etc. It has four bedrooms - Abby can't wait; she's been sharing with a very chatty Grace the whole time we've been here- a great layout, and great space for our whole family. It also happens to be really close to our wonderful family and business partners (Brian and Melanie). The neighborhood has a lovely pool and three great parks within walking distance, several jogging/bike paths, three big ponds with catch and release fishing... More to come with pictures once we actually close.

Tomorrow we are taking the girls to spend several days with grandparents, so Greg and I can spend some much needed time together and spend some much needed time preparing for home move-in projects and preparing to function as a coffee roasterie in our lease space.

Lots of excitement and stresses... Can't wait to sink roots down!