Week #1 Update

As I sit here tonight it has officially been one week in Maryland! My parents left Monday and we are beginning to get settled into life. We love our apartment, we love our host family, and we are itching for everything to begin! Thankfully this week we had several opportunities to begin building with people and get a taste for how things will be. Here is the run down...

On Monday, our host family invited us "up" for dinner when the whole gang showed up. What a sweet family! All of their kids are our age with some grand kids the same age as Abby and Katie. The girls had so much fun running around and playing with them. Even just a week of not being home with their cousins and their little friends has made them itch for some playmates!

On Tuesday, one of the PC couples invited us over for dinner. We had a great time! The kids were a little crazy, of course :), but then we put them to bed and had a great time laughing and getting to know each other. Get this, they have 3 boys, the oldest will be two in September and then they have 4 month twins! Now that is having your hands full! She was amazing too! I didn't see her complain or get flustered once! And she is so excited to be here, even though she left all of her family and support back home! Oh, there will be so many people to learn from this year!

I know! I missed the pictures of all the kids! But this is Aaron and Crystal! Thanks for having us over!

On Wednesday, all of the PC guys went out for a long 3 hour lunch. They had a great time and Jason is definitely excited about the dynamic of this class.

Today, I was super excited to go to the Dustin's home (Chris and Tara's host family) for the PC Wives Luncheon. I am still pinching myself that we are here and that we get to sit under Gary and Betsy Ricucci and Jeff and Julie Purswell. Today Betsy and Julie were so approachable, so kind, so purposeful in communicating care. I can't wait to learn as much as I can from them! I also had the chance to have several conversations with several of the wives. I too am excited about the dynamic of this group and how eager everyone is to build into each other! Some of them have really cool stories that I would love to share with you all at some point.  

This is Betsy!  I can't wait to tell you all that I learn from her!
Look Tara!  I gave her a big hug for you!  We hope to spend some time with the Dustins too!
More Thoughts This Week

Running: So I ran out here for the first time yesterday. The Bad Part: First, don't ever take a month off, because it hurts, really bad! Second, did y'all know they had hills out here? Those hurt too! The Good Part: The weather rocks! Oh, to run in cool weather again!
Directions Anyone?: First of all, those pilgrims certainly had no idea about city planning and road construction! I miss our grid system. The roads out here are all twisty and curvy and have no consistency in distance. I have no shot at deciphering N,S,E,W nor can I even tell how far a mile is! I am bound to get lost on many occasions I am sure! But so far I know how to get to the church, the grocery store, the Metro, and to Target. All essentials right!
Our Church Home: So we went to Covenant Life on Sunday. It was definitely great! Great worship, great sermon, great community. But I have to say, we missed our church back home! I really did! Part of me really just wanted to be with OUR church family! I was reminded again of this when we were having dinner last Tuesday with our new friends. We were asking about each others' churches and Aaron asked us, "If you could go to any church, which one would you go to?" The question caught me off guard. I have never been asked that question. I really stopped to think about it. Would I be a member of Covenant Life? Of Bethlehem Baptist? Even of the old EVBCT? No, not at all, I would be right where I am. Right where God has called us, Sovereign Grace in Gilbert, AZ. The dearest place on Earth!
We love and miss you all!