Friday, October 28, 2011

Welcome, friends!

Hello, family and friends! Welcome to our new blog home.  I hope you'll all be very comfortable here and visit often.

I think you'll find this site easier to manage and navigate.

So let's settle in and talk about what's been going on at the Kandles (Florida division) for the last few months.

Of course the biggest news is Clint's new job.  He is working as a chaplain for Halifax Health Care, in their hospice division.  He just finished his first week of work, and he likes it so much. We are so grateful and blessed that he is able to have both work and ministry in one place!  As I think I mentioned in the final chapter of our last blog, Clint was ordained to the transitional diaconate of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America in July.  So he is also serving as a deacon at our church and preparing for his ordination to the full priesthood some time next year.

Devyn and Greg are all settled into their apartment.  They live about four miles from the airport, so if you fly down to see us, we've now got a pick up team in place. Dev is loving her job as a speech language therapist at St. Cloud Middle School in Osceola County; she continues to work her Saturday job as a respite caregiver here in Apopka, so we are able to see them both every weekend. Greg has just gotten his first listing in real estate and is excited to kick that career into high gear.

Haley is in her second year at Valencia, and she is enjoying it tremendously.  She is doing real cooking now, and every Thursday, we are the lucky recipients of her bounty.  We've gotten to sample baguettes, rolls, bundt cakes, muffins, cinnamon rolls, streudal and cookies. . .yum.  She's also still working as a nanny part time and volunteering at an assisted living facility.

Catie is knee-deep in her sophomore year.  She has an active social life--so much for that myth about homeschoolers!!--and is a much-in-demand babysitter, too.

David turned eleven this past September, and he has gotten involved in several activities this year, including a weekly PE class and a Lego group.  He is a middle schooler now, and he is enjoying the challenge of more school work.  Well. . .enjoying might be stating it a little strongly, but he's doing very well : )

I've been working on a final edit of my first book, in preparation for e-publishing later this fall. Choosing e-pub was not an easy decision, but at this point, with all the changes in the world of book publishing, it is the best choice for me. I'll be sharing more info with all of you soon. . .such as where you can buy the book!!  I have also begun child care again, watching a sweet 14 month old little boy three days a week. The kids love having a baby in the house again!

After Dev and Greg moved out, we did some room shifting at home.  Catie moved upstairs, where she now has her own little 'apartment'.  She loves all the space and having her own bathroom. Clint moved into Devyn's old room and now has a completely private office all to himself! Catie's former room is now the playroom.

Life has been a good deal different for us since this summer.  We're spending more time doing things locally or at home.  It feels as though we might at last be shifting from Florida newbies to real residents; it doesn't seem like vacation all the time anymore.  But we still love having visitors, and even with the room shifts, we have plenty of room for you. 

We're looking forward to lots more adventures and to sharing them with you all!