Williams Update 2008

Wow! Another year gone by already!!!

So much has happened this year that I have decided to resort to a “Newsletter Format” to reconnect with so many of you, our family and friends. It’s a LONG one, this was a year of re-connecting and brave new steps of faith into the “unknown” for us!

In January, we reconnected with Minnesota friends in the not so distant past. It was a GREAT time having “TPACC” and “Life Stream” friends out to our ShowHomes in Elk River, MN. Like a “class reunion” of sorts, seeing many friends and how they have changed (and not!) over the years. We were able to see (and share) how our kids have grown as well.

February, we saw a need. Ted felt a strong desire in his heart to help Gina get her 2nd bathroom finished. His heart was that she would not have to make the painful trek up two flights of stairs in the middle of the night. He contacted many of you, and you responded…to the tune of $750! Thank you’s are NOT ENOUGH to express what was contributed. Not only monetary, but the incredible (and sometimes late into the night) LABOR hours that were given out of generous hearts. It has taken a very long time, but considering how MUCH was able to be done for what we had, an amazing task was accomplished! THANK YOU ALL!!! (Pictures are below).

Julian turned 16, February 3rd and is already nearing the END of his High School year. He will likely graduate before the end of this “public school” year! Way to go Julian!!! During this summer, Julian met Cati…his girlfriend, surprising ALL of us that he would set aside his skateboard for something such as a “relationship” with a GIRL!!! She is a sweetheart who loves her parents and loves the Lord!

Also in February, on Valentine’s Day, Joe opened his MySpace “one last time” to cancel his account….but he was surprised to find an email/comment from a friend in his past… Jessie had found him and this began what we all know as “a new beginning” for them.

March, brought Josiah’s 18th birthday. He graduated last Winter, but has taken the year to consider his future. He is still dating Melissa. They just celebrated 3 years together. He is eager to get into full time work, hopefully with computers – he’s such a “techie” – and move out into the big world where he can spread his wings and soar in his dreams!

May, Joe turned 22… May brought Joe home from Stout for the summer, and COUNTING the days, awaiting Jessica’s arrival. June 3rd she moved to Minnesota to get a “fresh start” in life, as they grow and plan their future together. She wasn’t here long, though, as we immediately left for Des Moines to help my mom (Sherry) as she prepared for her second hip replacement surgery on June 5th. It was a HOT summer, but the kids were troopers and a GREAT HELP in getting Gramma (Nana) Sherry set up for her return home to recuperate. What an amazing recoup it was, too!!!

For two weeks in June, Ted, Laurie, Joe (Jessie) and Josiah (and Melissa) ventured to Tampa, FL for a convention/vacation. Julian, Josh and James stayed in MN. It was quite an adventure for all of us. The kids surprised and blessed Ted and I with a very special Anniversary Dinner in an incredible restaurant. We then, all ventured over to the warm sandy beach to swim in the ocean…what a wonderful time we had!

July was Josh’s 13th birthday…GOSH, they are growing! July brought more HOT weather, and a missions trip to Mississippi for Julian and Josiah. It was a life changing experience for them to see there is still so much after affect from Hurricane Katrina. They spent 10 days in rebuilding and helping hurricane victims while God did a work in their hearts!

As many of you know, we planned a trip to WA state in August to help Jessie with the final steps to complete her move. We were having a wonderful time together, exploring a new National Park each day – Josiah even stated “THIS is the BEST vacation we have ever had” while in Rapid City to see the Badlands and Mt Rushmore! What a great thing to hear from your kids! He is such an outdoorsman…cooking over the fire…gathering wood from the forest…UNFORTUNATELY, at Cody, WY our newly rebuilt transmission BLEW!!! Ted had made SURE to “take care” that we would NOT have problems on this trip, and lo and behold….2 weeks later it happened ANYWAY!!! From Cody, we were told to “limp” the van up to Billings, where the AAMCO dealer would “take care of (us)”… We found “the first KOA campground” where we pitched a tent (thankfully we HAD ONE!) for what became the LONGEST CAMPOUT EVER!!! We were STUCK, because the new owner of the AAMCO shop had a little “ATTITUDE” going on...no comment! We spent S E V E N D A Y S and NIGHTS…. W A I T I N G for SOME kind of communication. (This guy was something else!).

While “camping” in Billings, we found we were “nowhere” and the nearest ANYTHING was like 5 miles away….when asking if there was a bus route, we were told, “no, you could call a cab!” (FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!). We walked, on a couple of occasions, to just get out…and on one of those walks, we got a phone call that our house in Elk River was going to be bought and we would have to move!!!! WHAT ELSE?? We LAUGHED at the thought of how this might ruffle some people…but we were intrigued and unmoved.

Once our NEW TRANSMISSION was in, and not a moment too soon, we were off again….back on track and on the road…this time, for an EXPEDITED VACATION to get to our destination: Lacey, WA…where we had been scheduled for a 14 year reunion with our “kids” and church friends from Cathedral of Praise.

It was SO MUCH FUN to see everyone and how they have grown and changed….and some not!!! Sadly, we were not able to see everyone, because of the change in schedule…but we did reconnect and get updated with those we could see! If we missed you, it was not intentional…please, PLEASE… send us an email at LovingPeopleToLife@gmail.com . If you happen to be coming OUR way, let us know…we’d love to catch up with you in OUR neck of the woods too!

So, back home we went….readying ourselves for the big move when we got home. The day AFTER we returned, we started to pack. We had found a new home…in Independence, MN… on 40 acres at the highest point in Hennepin County! This was NOT ShowHomes, we were not going to have to keep things SHOW READY all the time!!! We were so excited! We had BIG PLANS for this place!!! We rented a truck for the 1 hour drive to the new place. Labor Day weekend. All was in by September 4th. September 5th, someone came up the long ¼ mile driveway to hand some papers to Ted… A SUMMONS OF EVICTION!!!! (did we LAUGH this time???) We were now to appear in COURT in 2 weeks to plead for time so that we could find another place to house our family of NINE!!! Needless to say, any UNPACKING stopped and we lived out of boxes…and, of course, did not connect utilities and internet only to have to change them in a few days! We made DAILY trips to the local coffee shop where we could get email and where I could get Josh and James placement testing done for educating at home. (THIS was a challenge!!!). We alerted ShowHomes of our need to “come back” and everyone was on the hunt for a house that would be big enough and available ASAP!

We went to the court hearing where we were given until October 1st to find another place and get moved OUT! October 1st…was a WEDNESDAY! Once again, we were moving…ALONE…who was available in the middle of the week? We waited, and looked, and waited and looked….no house was available! A walk of faith…for SURE! ON October 1, we rented a truck (AGAIN) and began to fill it…not knowing where the heck we were going to end up!!! Would we be sleeping in our cars that night? It is very hard to keep cheerful and motivated when you don’t know where your children will sleep! We’d spread the word, but who has room for THAT group!?!

At 5:15, we got a call from ShowHomes. Cindy had gotten a house under contract THAT VERY HOUR which we could move our things into. It was an hour and 15 minutes away! We were ELATED! It was dark, but we made the long trek and planned for how we would stage THIS house…even BIGGER than the last one – 6,300 fsf! We made 4 trips for this move….and were EXHAUSTED by then. But we had only FIVE DAYS to get the new house STAGED and READY for the realtor. (Did I mention that they called for a showing WHILE we were moving in?!). Thanks to Gina and Ted’s cousins Amy, Brian and Keith…as well as Greg (the kids’ youth leader) we were not alone that weekend. Staged and ready….AND ON TIME!!!! We can finally BREATHE!!! Well, almost…we have been told that we may only have until December in this one…never a dull moment… GOOD GRIEF!!! (I am ready to move to a beach house!)

Finally in our “home” in Ham Lake, MN…we were able to “settle” and get back to some sense of normalcy. Ted got a job with a small mom and pop company driving truck…and helping to empty foreclosed homes of their content. Joe was quickly hired as well, temporarily, to help with the emptying part. Jessie has been hired by U.S. Bank and is happy as ever! I have settled in and am learning about the Minnesota Virtual Academy and how the routine has to be set with James and Josh. It is a huge commitment, but we are figuring it out!

Jessie’s 23rd birthday is in November. We will have Thanksgiving in our new house (as usual) this year, December will bring Ted, James’ and my birthdays…and we hope and plan to have everyone here for Christmas as well. New Year’s? Who knows?!?! I am just glad we have a place to go where we can close the door, take a deep breath…and be THANKFUL!

Happy Holidays Everyone! We LOVE you…and are so thankful for our relationships with you!



LovingPeopleToLife@gmail.com (Laurie), InvestToEnrich@gmail.com (Ted), CoolCars_1@hotmail.com (Joe), xxJGracexx@aol.com (Jessie), HesNarratingOurLives@gmail.com (Josiah), Skate_Obsessor@hotmail.com (Julian), SkaterBoy.1211@yahoo.com (Josh), CrazySk8er12@hotmail.com (James)

http://www.pctattletale.com/scripts/cbprotect.php?id=37psalm4

Long ago, I posted this link on here for anyone who might be interested in protecting their kids online. It has been a very good tool for us to help keep the boys safe from predators as well as keeping them accountable.

Unfortunately, the friends of some of the kids are none too happy, because I have also helped their parents to get and install the software on their computers as well.

You may download the FREE TRIAL and use it for 7 days. Once the 7 days has expired, if you like it, you can purchase the full version for $49.95. This may or may not seem like much, but it is a GREAT VALUE when you realize that it is a LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP and you can use it on TWO computers!!!

I recommend that you at least try it out. I think you'll be happy with it. If you have questions, they have plenty of answers. This is an EASY program to use. You can even set it to take pictures of the sites your kids are viewing.

I did this with my kids' full knowledge. They were not happy, at first, but realized it was not going to change my mind, and they better just make a few changes in their own choices!!! Now, we are all happy!

If you have questions you would like to ask me about this product, please feel free to email me at LovingPeopleToLife@gmail.com and I will be happy to answer what I can.