Nick & Kristy

What a HUMONGOUS blessing Nick and Kristy S. have been to us in our military careers. John and Nick attended residency together at Eglin. Nick and Kristy were our sponsors when we came to Turkey. And they sponsored us again coming to the Azores. Sponsors are incredibly important to a move, and a bad sponsor can make things incredibly difficult. Sponsors answer questions and help arrange details of your arrival.

In Nick and Kristy's case, they went above and beyond the call of duty. They got power of attorney and got all the mail we mailed to ourselves (and to them). They signed our lease and got our keys and got our house ready for us (including stocking it with groceries and sheets for the beds and pillows and gates for Abigail and a high chair and anything else you could think you would need.) They have fed us and showed us around and let us borrow their vehicles. Their friendship and help cannot be properly expressed in words. It was instrumental in providing a smooth transition for our family.

A week after we arrived, Kristy's mother, brother Matt, and his girlfriend Betsy arrived for a two week visit. So not only was Kristy taking caer of us, but getting ready for their arrival too.

Here are a few pictures of some of our fun times at their house (which is right around the corner from our own.)

Kristy had a group of people over for a "cultural potluck." Her friend Katerina (pictured) is from the Azores and made a delicious Azorean dish. Her mother is from Peru and made another equally delicious dish. Kristy's father is Italian so she contribute an Italian dish. JB contributed a dish from his own mind since he is an American mutt. I made a casserole (as the Dutch would do.) It was fantastic. Here we are relaxing outside before the rains started. (Take a look at Elijah in the background -- aaahhh, life with boys.)

Here are all the kids eating dinner. The two older children on the far left are our other neighbors. Their mother just deployed, and they will be living with just their dad, Charles, for the next six months. Kristy and Nick's boys are on the far right (Noah and Jonah.) And yes, Elijah has his shirt on backwards. He insisted. We have since made a rule that shirts can only be worn backwards at home. When we leave, they have to be turned around.

I am pretty sure Abigail is in panic mode. "This Jonah kid is going to try and take my car. I don't think so."

Here is a great picture of Noah with his grandmother. Noah is an incredibly sweet kid who talks like a twenty year old. He plays fantastically with my boys. I think they are going to be great friends.

And here is Kristy with her youngest son, Jonah, who is 18 months old. Kristy is an incredible person (both inside and out.) We didn't get to spend as much time together in Turkey as I would have liked because right after I arrived, she storknested in the States to have Jonah. And then, right after she got back, I left within a few months to storknest to have Abigail in Germany. And then, they left the day after I returned from Germany with Abigail. We will have at least a year together here in the Azores before they either go to another military Base, get out of the military, or decide to extend in the Azores. They have a wonderful home with chickens and a rooster, and two dogs, and a vegetable garden. It's a lovely home!