Santa?!?

We went to Big Bob Gibson's barbecue restaurant in Decatur on Sunday. As we were pulling into our parking spot, an older gentleman was walking out. He had a long white beard, white hair, and a jolly belly to go with it. Olivia was staring at him, and I explained that she thought he looked like Santa. He said, "Well, I am!" He then went on to pull our a business card and hand it to her. It thrilled her heart to no end! I am not sure that he really lives at the North Pole, but at that moment he sure was Santa to Olivia!

Saying Good-Bye/Saying Hello

It seems like the last couple of weeks have been full of Baton Rouge lasts - Isaac and Bailey's last music practices, Anna Grace and Olivia's last day of Mother's Day Out, our last Wednesday night at church, etc. Isaac has been especially sensitive to these lasts. I have been so busy getting us ready to move, that I have not allowed myself to put a lot of thought into these occasions. In many ways our move has not seemed real to me -- I have been on auto pilot.

We had an overwhelming going away party from our church family. We were really touched by the people who came to tell us good-bye. It was a very memorable occasion! I shed quite a few tears at the loving words spoken to us by people that we hold dear to our hearts.

We have not officially left Baton Rouge yet. We are going to go down in two weeks and oversee the packing and loading of our stuff and officially move. Despite the fact we have not officially left, our firsts have already begun. Ironically, the firsts have seemed to affect me much more than the lasts. We had our first day visiting a new church on Sunday, and I was a mess on the inside. Isaac and Bailey were apprehensive, and I was right there with them. It was not that I was nervous about meeting new people, that does not typically bother me. It was more of the loneliness that comes with walking into a church where I know nobody, when I am used to walking in and knowing almost everyone. I was on the verge of tears most of the time, but I managed not to "lose it". The children's program was great, and the children felt very welcomed. That went a long way towards calming this mama's heart! One of Mark's old roommates and his family attends the church, and we went to lunch with them. That helped us to feel a little more at home.

I think that our first Sunday at a new church made our move seem much more real. It made me sorely miss my friends that I am used to visiting with at church. After church, I told Mark that I did not want to make new friends, I love the ones I have! I am praying that God will make us feel at home in Alabama. I am also going to pray that God will help me to be sensitive to others who are walking into church for the first time. It can be a very lonely time!

Catching Up

Wow, October has been a whirlwind of a month! I am going to try to catch up in the next several posts. I am spending a week and a half at my parents' house, so I should have a little more time to record my memories!

Mark and I went on a house hunting trip two weeks ago. We packed up the family on a Tuesday night and drove to Meridian, Mississippi. We stayed in a hotel with an indoor pool. We enjoyed the continental breakfast and the pool on Wednesday morning, and then made our way to Chattanooga, Tennessee. We met my parents for supper and they took the children back to their place to spend a few days. Mark and I headed to Decatur, Alabama.

We spent Thursday and Friday looking at about twenty houses in Decatur and Madison. It was a little overwhelming! I felt like I was on the television show "House Hunters" on HGTV. We had originally wanted to find a five bedroom house, which is what we have now, but there were none to be found in our price range. We narrowed our choices down to our favorite three (all four bedrooms): two in Decatur and one in Madison. We finally made the decision to buy the one in Madison, because it is half way between Mark's job and the church we think we might want to attend in Huntsville. We put an offer in on Friday afternoon, and they accepted it Friday night. Needless to say, it was a busy two days!

We drove back to Chattanooga on Saturday and spent the day shopping and watching football. My parents brought the children back on Sunday morning. It was really good to see them! Anna Grace was especially glad to see us. She has developed a serious case of separation anxiety since that trip! I am so thankful that Mom and Dad were able to watch the children. I can not imagine looking for a house with our litte ones with us!

Praise God for Innocence!

Isaac and I had an interesting conversation a few minutes ago. He walked into the kitchen while I was washing dishes.

Isaac-- "Mom, what's the F-word?"

Me (as I caught my breath) "What do you mean?"

Isaac-- "You know how different letters of the alphabet have bad words that go with them, like the 'S-Word'. I do even like to say it. Stt, Stt, Stt..."

Me -- "You mean 'stupid'?"

Isaac -- "Yes."

Me -- "How do you know there is an F-word?"

Isaac -- "I have heard kids talk about it."

Me -- "Oh."

Isaac -- "I think it is the word 'Fat'..."

Me (breathing a sigh of relief) -- "Oh, you may be right."

Isaac left the room, and I smiled and praised God for innocence.

A short update

Mark officially resigned today. His last day will be two weeks from today! His first day at his new job will be the next week. The children and I are going to be nomads for a few weeks after that, wandering from place to place (and spending part of our time here at home). What an adventure we are on! Praise God for the peace we have in this whole process!

A few pictures...

Good friends!

Love those turtles!
This is what happens when you try to take a picture of seven children under seven. Can you find Olivia? Some part of her is there!

Safety First!