our new digs

We've secured temporary housing in washington, about 10 minutes from kyle's work. Here are some pix. Complete with two golf courses, 5 pools, hot tubs, softball field, gym, and the columbia river. It's a vacation community for people coming over from seattle. The gorge is about 40 minutes away if you like concerts. Plan your visit now. Booking from January to July.

The Marathon Begins . . .

Where to start? Kyle turned in his notice at work. We are buying a practice in Washington State and there is a lot to do in the next two months.

Wrap up loose ends in Reno
Find good schools in new state
Find nice house in new state
Find renters to replace current lease
Move all of our junk
Begin prepping for takeover of new business

Frankly, I’m still not over leaving my friends in Bama so my coping strategy this time around borders somewhere between avoidance and denial. Suffice it to say I love my people and don’t like to leave them.

On the other hand, I am so excited for Kyle to find the opportunity he is looking for. We moved to Demopolis to buy a practice and when it was clear that wasn’t going to work out Kyle began searching for the right thing.

It is an interesting feeling looking at a map of the country and saying, “Okay, where do we want to build a life.” I always thought I would raise my family in Utah, but with limited options there we have expanded our vision.

Our qualifications were 1. Live somewhere that inspires us. 2. Live somewhere we can make a good living and not struggle. 3. Live within striking distance of family.

I hope Washington proves to be all of those things. From my limited experience there it seems like recreation heaven with access to lots of new adventures.

Moving sucks, and that’s that. But when asked to trade the people we’ve met and the experiences we’ve had . . . I choose the people and experiences every time.

I feel like our time here in Nevada has been a gift. Tahoe’s blue water is spiritual. And the people in Reno have been amazing. I don’t know . . . some things change you and you are never the same.

So . . . that’s the Gillespie update. And because we have some dead space in the next month where we have a lot of waiting to do I think I am going to run a marathon. It just seems fitting. After all, thirties are the new twenties, right?

Anyway, miss all of you, wherever you are.

b

Random update

I was super busy with work for a few days there and didn’t have time to help kate clean her room. This is her fishing out everything that accumulated under her bed in that short time. Sort of reminded me of my dad working under a car . . .

The salmon spawning at Tahoe. Awesome.

To hell in a handbasket

What do you do when you get cancer, have a mid-life crisis and feel like your world is falling apart? Have a halloween party like no other. I thought the invitation was delightful enough to share. My uncle C and auntie H know how to roll with it. Love you guys! Wish I could be there.

Oh my little Kate

Oh, kate.

On Tuesday, why did my living room smell like a deli? She took the mustard out of the fridge and painted on the wood floor with it and then took bath towels and wiped it up and put them behind the couch. The world is her canvas and my fridge is her medium.

Today was family pictures. Twenty minutes before it's time to go, Kate decided her beautiful hair would look much better slicked down with conditioner. Fancier, she thought. Long live Kyle and his handywork with a blowdryer.

But for all our her makeup heisting, wall coloring, dress.up-wearing, kate is a lot of fun and knows how to live large. And she knows how to love large, too. We love our Katie, kate.