Forstrom Family Frenzy

Tyler steals the show Easter Sunday!

With true parenting ingenuity, Chuck bribed Tyler to sing loud for big Children's Choir anthem by promising him a surprise.  He stole the show and could be heard throughout the whole church!  Everyone got a kick out of it and he got many compliments!  See Easter 2008 King's Kids performance photo.

New pics in house contruction photo album

More pics

I know, I know... I've promised all of you for a long time that I would put more pics of the new addition on our blog.  So, here we go...they'll be up today.  We love how it turned out and would be so glad to host you for a visit!

Hanging by a thread...

Well, I know I have always been a busy person but I think I have just reached my threshold.  I thought if I journaled quickly it would help me decompress a little...we'll see what happens.  The house construction is beginning to be very inconvenient.  I haven't complained about it at all these past 3 months (well maybe just a couple times) and now I'm getting to the point where resentment is setting in (not a good place).  Let me describe my situation.  I have no front door. I have to park in the neighbor's driveway.  When I get groceries, I have to carry them up a steep stone walk (which I made so I didn't have to walk on dirt), go through the workshop, basement, then a flight of stairs to the kitchen.  Flies are everywhere from the open doors, etc.  My basement flooded because the gutters aren't up yet.  The prior owners had a cat that pee-ed on the basement walls so when they get wet my whole house is permeated with the wonderful smell of cat urine.  For some reason I have fruit flies, I don't know why.  I took a cold shower this a.m. because there was no hot water or heat.  Most of my furniture is in one room and we live in a very small space.  I hit my leg on corners of furniture constantly (a few choice words have been emerging unexpectantly from my lips).  The one room where we can hang out to watch TV is the cat urine room.  On top of all this, I am trying to run a household and raise 2 kids often by myself since Chuck is very busy at work.  I work part-time as a physical therapist and go to seminary on Monday nights.  I have tons of homework that I stay up till late to do and I have a mid-term Monday.  I volunteer at the church about 20+ hours/wk doing ministry.  I have to be productive every minute of the day or I start to drown.  Need I say more?!!

But, now as I've gotten this all out God reminds me of this...He is blessing us with this fabulous addition which will allow us to host countless things for Him. I should be so thankful and chalk up the inconveniences to temporary.  My basement may have flooded but I still have a house and it could have been much worse.  A few bruises from bumping into things is not a big deal.  I love my kids, my job, and my seminary classes.  My kids have really been growing up a lot lately and they are so much fun to talk to and do things with.  (BTW, Kylie turned 6 last Saturday!  We're taking her and her 2 friends to the circus this week!)  My job is so flexible that I make my own schedule and it pays so well that it covers all my classes and will cover construction costs on top of that.  My seminary classes are awesome and I appreciate every single one I am in.  I am blessed to have allowed God to lead me to seminary when I was headed in a very different direction.  It is so worth it to follow God's call.  I am thankful that I have a mom and dad who can watch my kids when I need them for school and work.  I have a husband who provides so well for us.  And, most of all, I have a Lord who cares about my daily struggles but is okay if I complain every once in a while as long as I remember my blessings as well.

There, I feel better.

Updated construction photos posted

Go to photo album House Construction.  Crista

Construction update

Walls have been poured.  Floor will be poured on Tuesday.  New pics added to House construction photos.  By looking at the last 3, you may be able to tell more of what is happening.  It's getting exciting!

More house construction pics posted.

See "House construction" pics for the next stage of the construction project. 

Construction begins...

Well, after almost 4 years of planning,we have begun work on our new addition.  Demo started last Thursday and now we basically have a big dirt mess!  But it should go quickly and we are excited to see the final product.  In the end, it will include a garage with play room above that is attached to the house, an extended kitchen and living room on the main floor, a front porch and patio, a deck, and a whole new landscape for our lot including a new driveway, removal of all our stone walls and the addition of some fun hills for the kids!  We'll see if it all happens... I'll be posting some pics today!  (PICS POSTED UNDER "HOUSE CONSTRUCTION")

Barnabas (Barney) Forstrom

We are excited to announce that last Monday, Barney was delivered to our home.  He is adorable...his mom was a pug-mix, his dad a beagle.  I'll post more pictures soon.  He's a happy addition to the fam - guess we finally made it...2 kids, one dog.  That's good for me!

On another note, I'm winding down my second semester of seminary.  I LOVED it!  The class, The Church as a Social & Cultural Institution, challenged to me to examine my views on the church's role in society.  I'm just starting to feel more confident in my thought processes.  I'm finding I can speak more freely in class now as a result. 

We are adopting!

We are excited to announce that we are adopting a new... PUPPY!  He is coming to us from North Carolina from a mixed breed adoption agency which we really like.  See his posted pic.  We think his name will be Barnabas (Barney).  Other suggestions are welcome!