Settling In

We could not have asked for nicer weather during our official move-in-weekend! Spring was continually granting us its approval with each warm breeze and breath of fresh air. Praise God for changing seasons!

(First things first: In the hustle and bustle of loading the truck, my camera was left at the apartment! *Gasp!* I greatly regret to inform you that I have not a single picture of the guys lifting anything big or a truck bed full of furniture. Sad day. Now, moving on...)

Brad, along with a little help from some great friends from church (shout out to Matthew, Brian, and Mitch!) were able to move every bit of our furniture to the house, after work on Friday evening. While they were doing all of the heavy lifting and making the multiple trips back and forth on the five miles of interstate between Old Apartment and New Home, Pam and I stayed at the house and unloaded a couple of the boxes that were squeezed into our cars for our single commute. When we weren't using our expert "female" advice to direct each heavy piece of furniture, we were organizing all that we had unpacked. However, we actually spent the majority of our time leisurely enjoying each other's company and loving on Pam and Mitch's 1-year-old son as he "danced" to the music. What a great way to remain entertained as we passed the time away!

It's a good thing that Brad & Co. were able to move all of the big stuff Friday night, because I was left home alone on Saturday. (Brad had to work, then baseball practice for his T-ball team, then a going away party for his boss, then a fantasy baseball draft with the guys, etc. etc.) Chester and I spent the day hanging around the house with the windows and doors wide open enjoying God's blessings. Chester rarely left the back door. He loved feeling the breeze in his face while he ceaselessly sniffed the air. He frequently stepped outside for a nice stroll in the back yard, but he mostly spent the morning overlooking his new domain.

I, on the other hand, got right to work. I arranged all of the furniture in the living room, made the guest bed, unpacked every single box that had been moved over to that point, and set out each decoration that we had transported so far. The pictures that needed to be hung were placed on the floor against each wall that they would soon adorn. I made another trip back to the apartment for a load of boxes, and was able to meet Brad between work and practice for a little help and lunch. Once he was on to his next "engagement," I was back to work. I must admit, I do believe that the house is looking pretty good for being "1-day-old." One thing I love is making a house a home filled with a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. I can't wait to see it once all of the curtains and pictures are hung!

The only downside was that I never found any time to shower. Hmm... But I still couldn't turn down a girls' night to celebrate the DVD release of Twilight the movie! I'm glad my friends are still my friends, even when I show up un-showered, un-made-up, and in the same clothes as the day before. Wow - If I haven't said it enough before, let me say it again. I have such great friends!

Brad and I wanted to inaugurate our residence here by dedicating our new home, and our lives that will be lived in it, to the Lord. So, last night, we appropriately undertook our first task together by displaying these wall words for all to see when they enter our house. There couldn't be a more fitting christening for our home.

We have until the 31st to be completely out of our apartment. We'll spend the next couple of days transporting the rest of our stuff over to the house and unpacking it all as we find a new place to house, display, store, or hide all of it. Then we'll have to spend an evening "spring cleaning" the apartment before we sadly, yet happily, hand over the keys, never to return.

Now, I know some of you are just dying to see more pictures. If you are one of those people, you can always go to my New House Photo Album. Since I just keep adding more and more photos to the same album, remember to go to the end if you want to see the most recent uploads.