An Update in Pictures

I wanted to share with you some pics of our outdoor adventures.  I will also try and post some pics of the house and our neighborhood.  Hope you enjoy.

Jesse and JoyAnn's 9th B-Day Celebration

Our first trip to Deception Pass State Park

A shot 2/3 of the way up the climb (It was worth it!)

A view from the bridge over the pass

Climbing back down

Four of the kiddos throwing rocks into the water

JoyAnn after lunch at Ivar's before we board the Mukilteo Ferry to ride across to Whidbey Island to play at the park

The Mukilteo Ferry

Jesse took this shot of Nathan and Me

Jesse's "I don't like seagulls" face

A day at the park (Whidbey Island)

 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed these shots.  We just took a walk to Harborview Park the other night, but I forgot my camera.  It is so beautiful here and I hope that I can keep capturing great shots.  Thanks again for sharing.

The Difference a Month Makes

30 days ago I didn't live in WA.
30 days ago I could walk next door to my mother's house.
30 days ago I didn't have to figure out time differences.
30 days ago I could take my kids to Chuck E. Cheese, Chick-Fil-A or Fun Depot.
30 days ago I lived in a house that my Nannie and Papa built and filled with memories.
30 days ago I lived in the state that I had called home since 1984. 

Today I live in a house built in 2008.
Today I live in a state where you can stand at the shoreline and look up and see mountain ranges
     covered in snow.
Today I can ride a ferry for fun with my children.
Today I can look outside my windows and see evergreen trees that are three or four stories tall.
Today I am learning that home is more than geography.

The difference a month can make.  Today I'm a little melancholy and a tad homesick, but filled hope and joy for a life of growth, change and faith building.  30 days ago I didn't think I could.  Today I know that not only can I but I did. 

"Good Campground"

So...we have arrived.  Washington is just lovely and God has blessed us with much sunshine.  Actually we've had some very interesting weather since Mukilteo, WA is an Indian word for "good or happy campground".  I flew with the two sets of twins, my dad and my brother Tyler from Charlotte to Newark, NJ and then on to Seattle, WA.  It was on my 38th birthday.  Happy Birthday to me.  My daughter did buy me donut holes from Dunkin Donuts at the airport and a VERY nice woman bought me a glass of white wine on the plane.  I must have appeared to have needed one (I can only imagine why....).  Overall, the kids did an AMAZING job and I am so glad we decided to travel that way.  I can't imagine a week or more of traveling in a car with five kids.  It actually was less expensive to do it this way!  I simply COULD NOT have done it though without my dad and Tyler's help. 

Nathan and Joseph with God's gracious mercy arrived safely in Mukilteo on Wednesday the 20th.  It was a precious reunion.  I MISSED my men.  Tim and Melissa Moore made our first few days not only bearable but downright pleasant.  Thursday the 21st brought a birthday to Jesse and JoyAnn and we celebrated in FULL fashion.  We had lunch at Azteca and the kids wore sombreros and were sung to over free ice cream.  Then that night we celebrated at Outback with glow sticks, balloons and red velvet cake afterwards.  It was a GREAT day. 

The pacific NW is a beautiful place, but we certainly have been reminded of the differences between the east and west coasts.  Adjusting has been a process.  Nathan I think is having the hardest time of all of us.  Physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally he has the most to process.  Keep praying for him. 

There is so much to process and I have some wonderful pics to share.  I just need to get them from the phone to the computer.  I'm learning how to use my smart phone and the Windows 8 platform still boggles me. 

I'm going to do my best to keep the blog updated and share our new adventures.  Thanks for reading.

Janelle