Four Weeks - Star Reports

I moved to a new house, a new city, a new church, a new world 4 weeks ago. I cannot begin to describe how much life has changed in just 4 weeks. So much has happened - so many stories that I haven't taken the time to write down. Many of them will be lost because no matter how much I think at the moment that I'll never forget, I usually do. Here are a few snapshots:

* I LOVE the house! Sure, there are little things that aren't perfect. For example, I haven't been able to get all the internet connections/wireless router stuff ironed out yet. It will come. In the meantime, just one computer at a time (which means Rosemary and I have to alternate) and we have to be wired to the modem. Stupid little first world problem, right?! Still, I LOVE the house!!

* I LOVE the church! I haven't felt this welcomed or this respected professionally in a long time. I know it's the honeymoon and I know it can't last forever. But dang! It feels so good after the blah of the last few years!

* I LOVE this city! I wasn't sure I could survive leaving the mountains. Just looking at the mountains or driving through them - something that was a part of Small Town life - always soothed my soul. I miss the mountains, true. But I've found that water soothes the soul as well, and goodness knows that there is water everywhere around here. The beach is less than 30 minutes away. Rivers and marshes are all around. There is a beautiful park along the riverfront less than 2 miles from the church. This is a rich, diverse, beautiful, and interesting place to live.

* For 4 weeks my little family has lived 24/7 as a unit. No babysitters. No childcare. I had become accustomed to dropping the kids off at the sitter's. Not having those breaks was tough at times, but I think it has grounded us as a family in our new environment. The first 2 weeks we spent unpacking our boxes and exploring our community. The last 2 weeks they've all gone to work with me. It would have been easier on me (but harder on them) to take them to daycare these past 2 weeks. I'm so glad I didn't. They now know where Mama is and what Mama does when she is at work. They feel secure in our home, in our church, and in our city. The first week of school I'll pick them up every day when school lets out. Next week they'll start in the after school program for 2-4 days of the week, depending on each week's schedule.

* My little ones start first grade tomorrow. Amazing. I took the last day of summer off of work and we spent the afternoon enjoying the SC Aquarium. I will miss my little rascals when school starts, but I think we're all ready for routine. Emily will celebrate her 6th birthday on the 2nd day of school. (Note to self: don't forget to make and deliver cupcakes to her class!!)

* My oldest child is a senior. A senior, for goodness sake!! How did that happen? After much research and consideration, I decided to grant her request to do her senior year online at one of our state's virtual high schools. Her school supplies arrived last week - a brand new Dell laptop, a computer tablet, a printer, a memory stick, headphones, and laptop case. School for her doesn't start until the 31st. She is excited over the flexibility. I am excited to see my 17-year-old this happy and relaxed after making such a move at this stage of her life.

*Rosemary's best friend from Small Town spent the week with us last week. She was the lowest maintenance teenage girl I've ever met! Except for eating. She eats nothing but chicken. Or very plain pizza. Occasionally a hotdog. Thank God, she was easy with breakfast food! Even with that, I hated to see her go. The whole family enjoyed her company.

* Last week my new church participated in a presbytery sponsored mission project. School clothes and supplies were distributed to almost 700 children in need over 2 nights at the church. I got more sticky, sweaty, sweet child hugs in those 2 nights than I've gotten in a lifetime. LOVED IT! :) Presbytery-wide, about 4000 children received supplies. Wow!

*Two of my big scheduling goals in my new work are (1) sermon draft finished on Thursday, and (2) Friday off. Really off, as in spend the day at the beach, or exploring, or reading, or resting. For 2 consecutive weeks I've succeeded. It feels really, really good.

* We've moved, we're settling, and now it's time to do something about the hole in the family that was left when Scratch died. Rosemary and Emily want a little prissy dog. Coach and Ian want a 'real' dog. I am seeing a 2 dog addition to the family, I think. (Heaven help us!) Big dog breeds we're researching include German shepherd and Weimaraner. (The only thing those 2 breeds have in common is that they aren't small!) The girls are pretty set on a Yorkie mix - a Morkie, perhaps. (Yorkie/Maltese). As for me, I'm pretty easy to please as long as they can be trained to live happily with kids and cats. I'm open to suggestions/warnings/words of advice!

* Last, but definitely not least, this move is good for my relationship with Coach. Lots of smiles over here. :) I haven't shared anything about this now yearlong relationship in awhile. I was so afraid for so long that it was too good to be true, but we're passing the tests of time and challenges. Life is good! More to come . . .