back to our abnormal/normal

Well, here we are, minus Maria and Sergey of the live-at-home crowd, at the beach in Destin. Rick flew in from Alaska halfway through our 5 day vacation. (They were frozen out and were about finished up there anyway). October is the most beautiful time of year on the gulf. The water was crystal clear, it wasn't too hot. We had 2 days of calm water and 2 of huge waves, which made everyone happy. Jenny, Mama and the cousins got to stay with us a few extra days (they had already been there for a week) and it made it extra fun. Our pilgrimage to The Panda chinese buffet was spoiled by someone breaking out the window of Jenny's car to steal her gps, but we cleaned up the glass and, with plastic and duct tape, they were on there way home the next morning.
We got back on Wednesday in time for everyone to be back at work or school on Thursday and then Rick and Elijah and I got to work on the fall projects that we'd been saving for Rick....leaking water pipes, broken stuff, wood heater back in, applesauce, saurkraut. The last few weeks have been busy with all that and more. A lot has gotten done. We have around 150 quarts of applesauce and several gallons of kraut working. We have a few patches of greens growing, not nearly as much as I should have planted, and vika, the goat, got into them yesterday, but maybe they'll do something and we can have some fresh greens this winter. We were looking at chicken coop options, since the old girls that we have left aren't putting out even 1 egg a day. I found lots of chickens in the market bulletin but we need some better housing for them. There are some ideas on line called chicken tractors that are pens made to be moved around the yard to take advantage of natural food sources like bugs and weeds and grain in manure from the other critters. We need to get busy and build something.
Sergey is doing great at OTP and we have had some miracles in keeping him there. Everybody else is doing ok, everyone struggling with there individual baggage and problems, but nothing overwhelming at the moment, (by the grace of God). Maria just called to say that she was on her way home and thinks that she did alright on a test and now has to study for another one this afternoon. She is doing really well but needs to come up with $3,000 or more for next semester. I am very happy with the education she is getting at TFC, it is such a great place to really prepare kids for the culture war that America is in and prepare them to go out and fight for Christ in any place they find themselves. It just costs too much.
In other news, Andrey is holding his own at school, finished a very successful football season and now is in wresting practice. Igor is doing well in school, finished 4th in regionals in crosscountry and has a girlfriend!! Raymond is working part time as a lifeguard, messing with computers and studying for the ged, while trying to finish his Eagle Scout program. Alina is doing great in k, wonder of wonders, is addicted to letters, words, numbers, it is truly amazing. God is good.