Packed up, Moved out, Packed in, Unpacked

Well, I see it's been far too long since I posted the goings-on in our family, but I do have quite a valid excuse. Chris graduated at the end of May, and we spent a few days in the early part of June packing a bit at a time for our upcoming move to Chattanooga, but we really increased our effort five days before our move. We packed the playroom, the bedroom, the kids' bedroom, the master bathroom, the guest bathroom, the shed, the kitchen, the laundry room, the pantry, the master closet, the guest closet, the book closet, the coat closet, (breath) and Chris' office--which occupied the back 1/3 of the 26-foot moving truck. I specify the length because we actually ended up with two trucks! (We anticipated this need, and Penske was all too happy to oblige. Unfortunately, Penske did not have the forethought to ask us to return our two trucks to the same location in Chattanooga.)

We had wonderful help moving. I was nearly tempted to feel ashamed to accept the help, as though by sending my children off I was admitting that I am an incapable mother. Then I remembered--I AM an incapable mother. Incapable, that is, of packing up 43 feet of moving trucks with five little people underfoot.

(As an aside, I told David to go outside today so he wouldn't be underfoot, and I heard him repeat to his sisters, "She said it's so she won't step on our feet.")

We sent them off to a friend's house all day Wednesday to pack. Then we sent them off to McMinnville, TN with another friend for two whole days while we unpacked. The need for the second truck threw us for a loop, because that left us with no one to drive the van and the children to McMinnville. Chris' mom and brother came to the rescue and gave up the entire day to follow us to McMinnville. They left the van there and returned in their own car. (Chris' mom is the real hero here because she spent four hours in the van alone with the twins, who, I happen to know, can be quite whiny on long road trips.)

Two full days to unpack without the children allowed us to nearly set up completely! Of course, this is dangerous, because it's difficult to go ahead and push through to the end. Case in point, after two weeks here, the pictures are still resting on the mantle, calling out hopelessly to deaf ears for help hanging up. The garden tools have found themselves fallen to the same fate--that is, boxed up, resting upon the back door.

The mosquitoes here are dreadful. I think Tyler has succumbed to chiggers. I counted 21 bites on his left leg today. That's the only way I know to tell if he gets new ones! I have flea bites halfway up my legs from our visit to Marion, thanks to Walter's cats, Sputnik and Calvin. (I'm not blaming anyone, as you can see. =) We have invested in Benedryl cream for relief. It helps the pain, but my legs still look like they belong to a little boy!

We have met two neighbors so far--one like us, one very much different than us. We're glad to be in this house because we believe God directed us here and has great plans for us this year. My children miss having friends just outside their door, but I have kept them busy with schoolwork. Kora finished her first PACE in Math today! I also set up computer games for them so I can get my chores finished in peace. (Without kids underfoot, and all.)

We LOVE all this space. I am determined to be content in all situations, but I sure am being spoiled in this house. We set up an inflatable water slide in the back yard that thrilled the kids. Tobias and Tyler never got up the nerve to try it, but we bought them a baby pool. Of course, the mosquitoes are trying to carry us off out there!

Chris has started working with Uncle Jim, as he has instructed our kids to call him. They have a meeting tomorrow to lay out a job description for Chris. They hope to have a planning meeting with other faculty about reaching our neighborhood for Christ. Our house is five blocks from the school. Chris prefers to walk to the office, because his parking lot is just as far from the office as our house! =)

I overheard some college kids on the corner on their bikes today. They were discussing the best route home. One girl suggested Hixon Pike, because it wasn't as hilly as the other route. Another girl said, "Are you crazy? Then you have that big hill going up to my house! You literally go backwards trying to pedal up that thing!" So, Chattanooga is different from Memphis. First of all, who bikes anywhere in Memphis?! Second, hills--oh, the overpass? No, you mean real hills. That's nice.

We're hoping to have a field trip every week while we're here that is something specifically Chattanooga. I'm open to suggestions, and the free-er the better. =)

I must away, for I have loads of laundry and dishes to do before bed.

Saja asked me today, "When are we going to get to preach to people in Chattanooga?!" I told her that's what Daddy was doing, but she insisted that she wants her chance, too. I hope she gets it.