Dirk's BIG Change... we're going to miss him!!!

I've been procrastinating putting our lates family "news" on our blog... Not that it's bad news... just a big change for our family. It's all happened so quick... with a lot of little details. I'll try to hit just the highlights to catch you all up!

Dirk works for the local Cat dealership, and for the past 6 1/2 years was doing service and maintenace work on heavy machinery for a customer in Belle Fourche. Earlier this month there were some rumors going around that the recession effects were heading 'our way'... In one week the customer lost 3/4 of his contracted work. The contracts should be re-opened in 60-90 days. In the meanwhile, the customer cannot afford to keep a full-time Cat service tech. He was "released" on Wednesday, February 4th. He spent the next week wrapping up the loose ends for the customer, finishing paperwork, etc.

Dirk knew the prospects were dwindling for work locally... and put his "name in" for other work available through his shop. As the week progressed, we heard about layoffs at nearby Cat dealers (other states)... and just plain "slow" times here in the Hills. There is work through the company, just not jobs they can do and still get home at night to thier families.

We got word on Friday he was chosen for a short-term project in Grants, New Mexico. This job is still with the local Cat dealer (Butler) but a different division of the company (the Rental Fleet). He worked in that division from 1995-1999 (while we lived in Colorado).

In the meanwhile, we had a mini-vacation planned. Over President's Day weekend my brother James and family visited from Rosholt... the kids got to go skiing, we had lots of family meals together, did some girl-outings (shopping, coffee, etc)... basically had a great mid-winter break! Dad(Alan) celebrated his 82nd birthday on February 15th -- we had a BIG Moeller party starting at the "Golden Phoneix" (Chinese) and ending at my place. Even Maddie and Mark were able to be out here for the party! We were 21 Moellers! My house seems smaller and smaller all the time?!

On Monday we heard Dirk would be needed in New Mexico by the coming Monday! WOW, lots of planning, packing and shopping to be done before he could leave! Dirk decided to take most of the week as "flex hours"... packing and etc. during the day while the kids are in school, and spending lots of quality time with them in the afternoons and evenings.

We had a sit-down talk with the kids... showed them the map so they could see where Dirk would be... talked about what it means for dad to be so far away... not able to be home on weekends... perhaps not home until summer...

Dirk and I decided previously that we could plan at least 1 or 2 weekends to meet in Denver -- mostly likely over Easter, and perhaps another time if we are all getting too lonely for each other. Once school is out, if the contract/job is not finished, the kids and I will plan to go down and stay in NM with Dirk as long as possible. It will likely be a very different summer for us!? The Grand Canyon is about 5 hours away... we talked about some different ideas for getting away together on the weekends if we spend some of the summer down there.

We are enjoying a family-centered week together... and frankly just aren't thinking about what it will be like when he is gone. But it is TEMPORARY work... we know God is providing for our family, not matter who Dirk works for... God is still his 1st Boss!

We've gotten a lot of questions from family and friends
- He is travelling down in a Bulter truck, but is also pulling our camper mostly to have room for more 'personal' stuff... and also to have the option of going camping down there if we all are there for some of the summer
- Bulter already has a rental house ready for him to live in, he will be living out of that home while he is working
- We have web-cams set up so the kids and I can chat and see Dirk ... probably have a pre-bedtime "date" set each night so the kids can talk with Dad, pray together, etc.
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