First Day

Ok, I said I wasn't going to do this every night, and I'm sure I won't, but right now its good to journal - sort of therapeutic.

I woke everyone up at 7 am - then put my watch on and had to change it from 6 AM to 7 AM - way too early for school - it took a long time to get them all moving. We should have left by 7:30, but in true Carla fashion, it was 7:45. We got there before the bell rang and I took a picture by the sign so all was well. In my dreams of today, we said a prayer together before going out the door, that didn't happen in real life. maybe we'll try for that tomorrow.

I got the kids set up for their hot lunch - EVERY DAY! And its free - Count your many blessings!

Then we dropped off the truck and went to church to dig through boxes. We got the things we were looking for. Next stop was Langlois to pay for our freezer - they told us they would bill us when they were ready! Definitely a small town mentality there! So we shopped for furniture. We hope to redecorate at some point, so we were just looking. Then had to go to Meijers (similar to super Target, but I haven't decided if its as nice or not) to get peanut butter, salt and pepper and ibuprofen. These things are all in a box, somewhere. We came home to unpack and make this space more liveable - including organize the refrigerator. Then back to Meijers for more lost items - I already have a list for tomorrow, too! =) Pick up the kiddos and back to Grand Haven.

The kids had a good day. They wondered about what the day was like for everyone in CCS. I stayed busy enough that I didn't cry, until I started reading emails from all of you tonight, but that is good for the soul, too.

After supper (made by someone from the church) we played Clue as a family, then read Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. Now they are in bed!

Some of you were asking about our living situation. We have put an offer in on a house, it has been accepted, the bank has accepted (it is a short sale), the inspection is completed, we are waiting for our loan to be processed. We should know more in about 3 weeks. This house is in Muskegon, MI where the church (Celebration Community Church) and the school are. Technically the house is in a suburb called Norton Shores.

Currently we are living in one of the parsonage of Second CRC in Grand Haven, MI. We have been told Grand Haven is a special place on earth and we will never want to leave. But we have also been told its really only special during the summer! Great.

Some of you have been asking for an address. If you really want to mail something now, you can mail it to church. I can give you this address, but I have no idea if I can even get mail here!

Thanks for your notes. My heart is still heavy, and I assume it will be for quite a time. I was telling someone that I waiver between wanting that feeling to end, and hoping it never does. Because if it stops hurting, then somehow time has healed the MN size hole in my heart, and I'm not sure I want that to happen.