Labor Day is here again and again and again

As I clicked to update my sorry old news blog, I realized how funny it was to call it a Labor Day update. We have labored and labored for it seems like months to reclaim our lives, but alas it was not to be. We have started a new one, similar to Mark's little sister, Amy, who gave birth to our handsome nephew, Joshua, on Labor Day 2005. That was a FUN day. Today is more relaxing most days that we have had lately. Think we are all in low gear so far. Still have my goal of being "box free" in our main level living areas by bedtime tonight. Still doable and I do work better under pressure.

For the few faithful readers who may not have current details, I'll summarize the last month quickly and consisely (as is my habit). lol. We left KC on July 14 and made our base camp at Mark's folks in SE MO. Their house is 2 hrs from the new job, rather than 4 from KC. The girls did camps, VBS x 2, hung out with cousins, made new friends etc.... I took them to Branson for a wonderful week of parks and shows completements of our Wheeler Entertainment Network (if you get to Branson go see the 12 Irish Tenors---so GOOD!). We did lots of trips back and forth to worship in Ellisville (learn this name--our new church home and employer). The first weekend in Aug we were able to move into a condo of one of the church members who lives in Hong Kong--NICE!!! It was good to be in one place with all our stuff and not to drive back and forth so much. Hannah and I rode the train to KC to pick up Jessica and her car. We got to visit with Jess about 6 days before she returned to HU. She had an amazing summer school in Florence and points beyond. It was so fun to hear all her stories and see the pictures.

Our pods were delivered to our new house on the hottest day of the summer here in SL. We had lots of good help and finished in just a few hours. We got another load delivered the next weekend, then we brought back the last load from our storage unit last weekend. So all our "treasure" is here with us. We are trying to find new homes and trash bins for it all. :)

We have MANY good meals delivered to us and have been asked out a bunch. I cooked for the first time yesterday and M grilled and we had chips. :) M's little sister, Joy K and Scott and girls surprised us at services. They drove up to hear M preach and do the zoo. Too bad we had a guest speaker from S Africa, but they will come back to hear M again. So nice to see familiar faces, even tho we know everyone at church now. Was more homesick than I knew.

The girls have been in school since Aug 15. We all whined about the early start and are so happy to be in a routine now. The schools are all really close to us, H could walk to school in 5 min if she wasn't so cool. lol. The other 3 take a bus and have short rides. All have made friends and like their teachers. I went to PTO night and missed seeing my school friends, so have to get in there and volunteer to make some new relationships. Think we are going to like it here so much!

Our church family couldn't be more welcoming and patient as we have been in transition. I have had tons of good help getting settled, meals, directions to good shopping and even some fun. Mark is LOVING his side of this move, spends hours studying at the building and as gotten some projects done to help get us settled. Somedays I say I'm in the movie "Groundhog's Day" b/c everyday is like the other, more boxes, more mess to sort out. It was like this packing up, every closet in the house being dumped on the floor and you have to deal with it all. That's the story of unpacking too. Hope to get more done each day....and the current stuff, laundry, kid patrol, etc....

All the details of our Labor Day to date. Think I'll go find some people to eat some lunch. H went out with some friends. (will detail her transition later), Kat spent the night with a church pal, Abby was playing down the street in a sprinkler fest, Em had fallen asleep in her room and M was reading Harry Potter 7. Yep, it's rough around here. Have to keep up with my young blogger buds so will update again soon. Grins!!