A Little Update on the Lutes

The Move: we're in the final days of getting my grandmother's home ready to move into. If our plans go as we expect, we may be able to start moving in on Monday. So that's a blessing especially since living out of suitcases is getting pretty old and we're running out of toiletries- and I severely under-packed! I'm cold!

The Job: Casey has applied and continues to apply to many, many jobs. He had one interview with McKay High School for a job that isn't that great, but would provide maybe just enough. We should hear word on that soon. He also tested with the county for some positions in correction. It was an all-day process that he passed each stage. We're awaiting word on that too. And that's it. Nothing else. We're praying the Lord will provide soon.

The Past: we're gaining more and more peace concerning what happened at the church in Colorado. We have been blessed to be able to act honorably in spite of untrustworthy behavior. There is healing in our hearts, and considering the cross, we can have strength to forgive.

The Future: to be determined by the Father of Lights. He will provide every good and perfect gift. We have confidence in that and in his steadfast love. Thank you for your continued prayers on our behalf.

Norah's New Favorite Movie

My mom took Norah to Wal-Mart with her the other day, and they came back with a new DVD for Norah. It is a Tom and Jerry DVD called Whiskers Away, and it features a segment entitled "Cruise Cat." I've never heard Norah laugh so hard at any movie or TV show as she does for "Cruise Cat."

What is fun is that I also think it is a really funny segment. It's also funny that Norah can't seem to remember how to say "Tom and Jerry" and often ends up saying "Cherry and Jom." But what is a bit odd is that nothing seems to make Norah laugh so hard as cartoon violence (but really, who doesn't love cartoon violence?). In the seven-minute segment of "Cruise Cat," we see the following acts take place, each one eliciting a belly laugh from my daughter:

*Jerry is smashed by a coconut.
*Jerry is slammed into a dock, flattening him.
*A pole-vaulting Jerry slams face-first into a cabin window.
*Tom's appendages are snapped off by a deck chair.
*Tom shatters a deck rail with his face, falling into the sea.
*Tom dives headfirst into a freshly-drained swimming pool.
*Jerry burns Tom with a blast of scalding steam.
*Tom and Jerry smack each other around with shuffleboard paddles.
*Jerry blows Tom up with dynamite.
*Tom spikes Jerry on a boot spur and a cactus.
*Jerry hits Tom in the face with a cactus leaf (my personal favorite).
*Tom gets slammed into a post face-first.
*Tom attempts to shoot Jerry, but the bullets end up back in his own mouth, which Jerry then fires by smacking him in the back of the head with a pistol.

Watching this with Norah is some of the best seven minutes I can think of. I actually find it funny too, so we both laugh (but I laugh more at her laughing than the movie). Tonight she couldn't sleep, so we let her watch a few segments of the DVD. We were sitting together on a chair, and she told me that when she gets older she wants to stay up all night with me--until it's morning again--and never sleep. She said that we can watch Tom and Jerry movies the entire night. Sounds like it'll be a fun time.

Oh, and if you're curious, I present for your viewing pleasure Tom and Jerry in "Cruise Cat" . . .

503

We made it safely to Oregon after two days of traveling. The kids are tired, but they did great on the drive! We are so proud of our "road-warriors".

So, here in we are in the old 503 area code, and it's weird to think that it's permanent. It still just feels like a visit. But we know it isn't, and we are thankful that the Lord has provided thus far and will continue to.

We'll share more later, but for now, it is bedtime. And we have more work ahead of us tomorrow and in the coming weeks.


ON ANOTHER NOTE:

Our two fish, Salt and Pepper, survived the journey in a Dr. Pepper 2-liter. So Norah was happy about that.

Saying Good-bye

The past couple days we have been able to have visits from friends. We had an out-of-the-blue visit from the Massey brothers and Curtis. And we made sure that Norah was able to spend time with Emma. They are the same age- 10 days apart to be exact!

Tonight we loaded up the big Penske and had the help of friends. Josh, Becca, Calvin, Jackson, and Chloe Vaughn came. Matt and Megan Cook came. Brian and Becca Kuster (and baby #1!) came. And Alex Cserni came. Pizza was eaten, laughs were shared, and finally some good-bye's.
We are so thankful for the supportive people that God has placed in our lives here in Grand Junction.

Our family will miss them all.

Casey & Brian disassembling the kitchen table

The girls in black coats

Us and the Cooks


Us and the Kusters

Megan showing how to get rid of hiccups. Thanks Megan!

Casey and Alex

Norah and Emma (next door neighbor)

Casey, Shane, Curtis, Cory

Countdown: two...

Cooking for the Cooks

Tonight we had the privilege of hosting friends that we have been blessed to have fellowship with and minister beside. Tonight, we cooked for the Cooks.

Matt and Megan Cook began attending our home church not too long after we moved to Colorado, and it didn't take long to strike up a friendship with them. When Casey needed volunteers for the middle school ministry, the Cooks were quick to answer the call and help. They continue to be assets in the church, and we are grateful for Christian friends like them that live out their faith serving God's people.

We enjoyed a sweet time of fellowship and laughter. And because you don't think to do these things all the time (well, WE don't), we took pictures in light of our time together expiring. I really hope that the Northwest beckons them to visit and that the call is nice and LOUD!

The "good" pictures:

The guys: Casey, Haddon and Matt

The Girls: Megan, Norah and Me.. and the Ritz box!

The "Norah attempts":

Norah's finger, with Megan and I from a Ninky's perspective.

It kind of looks like we're floating in a lava cloud- Ouch!

Well, at least she tried. Sorry, Matt.

Oh yeah, the countdown: five...

The Last Week

As I write, tomorrow marks one week until our house has to be totally packed and loaded in a big old Penske truck. We are entering our last week in Colorado. And it is weird.

So here's where we are. Our house is under contract, but still on the market, per the contingency on said contract. Most of our house is packed, except for the things we need to have out, but those will soon be placed into boxes to await a new life in Oregon. Our bills all have a change of address. We have a moving truck scheduled to be picked up next Thursday, and we have a general plan of how long we will live with parents and where we will move to.

But there is no job. After the month of November, there is no income. So we are praying that will happen soon and that it will be easier for Casey to find a job if we are actually in Oregon.

Like I mentioned before, it is weird still being here. All we are really doing here is waiting. We don't go too many places. There aren't groceries to buy because we actually have to use up what we have- at least in the freezer (which is not going to happen!). There's only so much that you can pack early, and I or Casey have packed most of it. There's something strange about the waiting. We were just saying, "There's nothing here." We know that we're just moving on.

So we will wait, and we will wait in hope and anticipation of what God has in store for our family. We eagerly expect Him to move in ways that are beyond what we can imagine. We take joy in that.

So, the countdown in really on: eight...

Heading Back to Oregon

We have arrived at some firm moving plans for getting back to Oregon. We will be loading up our truck on October 30 and 31, and leaving on November 1. We will arrive in Salem on November 2. My parents are flying down here on Friday the 31st to help us make the trip back. Our kids are road warriors, though--just put on 12 straight hours of movies on the portable DVD player, and they're mostly good to go. At least that has been their pattern in the past on long trips, and we hope it continues.

I don't yet have a job in Oregon, though I have submitted about 30 applications for different things. I think it will help to get up their ASAP, so I can try and follow up on job apps in person. Who knew it would be hard to find a job in the midst of the worst economic crisis in seven decades?

We expect our house here to sell soon (as does our realtor), but there are no guarantees, and no offers as of yet. It has shown well, though (and we've had 8 different showings already), and so we remain confident in the prospects there.

Upon arriving in Salem, we will be staying with my parents temporarily. The plan is to get started immediately on preparing Kelly's grandmother to move into a senior living facility out in Mt. Angel. Once she's out there, then we'll move into her place (which is just off South Commercial by the Courthouse Athletic Club) and rent from her.

Also, yesterday I put my Dodge Neon up for sale. It has served me well for over 7 years (!) now, but I'm going to ditch it so I don't have to haul it back. My dad might have found a comparably priced car for me to get when I get up there (a Toyota pickup), so it will be nice if that works out.