In case you thought we were MIA, we've just been swamped. Vince has been working way too many house of nightshift and we've been trying to sort out the details of our future home.

Now the tide has turned and we'll be doing a conventional, stick-built home instead of the modular we had previously planned. Banks aren't as keen on modulars around these parts, evidentally.

So now we are charting a new course. Looks like it'll be the beginning of next summer before we're moving in a new home... God willing!

I've looked at house plans until my eyes were crossed and we finally picked one. The photo above is THE plan we finally shelled out the bucks for... it'll be pretty much as pictured, on a full, unfinished basement plus a garage. St. Joseph, pray for us!

Okay, so how many outfits should a child have? This is the question of the day. Dear Grace was very happy to get rid of lots of her clothes to share with hurricane refugees who left home with only the clothes on their backs. Now Mary is another story... can you say "clothes horse"?! At least we got Grace's box of things mailed out and some adult clothes, etc. but it may take a while to widdle down the rest of our family's wardrobe. I'm thinking really radical about this but hey, that's nothing new...

Lord, please be with all the people who are victims of the hurricane. It goes far beyond words, even worse than we could imagine initially. Please do anything you can to help. We're sending money and resources, as much as we can. Please consider donating to Catholic Charities or your other favorite reputable charity.

If you have any items to donate, consider sending them to:
Family Missions Company
12636 Everglade Road
Abbeville, LA 70510

Clothing, diapers, toiletries, etc. are much needed and will go directly to those in need...