We have survived our first tropical storm. It was interesting to see people putting up shutters and preparing for the storm earlier in the week. It didn't hit too much in our neighborhood, just a lot of wind and tons of rain. The lake outside our backyard is very full!
HOwever, a tornado did land a few miles away. The news has been highlighting areas that received damage (storm news is CONSTANT) but none of it seems to be in our immediate vacinity.
The biggest impact we had --- the kids had to miss the last two days of school! They only started on Monday, and then off for two days due to the high winds and flooding. I guess this is the Floridian version of snow days. The difference is you can't go outside and play during a hurricane.
Today I ventured outside, and there is a lot of standing water in the roadways. My cycling class at the gym was cancelled this morning, thankfully - the YMCA is in the area with literal rivers flowing in the roads and also where a tornado touched down.
The kids are totally stir crazy and housebound! Thank goodness school starts again tomorrow.
One tropical storm and I think I'm ready to come back to Washington....missing you all so much!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
calm before the storm
Tomorrow afternoon, new friends are coming to put the storm shutters on all the windows at our home.
Nothing to worry about.
Tomorrow afternoon the previous tenant is going to drop off a generator.
Hmmm....nothing to worry about.
Tomorrow Jacob's teacher needs a note about how he'll get home if he can't ride his bike due to the hurricane.
Certainly there's nothing to worry about or they'd cancel school. Right?
My neighbor came over and said no one was worried about Hurricane Wilma a couple of years ago either, and it turned out to be devastating..... talk about putting my mind to rest, ha ha!!
Hey, even if Fay hits us I can still blog cause we'll have a generator. SMILE!
I miss you all very much - it seems I am missing my friends and familiar surroundings a lot these last few days.
I'm definitely grieving not teaching at school this year. It was hard to go to Jacob's open house and think about how I'm not setting up my own classroom this fall!
The kids start school tomorrow. It's so hot and humid that I'm glad they can get out of the house and have something to do!! Lauryn is in afternoon preschool and Jacob in first grade. Elyse and I will have a great few hours by ourselves! Oh yeah, preschool is during her naptime so it be a few nice hours for me to do something around the house. =)
We are still surrounded by boxes. We don't want to unpack because we hope to buy a house in the next month or two. We found a beautiful home in a new neighborhood. If they come down in price we're going to get it. It is on a lake, and the neighborhood pool and playground are about a 30 second walk from our backyard. THe housing market is pretty good here - lower prices than the NW but not tons of options.
I'll update you on hurricane news, if there is anything of interest!
Nothing to worry about.
Tomorrow afternoon the previous tenant is going to drop off a generator.
Hmmm....nothing to worry about.
Tomorrow Jacob's teacher needs a note about how he'll get home if he can't ride his bike due to the hurricane.
Certainly there's nothing to worry about or they'd cancel school. Right?
My neighbor came over and said no one was worried about Hurricane Wilma a couple of years ago either, and it turned out to be devastating..... talk about putting my mind to rest, ha ha!!
Hey, even if Fay hits us I can still blog cause we'll have a generator. SMILE!
I miss you all very much - it seems I am missing my friends and familiar surroundings a lot these last few days.
I'm definitely grieving not teaching at school this year. It was hard to go to Jacob's open house and think about how I'm not setting up my own classroom this fall!
The kids start school tomorrow. It's so hot and humid that I'm glad they can get out of the house and have something to do!! Lauryn is in afternoon preschool and Jacob in first grade. Elyse and I will have a great few hours by ourselves! Oh yeah, preschool is during her naptime so it be a few nice hours for me to do something around the house. =)
We are still surrounded by boxes. We don't want to unpack because we hope to buy a house in the next month or two. We found a beautiful home in a new neighborhood. If they come down in price we're going to get it. It is on a lake, and the neighborhood pool and playground are about a 30 second walk from our backyard. THe housing market is pretty good here - lower prices than the NW but not tons of options.
I'll update you on hurricane news, if there is anything of interest!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
2 weeks in Palm City
We have been here about 2 weeks. Last night I bought an umbrella. Hard to believe I lived in WA without one, but had to get when we moved to the Sunshine State!!! The evening rains here are crazy - gushing downfalls.
Things are going well. I am teaching 3 hours a week at the local YMCA - all spinning classes. They are well received by members.
I love the church Brad works at. I spent the first week here helping out with sports camp and got to meet tons of parents and kids. My kids have already had many play dates with neighbors and church family members.
Our neighbors and neighborhood are great. We live on the tip of a lake, and are amazed by the variety of birds and wildlife we see. We've met all the neighbors and visited their homes. It is a relaxed, friendly lifestyle. Two neighborhood boys were over today hinting that they'd like to come play their WII on our movie theater screen. Apparently the theater was a draw for many of the neighbors! We don't even know how to work it!
Highlights of Palm City:
quiet Sunday night walks on the beach (no one is there at that time!)
helping out at the church with the kids programs, including the sports camp
meeting new friends
going on evening or early morning runs in the neighborhood trails
NOT meeting any alligators or snakes
watching my kids adapt very well to their new friends and surroundings
experiencing a HUGE housewarming from the church members
Internet is not yet hooked up at the house (long story) and I am at a coffee shop with wi fi. It's closing, so must close as well.
It gets dark here at 8:15 pm so it feels really late.
Miss everyone tons and hope all is well!!! Much love
joan
Things are going well. I am teaching 3 hours a week at the local YMCA - all spinning classes. They are well received by members.
I love the church Brad works at. I spent the first week here helping out with sports camp and got to meet tons of parents and kids. My kids have already had many play dates with neighbors and church family members.
Our neighbors and neighborhood are great. We live on the tip of a lake, and are amazed by the variety of birds and wildlife we see. We've met all the neighbors and visited their homes. It is a relaxed, friendly lifestyle. Two neighborhood boys were over today hinting that they'd like to come play their WII on our movie theater screen. Apparently the theater was a draw for many of the neighbors! We don't even know how to work it!
Highlights of Palm City:
quiet Sunday night walks on the beach (no one is there at that time!)
helping out at the church with the kids programs, including the sports camp
meeting new friends
going on evening or early morning runs in the neighborhood trails
NOT meeting any alligators or snakes
watching my kids adapt very well to their new friends and surroundings
experiencing a HUGE housewarming from the church members
Internet is not yet hooked up at the house (long story) and I am at a coffee shop with wi fi. It's closing, so must close as well.
It gets dark here at 8:15 pm so it feels really late.
Miss everyone tons and hope all is well!!! Much love
joan
Monday, July 28, 2008
almost there!!!
We have been on the road since July 8. I lose track of the date and day of the week, and can hardly keep track of the time zone.
Highlights of the trip since leaving my hometown in Montana:
*outdoor musical in Medora, North Dakota
*three days with Brad's grandparents in Bismarck, ND
*four days with Brad's parents in St. Paul, MN
*hot, humid runs in both states
*cheesecake at our favorite Cafe Latte in St. Paul (two nights in a row!!! YUMMY!!!)
*two days in downtown CHICAGO (We went up in the Sears tower, "shopped" the Magnificent Mile, visited the American Girl doll store, among other things!)
*one day in the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee, the most visited National Park
We had a great hike there, and enjoyed this beautiful part of the country. It does
not compare to mountains in the Northwest or Montana, however!
*a day in Savannah, Georgia seeing historic places and experiecing the SOUTH
*evening runs on the treadmills in hotel exercise rooms (Am I the ONLY person who uses these rooms?!)
An unfortunate experience was being in Knoxville Tennessee on Sunday morning, attending a church service at the same time and in the same area of town when the church shootings occurred.
We are now in the state of Florida, about 4 hours away from our new home in Palm City. We decided not to pull in to the neighborhood at midnight, so we are staying in Jacksonville, FL tonight. We are anxious to get to our new home, but also enjoying the last night of our cross country FAMILY adventure. If I had time I'd post some pictures but will do so later.
Our new Honda van has been a blessing during this trip!! Borrowing a DVD player from a friend has been an even bigger blessing.
America is a BEAUTIFUL, awesome nation. Driving all the way across it and seeing a huge variety of things has been a grand adventure. The family time (while sometimes frustrating) has been really incredible.
Hallelujah is a shout of thanksgiving - a cry of gratitude.
I'm singing my hallelujah song.
Highlights of the trip since leaving my hometown in Montana:
*outdoor musical in Medora, North Dakota
*three days with Brad's grandparents in Bismarck, ND
*four days with Brad's parents in St. Paul, MN
*hot, humid runs in both states
*cheesecake at our favorite Cafe Latte in St. Paul (two nights in a row!!! YUMMY!!!)
*two days in downtown CHICAGO (We went up in the Sears tower, "shopped" the Magnificent Mile, visited the American Girl doll store, among other things!)
*one day in the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee, the most visited National Park
We had a great hike there, and enjoyed this beautiful part of the country. It does
not compare to mountains in the Northwest or Montana, however!
*a day in Savannah, Georgia seeing historic places and experiecing the SOUTH
*evening runs on the treadmills in hotel exercise rooms (Am I the ONLY person who uses these rooms?!)
An unfortunate experience was being in Knoxville Tennessee on Sunday morning, attending a church service at the same time and in the same area of town when the church shootings occurred.
We are now in the state of Florida, about 4 hours away from our new home in Palm City. We decided not to pull in to the neighborhood at midnight, so we are staying in Jacksonville, FL tonight. We are anxious to get to our new home, but also enjoying the last night of our cross country FAMILY adventure. If I had time I'd post some pictures but will do so later.
Our new Honda van has been a blessing during this trip!! Borrowing a DVD player from a friend has been an even bigger blessing.
America is a BEAUTIFUL, awesome nation. Driving all the way across it and seeing a huge variety of things has been a grand adventure. The family time (while sometimes frustrating) has been really incredible.
Hallelujah is a shout of thanksgiving - a cry of gratitude.
I'm singing my hallelujah song.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Montana
We're enjoying the BEAUTIFUL scenery and summer season in western Montana. First we went to Glacier Park for 3 days, staying at the Bible Camp where I went every summer for almost 18 years. It was fun to have my kids at the camp where I had so many memories!
We spent time in Glacier Park - what an awesome place. I recommend it as a vacation to anyone! We also attended my grandma's 99th birthday. She still lives on her homestead in rural MT, the place where she came as an immigrant from Norway.
We are now in Deer Lodge, where I was born and raised.
To my gym friends, I dearly miss our workouts. I had to go buy a new set of running shoes and am running consistently. My favorite run is a 40 minute trek on a country road that meanders through the ranches. The cows and horses are my group exercise companions! It's hard to get anaerobic, but I try to get breathless now and again!! I trust you are keeping up with your training and giving it your all.
We're off to North Dakota and Minnesota, then will head down through the south. We're looking forward to seeing parts of the country we've never seen before. I'll try to log in and keep everyone updated.
No email access for now. I'm at the library using a computer.
We spent time in Glacier Park - what an awesome place. I recommend it as a vacation to anyone! We also attended my grandma's 99th birthday. She still lives on her homestead in rural MT, the place where she came as an immigrant from Norway.
We are now in Deer Lodge, where I was born and raised.
To my gym friends, I dearly miss our workouts. I had to go buy a new set of running shoes and am running consistently. My favorite run is a 40 minute trek on a country road that meanders through the ranches. The cows and horses are my group exercise companions! It's hard to get anaerobic, but I try to get breathless now and again!! I trust you are keeping up with your training and giving it your all.
We're off to North Dakota and Minnesota, then will head down through the south. We're looking forward to seeing parts of the country we've never seen before. I'll try to log in and keep everyone updated.
No email access for now. I'm at the library using a computer.
saying goodbye and we're on our way
The last week in our home and in University Place brought a lot of meaningful closure in many ways. I soaked it all in- really celebrating the great things in my life. When Brad and I moved to UP, we brought everything in a U-Haul (a small one at that) and we did all of the moving by ourselves. We had no kids, and were basically just anticipating our new jobs at the school district and church.
These last 9 years certainly changed our lives in amazing ways! I still can hardly believe the opportunities that opened us for us while living here - growth opportunites at the school district, getting national board certification, teaching at the gym, teaching for SPU; Brad leading the Sacred Music Chorale, working at Marine View, finishing his M Div degree. MOST IMPORTANTLY - this is the time in our lives where we became parents!!
I put off packing the house, not wanting to live among boxes and chaos. Actually, I think I put off the whole concept of actually packing up until the very last minute because I just couldn't let go of everything quite yet.
During the last week I took the time to say a final goodbye to so many people who influenced my life these last years. The list was varied - friends at the gym, our clerks at Fred Meyer, the office administrator at Evergreen, the people at church, and several of my best friends. We took the kids to all of their favorite places one last time. I had a garage sale and got rid of tons of stuff. (NEVER will I have a garage sale again - way too much work!!) It was all a little numbing and unreal.
The huge moving van came on Monday July 7. The movers were a bit surprised at the amount of packing left to be done, but worked tirelessly from 8 am to 9:30 pm to help us finish and get everything loaded.
Brad and I sent the kids to my sister's and camped out in our empty house. It was hard to say goodbye to our home full of so many memories.
What else...hmm....the renters came, our Explorer broke down, we bought a new Honda Odyssey van, we loaded up our kids and suitcases....and drove away.
On to Montana and Glacier Park for a while.
Goodbye - life in Univeristy Place.
We have until the end of the month to get to Florida. I'm going to need it to reflect and refocus.
These last 9 years certainly changed our lives in amazing ways! I still can hardly believe the opportunities that opened us for us while living here - growth opportunites at the school district, getting national board certification, teaching at the gym, teaching for SPU; Brad leading the Sacred Music Chorale, working at Marine View, finishing his M Div degree. MOST IMPORTANTLY - this is the time in our lives where we became parents!!
I put off packing the house, not wanting to live among boxes and chaos. Actually, I think I put off the whole concept of actually packing up until the very last minute because I just couldn't let go of everything quite yet.
During the last week I took the time to say a final goodbye to so many people who influenced my life these last years. The list was varied - friends at the gym, our clerks at Fred Meyer, the office administrator at Evergreen, the people at church, and several of my best friends. We took the kids to all of their favorite places one last time. I had a garage sale and got rid of tons of stuff. (NEVER will I have a garage sale again - way too much work!!) It was all a little numbing and unreal.
The huge moving van came on Monday July 7. The movers were a bit surprised at the amount of packing left to be done, but worked tirelessly from 8 am to 9:30 pm to help us finish and get everything loaded.
Brad and I sent the kids to my sister's and camped out in our empty house. It was hard to say goodbye to our home full of so many memories.
What else...hmm....the renters came, our Explorer broke down, we bought a new Honda Odyssey van, we loaded up our kids and suitcases....and drove away.
On to Montana and Glacier Park for a while.
Goodbye - life in Univeristy Place.
We have until the end of the month to get to Florida. I'm going to need it to reflect and refocus.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Answer A Call
" It's a sweet prayer knowing someone's up there hearing it
Divine punch lines take a little time but I'm getting it."
My Hallelujah Song has some new choruses.
Brad received a call to be the assistant pastor at a wonderful Presbyterian Church in Palm City, near Palm Beach. Last night Brad and I returned from a weekend visit to Palm City. We were absolutely amazed by the warm welcome we received. The church had a sweet reception for us, and then the Sunday Services and congregational meeting had a very celebratory feel to them. (People were crying, the organ was playing a triumphant tune, I think there was a standing ovation in there somewhere.) It was incredibly humbling.
However, it was a celebration and time of thanks not for Brad, but for the ways that God had orchestrated this situation. The church's search committee had been looking for an assistant pastor for over two years. They had 250 inquiries regarding the job. Brad applied just as they were ready to throw in the towel and figure out next steps.
My emotions have varied widely. I have days when I'm in tears all day as I talk with my friends and co-workers, and realize how much I'll miss everyone and everything here. After all, why totally disrupt our lives when they were going along so well? I'm totally overwhelmed by the prospect of packing and getting our home ready to rent.
At other times, I totally excited about what is to come. One of the neatest things so far was meeting people at the new chuch- looking into people's eyes, hearing names and a few stories, and anticipating new relationships. I am excited to support Brad in his ministry and to be involved in the outreach of the church.
While in Palm City, I made a contact at the local YMCA to start teaching classes there. Group exercise is such an outlet and passion for me. I hope it works out to teach there. I also met with the local principal and it doesn't look like I'll teach school this year. I grieved this prospect at first, but I think it will work out. My kids need me home during this huge transition. I can't imagine putting the kids in a daycare that I know nothing about! It will be a change to be a full time stay at home mom when I've always worked!
So many times these last few months I've looked at how things have turned out and said, "God, are you KIDDING me?!" Divine punch lines do take a little time - but I'm starting to get them.
Divine punch lines take a little time but I'm getting it."
My Hallelujah Song has some new choruses.
Brad received a call to be the assistant pastor at a wonderful Presbyterian Church in Palm City, near Palm Beach. Last night Brad and I returned from a weekend visit to Palm City. We were absolutely amazed by the warm welcome we received. The church had a sweet reception for us, and then the Sunday Services and congregational meeting had a very celebratory feel to them. (People were crying, the organ was playing a triumphant tune, I think there was a standing ovation in there somewhere.) It was incredibly humbling.
However, it was a celebration and time of thanks not for Brad, but for the ways that God had orchestrated this situation. The church's search committee had been looking for an assistant pastor for over two years. They had 250 inquiries regarding the job. Brad applied just as they were ready to throw in the towel and figure out next steps.
My emotions have varied widely. I have days when I'm in tears all day as I talk with my friends and co-workers, and realize how much I'll miss everyone and everything here. After all, why totally disrupt our lives when they were going along so well? I'm totally overwhelmed by the prospect of packing and getting our home ready to rent.
At other times, I totally excited about what is to come. One of the neatest things so far was meeting people at the new chuch- looking into people's eyes, hearing names and a few stories, and anticipating new relationships. I am excited to support Brad in his ministry and to be involved in the outreach of the church.
While in Palm City, I made a contact at the local YMCA to start teaching classes there. Group exercise is such an outlet and passion for me. I hope it works out to teach there. I also met with the local principal and it doesn't look like I'll teach school this year. I grieved this prospect at first, but I think it will work out. My kids need me home during this huge transition. I can't imagine putting the kids in a daycare that I know nothing about! It will be a change to be a full time stay at home mom when I've always worked!
So many times these last few months I've looked at how things have turned out and said, "God, are you KIDDING me?!" Divine punch lines do take a little time - but I'm starting to get them.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
My Hallelujah Song
"Look at me, can't believe I finally made it here.
Feeling like I'm where I belong,
singing my Hallelujah song."
I've always been one with a plan. Look to the future. Set high goals, work hard, do your best, and achieve important things. Sounds like a graduation speech, doesn't it? Oh, that's right. I delivered that speech at my high school graduation.
Well I made it. The future is here. I have it all - a husband I love, three kids that give meaning to my days, a great elementary teaching job, an aerobics instructor gig, a little online business, a nice home in a nice suburb, a SUV to haul the kids to soccer. It's all I ever wanted.
I just want to stay right here and sing my Hallelujah song.
So that husband that I love, well, he accepted a job a mere 3,900 miles away. FLORIDA. That's a long way from home. You can't ski in Florida. I am finally getting really good at skiing. I even bought a new ski outfit this year.
Looks like I'm faced with a chance to start over. To be honest, I'm a little excited. New opportunities. New friends. A chance to redecorate another house. Yeah, I love my life. But I guess I can put it a little simpler - I love life. The way it is now can change and it will probably work out just fine.
I think I can sing a Hallelujah song in Florida.
Feeling like I'm where I belong,
singing my Hallelujah song."
I've always been one with a plan. Look to the future. Set high goals, work hard, do your best, and achieve important things. Sounds like a graduation speech, doesn't it? Oh, that's right. I delivered that speech at my high school graduation.
Well I made it. The future is here. I have it all - a husband I love, three kids that give meaning to my days, a great elementary teaching job, an aerobics instructor gig, a little online business, a nice home in a nice suburb, a SUV to haul the kids to soccer. It's all I ever wanted.
I just want to stay right here and sing my Hallelujah song.
So that husband that I love, well, he accepted a job a mere 3,900 miles away. FLORIDA. That's a long way from home. You can't ski in Florida. I am finally getting really good at skiing. I even bought a new ski outfit this year.
Looks like I'm faced with a chance to start over. To be honest, I'm a little excited. New opportunities. New friends. A chance to redecorate another house. Yeah, I love my life. But I guess I can put it a little simpler - I love life. The way it is now can change and it will probably work out just fine.
I think I can sing a Hallelujah song in Florida.
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