We pulled into Medina July 31 after a very long drive. Nick was pretty nervous about whether or not I'd like the house, and having picked our home in Madison I understood that fear. However, he got exactly what he was hoping for - me bouncing up and down with excitement! Our home is beautiful, inside and out. My favorite feature is that the kids' bedrooms are painted beautifully - one for a girl, one for a boy. Additionally, this is the first home where our furniture actually FITS the space! The neighborhood is full of children, and the neighbors are genuinely welcoming. My backyard neighbor has two kids the same distance and age as Noah and Abby, and we are already becoming quick friends. We've been here nearly a month and this already feels more like home then our neighborhood in Madison ever did.
Dining room that we converted to playroom for Noah.Mom found that table at yard sale for $75, all trains and track included!!
I love our kitchen!!! We have an island!We jumped into gear very quickly when we arrived. In fact, we opened up the truck and unloaded our mattress the first night in order to avoid staying in another hotel. As of right now there are a few boxes to deal with here and there, but just about everything is done. That success is due partially to the fact that we are tired of living in transition, but mostly to the help of family and my friend Meghan who all visited over the course of this month. Actually, for having been here a month we have had a lot of visitors. My parents and sister were here our first week to help with the grand kids while we did the majority of the unpacking. Nick's aunt and uncle happened to be in Cleveland for some classes, then his college roommate and girlfriend were driving through, and last week my lifelong friend, Meghan, came for a few days to help out and play with her adopted niece and nephew. Their company has been really invaluable to me, especially since I don't actually know people yet.
The kids are all doing very well. Abigail is clueless about all the fuss, and just doing her growing thing. Her smile is absolutely captivating! Noah struggled for the first week, but is doing well now. That first week he had a hard time sleeping day or night. The day everyone left we spent a lot of time cuddling and playing together and since that day he is back to 3 hour naps and 11-12 hours at night - Praise the Lord! Regarding the cuddling...Noah has been extraordinarily affectionate since we've been here. He climbs into my lap for hugs, sits with me while I nurse, and randomly gives hugs and kisses. I am sure that he is reaching out for that extra measure of security amidst all the change. For as long as it lasts I LOVE IT!
In the meantime, Nick is continuing to love his work. They have given him August to set up his office, catch up on office work, and become familiarized with the staff and the system. Starting in September he has some regional and national trips, including one to Alaska in November. I'm so incredibly jealous! Abby is being baptized at our church in Roanoke Sept. 6 so I will be in the Bluefield/Roanoke area Aug.31-Sept. 7, and Nick will join us over Labor Day weekend. We are so excited to come home (for the first time since last Christmas) to introduce our darling little girl! Last time we were home Noah wasn't even walking...now he RUNS!Please pray for our church search. Not having a church in Madison was really hard on us, and we have jumped into this search quickly. There has been a lot of discussion in our family this year about church and trying to understand what is essential and what is not. Ultimately, we want to be where the Lord wants us. Please pray that the Lord will give us wisdom and confidence as we look for a new church home.
For a year I have blogged about moving, transitions, new jobs, new baby, etc. I'm done. No, I'm not closing the blog. This is one of the few places where I can just sit with the mess of thoughts in my head, and work through them without driving anyone crazy. :-) I dare to claim, not with arrogance, but in faith, that we are done with major life transitions for a couple years. Yesterday, Nick and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary, and what we most want to give each other is some time for stability. Since 2006 we have moved four times; I finished my bachelor's degree, Nick his master's degree; we got engaged and married; Nick has had three jobs, including a 6 month term of unemployment; we've had two children, and now here we are INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL for the life we have, but ready to be done with that pace of significant changes. I trust that if the Lord has other plans for us that He will give us the strength to press forward, but I can also pray that the Lord would hear our prayer for a couple uneventful years, except for the natural "eventfulness" of two crazy kids and two goofy adults.
.jpg)
