I feel like I haven't blogged forever. I'm in the middle of taking care of the kids, editing wedding pics, unpacking, trying to redesign my website, etc., etc. So just wanted to let you all know we finally made it to Helena and I hope to post soon with our latest updates. Hope everyone is well! Love, The Beechers

I have arrived in Helena, Montana. I had invisioned a small, boring, old town off the side of the highway, but instead have found a beautiful town with trendy restaurants, beautifully kept buildings and old homes, mountains everywhere, and a serious sense of community. I don't think I've ever been in a city quite like it. I'm beginning to realize that it's a bit of a hidden treasure that most people just don't know about. I think we will like it here. Now we just need to convince all our friends to move here. Think about it. :)

It feels so good to be feeling better, off pain meds and taking pictures again, especially of the kids. Thanks again everyone for the help, the food, the kid watching....I have some really great friends. This week Stacy and I have a Bridal photo session and a wedding in Tampa (and from what we hear is going to be beeeeaaaauuutiful!) So stay tuned.

The hubby and I are getting ready for our departure in August (probably mid-august) to Montana. I'm feeling the need to dig my heals into the ground. The time is going by too fast. Sigh! We really are going to miss Orlando and everyone here. Anyways, thanks again to everyone for their help these last couple weeks and look forward to spending time with the Floridians for the next month and a half. PARTY! :)

Today at church I taught the 4 and 5 year olds. I asked them some questions about their dad's. They all answered them very seriously and with much thought. One of the 4 year old's was my own daughter and I thought I'd share what she knew (or thinks she knows) about her dad. She got about half right:

Name: Daddy

Age: 19 (31)

Work: "Cleans office and checks something" (aka - Counselor)

# of Kids: 2

Likes to....: Do stuff, play with me, take me to the movie Beauty and the Beast

Where was he born: Montana (really Idaho, we are moving to Montana :)

He Grew up...: "He grows up in the town"

Served a mission: at his work (Peru)

Went to college where: "19"

Got married where: Orlando (Utah)

Fav. Color: Pink (Why not!)

Fav. Sport: Tennis

Fav. Food: Chicken and Water :)

Why do you love your dad? "Because he's my best friend and I love to go with him." :) :) :)

WE LOVE YOU!

So then I put my 22 year old sister to the test to see how much she knew about our wonderful, awesome, dad! Here's what she had to say.

Name: Steven

Age: 47 (really 57 right dad?)

Work: Program Developer for a Bank's call Service (Nice detailed answer Sarah)

Wife: Catherine

# of kids: 5

He likes to....: take car rides, eat chocolate, chocolate chip muffins, be with his grandkids and daughter sarah (especially likes putting money into Sarah's bank account*) (*Does that not sound like the youngest child or what?), and chillin in his home office while mom watches Judge Judy.

Born in: Spokane, WA

Grew up in: Spokane, WA

Served mission in: Buenos Aires, Argentina

College: Eastern and BYU

Married in: Provo

Favorite Color: Chocolate :)

Favorite Sport: Competitive Kayaking

Favorite Food: Chocolate :)

LOVE YOU DAD!

Last Saturday at 1:00 am I woke up with bad stomach and back pain. By 4:00 I couldn't take it anymore and Kev took me to the emergency room where I spent all day. By that night they were able to tell me it was a large kidney stone. Blah! So I have been so sick this week. I go in for surgery tomorrow (Friday) to break up the stone and hopefully get it out. Hopefully I'll have some more positive posts in the near future. Thanks for everyone's well wishes and help. You've all been so great.

This song is dedicated to the beautiful, talented, spunky, fun, best attitude ever April formerly Tomblin. Every time I hear "More Than a Feeling" I think of waking up to April singing it in the Tomblin Casa. Who's that happy in the morning? Really? A hubby and 2 kids later (for both of us) may have slowed us down a bit. We may not be staying up all night or going on road trips with a boom box in a Thunderbird...but hey, I will be only 4 hours from her now and I can feel a road trip coming on. SLC? You, me, the kids? April, this song is dedicated to you!

Living in Orlando we've been able to catch up with old friends who have come to Orlando on vacation. My good friend Tiffany was in town with her husband and it was so, so great to see her and get caught up in the hour we were able to talk. Tiffany, you could say, was my other half during my 7 months in Uganda, Africa in 2001. We were roomates and went through the whole "experience" together. I'll never forget the first night in the cement home that we stayed in. The mom of the house opened the door to our bedroom and a large cockroach came running out and the mom with no hesitation killed it with her bare feet. That night we laid in bed with our mesquito nets over us listening to either mice and/or cockroaches scurrying across the tin roof. We learned to bucket bathe (with cockroaches :), live with an out-house, eat grasshoppers, and live through malaria and other sickness. We watched others in severe poverty and tried to help them, worked with kids in schools, orphanages, and people living with HIV/AIDS. We also were able to experience the beauty of Uganda, learn the basics of their language, and learn to love the people....and it goes on and on. Needless to say, it was great to see Tiffany and remember a part of my life that seems like a dream now. It's great to see old friends.