I don’t know if Kurt has mentioned this to anyone or gone into detail about what’s been going on in Indiana, so I thought it’s about time for an update… also we have more details known now too. Kurt’s research requires him to test some of his specimens in Minnesota. There are also test specimens from KU that will be tested in Minnesota, but there are two new Master’s students from KU working on that part. Somehow it was decided by the professors on this project that at least one grad student from each of the two universities (KU and Purdue) will be in Minnesota for at least the first 6 tests (2 of these tests are Kurt’s). Their estimate for each test is one month. Around the beginning of January the first set of tests will start, and since Kurt is the only grad student from Purdue working on this research, he is required to be there for 6 months for the first part of 2008, while the two KU grad students will be taking turns.
How often will he be allowed to travel back to Purdue, you might be thinking at this point: a weekend once a month under the explanation of “creating new specimens” so the research project will pay for the flight. Apparently “going to see his wife” isn’t an acceptable explanation.
Rachel is “job hunting” for some source of income starting January 2008. It’s not really going as planned, but there are a few options… the decision making isn’t fun.
I guess that’s all I can say about that at this point. We are looking forward to seeing all of you in the next couple of months 
Love, R & K
P.S. — I think all of you have met Kurt’s friend Dustin Smith (was the 3rd groomsman) and his wife Sarah. They had a baby girl Nov. 7th, Johanna Layne Smith! They emailed pics of her today, and she is a little baby female version of Dustin
I can’t believe you guys only get to see eachother one weekend a month for 6 months. It reminds me of a certain William Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean who ends up on the Flying Dutchman and can only see his wife every ten years. I suppose your situation isn’t quite so extreme but, even so, I can’t believe that the directors of these research projects are being so inflexible. I suppose you’ll just have to make those weekends together really enjoyable. Anyway, we look forward to seeing you in a week and 1/2.
Love,
Kris, Jennifer, and boys
Umm, yea, that must really suck to be apart for 6 months.
Just kidding, I don’t wish that suckiness upon anyone, least of all my beloved family! Rach, are you going to waste away without Kurt feeding you?
That’s great about Dustin and Sarah, I was just wondering about when their baby was coming. Too bad she’s a mini-Dustin though, isn’t one of those in the world enough??
Sorry to hear the job search is frustrating. I will be beginning that soon, and I am definitely not looking forward to it. Have you set your defense date yet?
And really, don’t worry about the 6 months thing. And seeing each other each month is about 2-3 times more than G and I see each other, and it hasn’t been too terrible for us. OK, it has sucked, but it doable!
I guess Kurt will have to cook a months worth of food for me every time he comes home
…he he, I think I’ll figure something out, like reverting to my single life style of cooking… frozen packages thrown in a skillet, wait 10 min. and ready to eat. Yeah, so after I posted this I was thinking, Becky and Greg will read this… and now this sounds whinny in comparison… sorry 
I’m glad I didn’t babble on about the stuff in my head regarding my job search, cause that is really meaningless whine. I haven’t set my defense date, yet. How about you, Becky?
Kris, looking forward to seeing you and your family soon! Kurt and I aren’t really big fans of the directors for that research project right now… and that’s the only thing I can say about that without saying something that could get me in trouble
Have a good week, Henkhaus fam!
Oh, Dustin and Sarah’s baby is pretty early. She was supposed to be due Nov. 23rd! Hey, I’ll send Becky a link to their blog. If anyone else wants to see Dustin and Sarah’s baby blog, let me know and I’ll email it to you.