Having moved south from NH in June 2008, this blog lists things I've encountered, struggles my family has faced, joys, surprises and all things new now that we are in NC.
I took out the original "map" which was useless. This shows the trail that the federal government may go ahead and fund. ( a 2 million plus project) Now there's discussion about the discussion money and how it should be spent. This project is actually one of them: http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/view/4574
This morning we saw a crew of 5 bambies walking along the creek. I'm not eager for the trail to be done as it will give us "company" as people bike and walk along what is now a quiet waterworks path way. Progress will be progress, who knows if this will actually be built.
This picture was taken this summer as our home was being built. Miss Liz is in London and Vanessa, a fellow Messiah College intern, is planning "something" to celebrate tonight.
Hey Liz, you can watch our church services now at newhope's website ... in fact click "here" and you'll experience the sermon, see Pastor Benji. This looks like the 2nd service. Your sisters were some of those "new hopers" that gave up their seats to let guests sit.
Last night we went to Bek's Sports Banquet. She got a "letter" in soccer, and also received a Scholar Athlete pin for her grades while competing in a sport.
Today Lucie, Bek and Rachel got their second Hep A shot for Bolivia in July. Bek was off due to a teacher's convention. Bek also visited NC State in Raleigh with her school on Wednesday. She liked the school, but would prefer a campus that is more compact and not embedded in a city. We visit Campbell University in May. I'd like to take Bek/Rach to many of these campuses. Tough choices, and its good to have choices. So Liz, behave yourself, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Pastor Benji holding the C.O. (Certificate of Occupancy)
Wow, we had the newhope grand opening yesterday. I attended first service, then worked up in "hopetown" with the fourth and fifth graders in their ultra cool "uptown" location. The kids are great, they seem to enjoy the new diggs and I asked one of them if they had fun, and he answered an enthusiastic "ya".
Service was cool too, the lights, the live action camera, if felt as if I were at a concert (and I got wicked good seats in the second row). There were a "few" open seats in first service, but for second, I guess they added 40 seats and had people spill over into the youth room. My girls gave up their seats and went up to the youth room. What a great problem to have, someone mentioned that they ran out of parking space too. Hope some of the curiosity seekers will come back, it will be interesting to see what happens over the next several weeks. Will we have to go to 3 services? .... not a bad problem to have, but it is tough on the staff to pull it off.
Speaking of staff, Miss Lucie starts tomorrow at 9AM for 3 days TWTh 9-1 to cover phones and do miscellaneous admin activities. She's both excited and nervous, always wanting to put forth her best. She is still signed up for clinical recertification in May/June ... that will be 3 full days a week, a total of 180 hours. This is our plan B, but Lucie is not looking forward to the hospital scene. She much prefers an office scene.
Liz counts down to her return May 5th ... thinking she will really miss London. Praying she enjoys every minute about it. Bek's on track and field at school, Rachel went to Statesville for a meet yesterday. Though "Daniel's Fast" is not a diet, I've managed to lose 7 lbs. We end our fast on Wednesday, and Lucie and I are already planning a celebratory meal ... hmmm where to eat 'real' food.
Check out the temp in Durham! Approaching 80 today and down into the 50's into the weekend. Holy Moley Cow!
Famine: It does feel like with the Daniel's fast Lucie and I have been on that even though I have had plenty of fruit and vegetables (my desert apple sits eying me, wondering if I'll forget her and she'll see the light of another day). I want steak. I'd settle for a slice of ham, or perhaps a hard boiled egg. One would think that my weight would be droppin' but nuh-huh ... not this middle aged sedentary geezer. Nope, well, ok 3 lbs is something ... and this is NOT a diet, but still. Lucie shed 9 lbs ... maybe more, and she's not telling me so that I don't throw a hissy fit. Course, she smuggly reminds me that SHE has been using the treadmill that Miss Rose gave her before she fled to Canada (how she snuck by those INS agents, I'll never know.)
Rachel uses that, plus the 16 plus hours at the gymnastics academy / week might explain that she's buff. Not fair, I want someone to discover my idea of fat eating microscopic machines: nanobots... on a mission to seek and destroy adipose deposits. Using the energy from the stores of fat they eat their way through, mapping the labyrinth of grease I've accumulated over these past 49 years. Gee whilikers I wish someone would develop that soon so I can be fit and trim by summer start. Apparently my family's gag reflex is very healthy. I'm reminded of this each time I attempt to take off my shirt.
Lucie actually wonders if I could pose for Reuben as one of his voluptious beauties. Minus the beauty, she thinks I have the right proportions. C'mon, as my friend once said "I have the body of a god ... unfortunately it's Buddha!"
Liz's feet are still swollen, apparently she has relented and is not being fashionable and wearing her sneakers. Girl, who cares what your shoes look like ... be comfortable. Even when she was on TV, nobody saw her feet! They've been wrecked since Royal Family Week where she did kick boxing barefooted ... that girl.
Bek had a boatload of tests today. Ah the joys of schoolin' Teacher's don't necessarily confer when they do their individual schedules. The beauty of the one room schoolhouse (aka homeschoolin')
Rachel overslept today, got up at 8:04 for her 8AM class, luckily it was online and she didn't have to look purty for anyone.
Feast: Lucie just got offered a 10 hour per week job at our church answering phones. It's about 1/2 of what she made in NH but with no stress ... one ring a ding-ie, two ring a ling-ie ... "A gracious good morning to you"
I wanted to write to let you know that I am alive and well. :) I am completely exhausted as Vanessa, Lauren, and I covered a severe amount of Paris on foot, but I am really happy about how the trip went! Oh, and just to let you both know, my right foot is the shape of a bratwurst - I think I pulled something- and will most likely be testing out the UK National Health System as I search for a physical therapist in the coming days. joy.
Anyways, back to Paris. I think the greatest parts of my weekend were seeing the Eiffel Tower light up and sparkle on the hour. It was absolutely gorgeous, and convinced me that yes, indeed, I am in THE Paris. It was absolutely gorgeous and I am determined to re-visit. We also climbed Notre Dame, again, one of my highlights. I made a short video for Bekkah there- I wont give away all the details- but let's just say it involves a rather lame impersonation of Quaismodo- because we all know hos much she LOVED me doing that when she was younger. hahahaha.
Here is what we visited in two days:
The Louvre (yes, I saw the Mona Lisa)
Arc de Triumph (climbed and conquered)
Notre Dame (waited in like for an hour in the rain- but eventually climbed, conquered, saw the bell, and posed with the lovable -looking gargoyles)
Musee d'Orsay - Saw the Van Gogh and Monet collections. AMAZING.
A chapel- which I can't quite remember the name-
Sainte Chapelle maybe? It had gorgeous stained glass windows EVERYWHERE.
Climbed Montmartre and visited Sacre Coeur?(Dad, I'm butchering these words- sorry!)-the chapel on top. When we walked in a mass was going on and so we got to listen to beautiful singing from the nuns.
Ate loads of crepes and tasted the wine - I even ordered creme brulee --- and basically found my new love in life.
Walked the red light district and found the oh so famous Moulin Rouge where Vanessa and I broke into the elephant love medley and received several unpleasant looks from fellow tourists.
I absolutely think we need to go as a family so dad can show us all the best spots. I found that it was really difficult to find places to eat because everything was so expensive - so I ate baguettes and crepes the whole time. Which were delicious so it was fine. I didn't really stumble across a pastry shop, though I searched quite hard for one. Soooo Ill have to try them when we all go ;)
OK more to come. Call me tonight if you can! I'm off to lunch!
She's off on Fridays, so this weekend's excursion was in Paris France. Oh la la! I envy her, and told her to make sure she sampled the fine pastries. She's only there through Sunday when she'll fly back to London.
Oh man to walk down cobblestone streets in Paris once again. Rachel insists that I take her some day, I'm all too willing, just unsure of spending the money at this juncture.
Bekkah and Rachel are going to Brittany's sweet 16 party on Saturday. New dresses (yellow and red) and new shoes make the girls look too grown up for this daddy's liking. But hey, we jumped for joy when we no longer needed to diaper them, I guess they keep growing "ready or not" and as Pastor Lee once said, people don't have babies ... they have "human beings" ... and everything that entails.
It is supposed to be warm through the weekend ... I'm ready for it.
