News update from Monday January 12, 2004

Dear Family and Friends,

We have so much to fill you in on what has happened to the Lacey family over the past two years. Many, many changes have taken place since our last letter as you will soon see.

Tim was selected for a promotion to Major the fall of '02, but would not have actually pinned it on until July of '03. Many major decisions had to be made and after much prayer and seeking the Lord's will, Tim decided to retire with 20 years active duty in the Air Force. He was busy finishing his job for the transition, "out processing," getting "Microsoft Certified," job hunting, and making future plans on where we, as a family, would live. Tim started his own business, Lacey and Associates Consulting, and secured a contractor's job with Wright-Patterson AFB to begin January 2003. We would be staying in Ohio.

January 6, 2003 was his retirement luncheon with the official retirement ceremony on the 7th. It was a very nostalgic and emotional event that we as a family will not soon forget. God had truly blessed over those 20 years of military duty and we were privileged to serve in this blessed country. On January 8th, Tim reported to his new job as Computer Networking Administrator. He also teaches Network Security at the Air Force Institute of Technology. Tim loves his challenging new job and especially loves to drive his 1999 Torch Red Corvette to work. (Now is that mid-life crisis or what!)

I (Sandy) caught that "Egyptian flu" again in January 2002 and was very sick and tired for several months. The Lord blessed and added another arrow to our quiver, and I became a "Mummy" for the 6th time. Benjamin Stephen joined our family on October 3, 2002 at 8:08 pm. He was 8 lbs 9.7 oz (my biggest) and was 20.9" long.

Shortly after Benjamin's birth, Tim talked to a friend of ours at church to see if he knew of any homes for sale. What he did know was there was a 5 acre lot of land out in the country 21 miles from our present home in Beavercreek. Why not build a house? And so that is what we have been doing all of 2003. We purchased the land that fall. There is a creek that runs to the right and backside of the property. All the boys are thrilled with that. Much of the first months were spent planning, but on Memorial Day 2003, our family took shovels and had an official ground breaking time out on "the property." Two days later the digging of the basement began. We kept a play-by-play video and picture account of the building process.

In June we built a 30'x40' shed with a gambrel roof and a loft on our property and started de-cluttering our present home so we could get it on the market for sale. Every time we made a trip out to see the progress on the house, we would load the van with things to store in the loft of the shed. We put our house up for-sale-by-owner on a Saturday mid August. The following Friday, a couple living nine houses down came to look at it and made an offer that we accepted. We were thrilled! I now didn't have to go through the hassles of "showing" the house and I could concentrate on home schooling instead. God's timing is perfect. This couple needed to sell their home and would work with us so we could stay in the house until we moved into the new house. This was another tremendous blessing.

Back tracking a little, we celebrated the Brueggen 50th wedding anniversary in April 2002. On Mother's Day weekend 2003, we were finally able to take a trip to GA to see Tim's family. It was the first time everyone could meet Benjamin. Of course he won their hearts. It was so good to see everyone. We made a trip to WI over the 4th of July weekend and had a great time with my family. My sister, Jean, graciously puts our whole family of 8 up at her house. We camp out in her finished basement. Thanks Sis! My older brother had a big party out at their farm complete with hay ride and fire works. We plan to make this an annual event.

Other events included hearing some family Bluegrass groups the Rochesters & the Franz family, a home schooling family of 7. Inspirational! Tim helped me with Benjamin as we attended the Christian Home Educators of Ohio summer conference. Tim plans on going with me from now on. He was encouraged by Todd Wilson's session, "Help! I'm married to a home schooling Mom!" In October we attended Dr. Kent Hovind's Creation Science Evangelism seminar. A sad event for our family was that Ruby, our family dog of 8 years suddenly became ill and had to be put down on April 10, 2003. She has been missed by all.

Daniel (16) played baseball with a team in Beavercreek summer of '02. Recently, he attended Driver's Ed school and is looking forward to getting his license. He progressed 3 belts in American Kenpo (self-defense) and is now a 1st degree Brown Belt. In August '03 he got his braces off and really enjoys smiling.

Joel (14) played baseball in a church league summer of '02 and enjoyed being pitcher & 1st baseman (or wherever he was needed.) He too has his 1st degree Brown Belt. Joel's races will come off this February '04. Joel and Daniel have set up a paintball course on the back side of our property. They love to go paint balling with our church group and have even gotten Tim to go with them.

Joshua (10) continues to do well genetically and we thank the Lord that it has been almost 7 years since he was last hospitalized. He eats a little more by mouth but all of his medical food is taken by G-tube. He loves to play baseball, basketball, table games, and computer. He is a great singer and enjoyed the Patch the Pirate Club at church. Joshua received the Vacation Bible School 2nd place trophy.

Jonathan (8) has kept busy keeping up with his older brothers. Daniel taught him to do front and back flips on the trampoline, and all the boys create new trampoline games they play together. He enjoys baseball, basketball, skateboarding, and jumping bike ramps. He also helped with the paintball course. Last December '02, he chipped a front tooth running into a Wal-Mart buggy (notice NO smile on family picture.) Then in February '03, he accidentally got shot in the lip with a BB gun and lost 2 upper side teeth. He is wearing a spacer 'til the permanent teeth come in. Two inches higher would have been an eye. We thank the Lord for his protection. Jonathan enjoyed the Patch Club too and received 2nd place in awards for his age group.

Shauna (4) is our little sunshine girl. She made sure we would paint her new bedroom pink. She entertains herself with her doll house, baby dolls, dress-up clothes, and loves to go shopping. She is Daddy's little sweetheart and makes sure he reads her a bedtime story every night. She got a 36" walking doll that she refers to as her "sister." We had hoped to help her out there, but the Lord saw fit to give her another brother.

Benjamin (1) learned to walk one month after his 1st birthday. He loves all of his family, especially Joel because Joel plays with him, sword fights, tickles, wrestles, etc. He's not talking much, but loves to eat. He quickly learned how to go down steps at the new house after he rolled down 4 steps to a landing, sat up, and rolled down the remaining 12 steps to the basement---all carpet---no bruises! Again, God is good. He is a strong-willed Lacey and loves his Mama.

Well, after all of the planning, decisions, and preparations, the day finally arrived for the move to our new country home. Tim was allowed one final move, compliments of the Air Force, so on November 18-19th we were packed up and loaded on the 20th with too small of a truck. So, the movers finished loading and unloading the 21st. What an ordeal. We continue to "settle-in", enjoyed Christmas here and look forward to seeing any of you who would venture our way in need of a place to stay - or you could visit us on purpose! We hope our parents can make a trip to see us this spring.

We have had some opportunities to sing as a family, although right now Tim is being treated for vocal cord nodules. He damaged his voice during last year's Christmas cantata and acid reflux problems brought on by too much caffeine made matters worse. He is now on the mend. Because of our move to the country, we needed to find a good Bible preaching church close by. The Lord was again faithful to lead us to Bible Baptist Church in Xenia, about a 17 minute drive from our new home. They are a wonderful group of believers and are very family oriented with several home school families. We are looking forward to serving the Lord in this new area.

We pray that each one of you will seek to know the Lord more intimately and serve Him more fervently in this New Year. We have appreciated your family updates, cards, letters, and phone calls over the years. You may now make this one final change in your address book, for we plan on being here 'til the Lord calls us home, or we meet Him in the air.

We love you all - you are very special people to us.

Love, Tim & Sandy
Daniel, Joel, Joshua, Jonathan, Shauna, & Benjamin

Previous News Item | Next News Item