Feeling Blessed

I meant to be so much of a better blogger, I really did! I will get there.
So this past week has been a big week for me/us. That first week we were here was kind of a hard week. We pretty much stayed inside everyday because it has still been raining like crazy. It actually just let up and didn't rain at all today..Yahoo! It should be nice the next couple days but then we may be getting a hurricane! Ever heard of hurricane Bill? Ya, it's headed our way! Noah's excited but I'm a little nervous. Anyway being all alone here, not knowing many people and living the student life really makes you think differently about the way you live. Obviously we have no money. After paying school, bills, tithing, food, that leaves money left over for lets see...Nothing!! Today we paid tithing completely on faith. But don't feel bad for us...this is what we chose. At first it was a little hard but you know what, it's been so great. I can't tell you how much we have cut back on and we are still living pretty great. We find fun things to do for free, like we love to go down to Brody's new school that is down the street and play at the fun park there.

How fun is this huge map? It's next to the playground at the school. We play this game where you call out a state and whoever gets to the state first wins. It gets the kids out and makes them learn their states!

We plan out all our meals so we don't buy extra and I've been trying to exercise outside since a gym membership is out of the question. It's actually been great! We live in this neighborhood with long windey roads, where all the houses look different and so cute, and the weather is actually pretty nice to run in. You get a little more sweaty from the humidity but it's been in the 80's so it evens out. AND!!...this amazing lady in my ward, the primary president, just asked me today to train with her for a half marathon in November! She totally had to twist my arm but I said yes to training and maybe for the race. After the marathon in January I said I wouldn't do another for at least a year or two and look at me! What the heck am I thinking?? She will be a fun running partner though.
I can't tell you how much we have relied on the church out here. It's so great you can move anywhere and know that you instantly have a church family to lean on. They all have been so great. I've become pretty good friends with a girl who also moved in when we did. They have a 5 year old boy so Brody loves when they come over. We have had a few dinners with fun families in the ward. The missionaries had dinner at out house and that was great. There is so much missionary work to be done here...nothing like back home where there are 15 members on your street. Noah just got made the ward mission leader actually and he could not be more excited! I don't have a calling yet but I did sub in Sunbeams today so it was fun to see how they do their primary. (Maddy...they don't hold a candle to us...haha) All in all we have been so blessed to meet so many great people already and feel so comfortable. I know we are already making some life long friends.

I thought our old neighbors would like this picture. We were cleaning out the garage and all the neighbor kids ended up in our garage wanting all the skateboards (we have a lot) and Noah ended pumping up all their bikes and played with them all. Things haven't changed much huh?

After we were done, the garage looked sooo much better. I can now actually walk around and do laundry with out worrying about stepping on a cockroach!

Speaking of cockroaches, we have them. We had scorpions in AZ and cockroaches here. I can't decide which is worse. You would think the scorpions, but when you see a disgusting cockroach run across your floor you can't help but scream and cringe!!

We went over and met our neighbors next door yesterday night. We took cupcakes to brake the ice a bit. Their 5 year old son was just diagnosed with leukemia a month ago so they are having a pretty hard time right now. We have watched Noah's sister's son, Troy, go through this so we know how hard things are for them right now. They seem like great people and we are excited to get to know them and help them with anything.

Ronan was having flashbacks from his birthday when we gave him his own cupcake last night. Pretty much he was in heaven and made the biggest mess known to man.

So that is it from me. I took a picture of our calender because it pretty much sums up our last week and our week to come. Last week...nothing. This week...stuff actually on the calender! It should be a fun week. Noah has orientation this week so he doesn't really have to be there much. We may try to hit Sand bridge beach this week...if Bill doesn't hit first!!