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.

Moving across the Country

We are all packed up and ready to roll tomorrow morning to the airport. Our wonderful friend Melissa is driving us and we will arrive on the East Coast tomorrow night. God has been so amazing through this whole process, and it has been obvious that his hand has been at work in every detail on both ends. We are so grateful to all of our Brookside family for all of their love and support over the years that we've been in Redlands. We are going to miss everyone terribly, but are looking forward to the new opportunity, and super excited to finally have a job! Thanks again for all of your prayers!

He's Back!

Mat returned from the east coast last night after a whirlwind trip of 6 meetings and meeting the team. Abby was especially glad to have him home. She had been looking for him every morning and waving goodnight to him at night. She was even looking for him in his pillow case. We will find out sometime today if he got the job, then we just have to figure out all the little details. Thanks for all your prayers and support!

East Coast

Ahhhhh, it's actually a possibility, Mat is flying out tomorrow for an interview. His flight leaves in the a.m. and returns Wed. p.m. He's going to miss youth group :( Makes me sad. So many questions, and so little answers, hopefully we'll know some more concrete details on Wed. Please pray.

Many Changes

It's been a long, long time since we've published anything and that is largely because of all the changes happening in our lives. To start with, new pictures of Abby have been posted.

To start with, the six of us, Mat, Joy, Abby, Squirt, Garfy, and Skeetsy, moved in with my parents at the beginning of June. We thought it was a little ridiculous to keep renting an apartment when neither of us had a job. Well, actually, Mat had just started his club coaching job, but that wasn't bringing in any income, as the team was brand spankin' new.

To keep it brief, Mat has now applied for well over 100 jobs, had 1 interview, soon to be 2, and has had 0 job offers. Mat is coaching a U-19 Titans club team, which he is now getting paid for, and has his final exam for his first class for his master's in Coaching and Athletic Administration this week. He has gotten a 100% on all of his assignments so far, keep your fingers crossed. He will be starting two more classes next quarter. He is still the wonderful youth pastor at Brookside Church and a wonderful father and husband.

Joy has started working with Kari, the associate pastor at our church, for three days a week. She loves spending time with Kari and is able to bring Abby with her. Joy also helped start a women's bible study at Church and is loving that. She also helps with all of the office type work for the youth and is thinking about starting discipleship groups for the youth. Joy still loves being a mommy and watching Abby girl grow and change.

Abby is keeping busy, as usual. She has learned to walk, wave, blow her nose, blow kisses, now has eight teeth, and still loves grapes and berries. Abby loves her baby doll, ducky, dirt, sand, mud, bubbles, playing with her two best friends, Jacob and Elijah, anything shiny, especially jewelry, or "Bling" as my mom says. She can say Mama, dada, and a few other words. Rick and Diane have been a huge help with Abby and she loves being able to see grandma and grandpa everyday.

Thanks for all your prayers and support!