Small Town

There have been many indications that we're living in a small town since we've moved here. I'll list a few, some are funny, some silly, and some frustrating!!

1. I've seen four instances of people riding in vehicles in a very odd manner. 2 people were riding in trunks with their legs sticking out, one person was riding a tractor that was being pulled by a truck on a trailer, and the last was a little boy riding on the top of the back seat of a convertible, who happened to be Chowan's president's grandson. Ahhh, it's not safe!

2. While pumping gas the automatic shut-off did not shut off and I found a gasoline waterfall running out of my car.

3. Banking situations. The first was when our bank was supposed to put a hold on our checks, but another teller whispered that we worked for Chowan, so it was okay. Phew, we narrowly managed to escape that hold. The second hold, of 11 business days, was put on one of our checks because it was from CA and they didn't know us...grrr.

4. The distances we drive: 1/2 hour to Wal-mart, 45 mins. to a contemporary church service, 1.5 hrs. babies r us and the closest mall, 2 hours to Trader Joes!

5. Our lawn is the favorite pee spot of the neighbor dogs.

6. People tell me that my backpack for Abby is "such a neat new thing" when my mom had one for me when I was a baby.

7. Customer service just isn't the same. The DMV, which only deals with license plates and nothing else, had an employee telling a customer about a man who thought the people on TV were watching him and he walks around the house nude and he has lost control of his bladder. She then looks at me and says, "Dimentia." She finishes her story to the customer, who is the only other one in the room, and says to me, "you need to sign something don't you." I say, no, I just had a question. Then she helps me. Tee he he. Funny, to say the least.

8. All the shops in town close for three day weekends (well, almost all).

I would love to post some new pics of Abby, but I don't have any, due to the fact that my camera is missing...still :(

Rain!

It's been raining here for two days :) It's so nice to have a break from the hot weather, especially since it doesn't feel as humid when the temp. is a little cooler outside. All is going well with us here in our tiny town. Mat's team lost by one goal in his last game, which is much better than it has been.

I promised I would finish our moving story two days ago, so here goes. After Mat, My parents, and I finally finished peeling off three layers of contact paper and paint from the cabinet shelves, sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, replacing a broken toilet (our fault), removing four layers of linoleum in the bathroom, and putting down a new one we were finally ready to unpack. By this time it was close to Wednesday and my parents were leaving Monday morning. By the time they left we were able to get the whole kitchen, most of Abby's room and a few boxes here and there in the other rooms unpacked. Phew! Now we are in a routine of going to work, taking care of Abby and unpacking when we get the chance.

Please pray that we find the church that God wants for us. Ta ta for now!

Home sweet home

We are now in our new home and life is finally beginning to slow down a bit. Life has been crazy over the past two week moving in, visiting with family, meeting college staff and students, starting our jobs, and adjusting to life in the south. It has been an exciting, sad, shocking, and tiring experience. Mat is settling in with his new role as Men's Soccer Coach, and I am training to become the Business Manager for the athletic office and, as usual, we're both still learning how to be Abigail's parents. Still seems weird when I read that I'm a parent.

The move went fairly smoothly, Mat, Abby, and I flew out on Monday, August 17, and my wonderful parents (yes, we know and appreciate how great they are) drove a moving truck, in four day, all the way across the country, with all of our stuff, two cats, and Squirt. They only had some minor hiccups, such as driving through a torrential down pour, bathing and clipping poopy/peepy soaked cats, and staying in a moldy hotel. While they were driving the three Phelps' stayed with Uncle Randy (dad's brother) and Aunt Jolynn. Abby loved Lucy the cat, but she didn't like Ab so much. The soccer team helped us move all of our belongings in on Friday then we discovered all the cleaning that had to be done, ewwwww. Renting here is not like renting in so. cal.

Ok, I'm tired of writing, so I'll finish catching everyone up to date tomorrow. As for where we are at right now, Abby is down for her nap and Mat is away at his fourth soccer game, someplace four hours away. He couldn't find enough drivers, due to an away football game that the whole town was going to, so they had to rent a bus, which made a big dent in his budget. Abby and I walked down Main street today, only to discover that almost every place was closed for the three day weekend. Hmmm, definitely not used to that. We did find a park behind the Baptist church that is open to the public, which was a wonderful blessing :) She loves going to the park.

I'll upload some photos of our new place/town as soon as I find my camera. Been missing for a while, and I'm really hoping and praying that I didn't leave it in the rental car.