Finally, the heat is gone!

  To start off, Yeah!  A record heat of over 70 days above 100 degrees and the driest summer on record for the state of Texas! The celebration is that it is OVER!  We are now enjoying our 75 degree days in October, with a thunderstorm once in awhile. 

     Mike, of course, has to stand and watch the weather as soon as he hears a clap of thunder.  The storms are truely awesome. The lightning fills the whole sky and when it rains, it comes down in sheets!  We are enjoying the novelty of it though.  I'm sure the neighbors think that we've never seen rain or something, the way my kids dance in it.  Hopefully nobody has seen Mike in his underwear in the middle of the night watching the storms in the doorway.  The weather has been so remarkable that Madison painted it for an art auction for the school.

  School started, of course and the kids are getting settled in quite well.  Everything is different here and it has been a bit of an adjustment period for all of us.  Not only are the kids at school for longer days, they are having to try and catch up on the ciriculum for the state.  Different things are emphasized here. 

  Over all, all of the kids are doing well.  Marissa DID make the volleyball team and so did 95 other girls.  It was great to watch her learn a new sport in a competitive arena.  Now she is trying out for the Basketball team, GO CARDINALS!!   Galen is doing well in school and with a little proding and pushing he is making friends, looking for a job and contemplating dating.  Early morning seminary has been the challenge for him.  5:30 am is very early to get up and be spiritual, but he seems to be doing well.  Madison loves her art teacher! She is growing into a wonderful artist and enjoys showing off her work.  The kids in class are starting to notice her talent, which pleases her immensely.  Social arenas are hard for her, but she is making friends and excelling. 

  Mike is quite the globe trotter these days.  His training is being requested all over the United States and even in Canada.  We really miss him when he's gone, it gets too quiet here.  He loves his work and is very good at what he does.  I am impressed by the way he is able to connect with people of all sorts and is able to teach them.
  As for me, well lets just say I've spent some time exercising my health insurance plan.  I now have a Pulmonologist, Nephrologist (Kidney dr), Neurologist and I'm supposed to have a Rhumatologist.  The good news is that I'm alright and again functioning decently.  The better news is that in this neck of the woods, they know what my disease is and actually HAVE other patients with it.  I'm starting to be older that my doctors, so it makes me feel old but their confidence comforts me.  Being closer to a large city does have it's perks.

  It was Marissa's 13th birthday on the 12th!  Yikees!  A real teenager.  She got a fish tank.  She named her gold fish "Steve" and "Stevey".  That's all I'll say about that!  She's a good kid and we are very proud.  We still are just worried that we are getting in her way.

  We also went to the state Fair.  The kids actually got a day off from school to go.  They also got free tickets.  We took the train and enjoyed the smells of fried food and lots of animals.  The fair here goes for a month and it is a huge deal!

  We also went to Six Flags.  We had bought tickets in May when we visited and weren't able to use them.  It was fun.  It was perfect weather and lines were short. We're talking about getting season tickets next year, they're only $59!  What a deal!

  We've had a couple of visitors this month and have had a ball!  Granee Marie came for a week, then my Mom and Kristy came for a long weekend.  We really miss you all!  We showed off our town and the surrounding area and spent lots of time chatting and eating. 

 Life is good and we feel very blessed every day.  Thank you for your prayers and love.
The Cranstons