Thanks

Well, we've been TERRIBLE about getting posts to the blog this year...  Ever since we disconnected our Internet at the house, it's just so hard to think of getting on here and posting updates.  PLEASE FORGIVE US!!!

We have had a BUSY, BUSY year!  The new house in Prattville is nearly completed now - we're potentially going to be ready to close within the next week or so - WOW!  We look forward to getting in and getting settled and then welcoming our family and friends into our new home.  Please do NOT be shy about coming by to see us! 

We have also been busy with the old house - we've had so many repairs done this year, we have actually enjoyed living in it in recent weeks and months!  LOL!!!  However, we did have one particularly fun go of things last week when the main water supply line from the city's meter to our house decided to rupture - and, of COURSE, that happened on a day that we had someone coming by to view the house!!!  Well, we've got that replaced now, so (hopefully) someone will see that as another added benefit not typically found in older homes and will decide to snap it up!  :)  We are praying fervently to the Lord that He will bring another family into this home that He can bless in the same way that He has blessed us over the years that we've been here.  Emily and I met, wed, and had two children while living in this house and we are TREMENDOUSLY thankful for the times we have shared together inside those walls.  (However, we are definitely excited to see the day when those walls are occupied by somebody else and we can move on to the next chapter in our lives and to our new home!)

Savannah & Thomas are both just as precious as ever...  Thomas is "cruising", but just hasn't quite gotten up the courage to take off and start walking yet - which is fine by me because he's SO busy and we know things are going to get even more "interesting" once he can run instead of crawling!  Savannah is smart as all GET OUT and even more beautiful.  I can't even begin to describe how proud we are of our two children.

Work is still going strong - we're blessed to still have plenty of work to keep us busy, especially in an environment and a market where that is so very rare.  God is so good to us and we give Him thanks for the blessing of stress and difficulty in trying to keep up with everything!

Our families are doing relatively well - Aric's parents ("Nana & Popsie") have gotten settled into their new home in Kentucky and have gone about remodeling the whole thing from the top-down.  Mary Beth is still running 120mph, chasing after Lane & Lorilee who have just completely grown up ALL OF THE SUDDEN.  Shari is enjoying a continuing "honeymoon period" with Wesley - can't believe they've already been married for TWO YEARS!!!  And, NOW, Kristen has decided to take off for Nashville and is doing very well in this first chapter of her career as a nurse.  We'll miss seeing everyone for Thanksgiving, but we can't wait to get together for Christmas this year!!!  :)

Emily's parents ("Grammy & Gramps") are doing well, but are having a hard time dealing with the continued decline in the health of Emily's grandfather ("HaHa").  Katie is doing relatively well, and is now working at a big resort down there near the beach and says she really enjoys her job.  She had a nasty spill a while back, but has recovered well and is still pounding the pavement when she can.  We're HOPING we can host the Hoppers (and maybe Kristen too) for Thanksgiving this year, but we won't exactly be settled into the new house yet, so who knows...?

Anyway, that's about all from the land of the Lobensteins for now.  We hope you are all doing well - please don't be strangers!!!  Keep in touch and let us know how we can pray for you and your loved ones.  'Til then, may God's blessings be both abundant AND obvious in your lives.