Life in Bloomington

(In Mexico)

We are officially "townies" as they call people that aren't students and live in Bloomington. :) It's been an adjustment. We finally got to move in at the end of June after a crazy summer of getting back from two weeks in Michigan for work and having 3 days to get moved out of our beloved Broad Ripple home. Then we moved in with my sister and brother-in-law into their new house that they had only lived in for 2 weeks prior to our crazy disruption of their life. Then we had meetings in Nashville, IN for 3 days then off to Booram family vaca, then a quick hiatus at a family friends cabin while we waited to get to close and move in to house in Broad Ripple. Whew... a lot huh? Our kids were troopers, hopefully no long term damage done since everywhere we went Eli asked "Is this my new home" even including our stay at the hotel in Nashville. We have loved being here. The summer was a nice easy way to getting settled here, as most of you may know what Bloomington is like once students show up- pure insanity!! I think we certainly underestimated what it looks like to move to a some what new place and try to unpack our lives with two kids under the age of 3. Slowly but surely we are getting there and loving our house and certain that our dog, Amos, is loving his large wooded back yard instead our of tiny little city yard we had before.

 At the beginning of August, Brandt and I were blessed with the ability to go on a trip to Mexico. After the summer and everything else in life, it was a time that our marriage needed. We had such a great time. Missed the boys like crazy but knew between my parents and Brandt's, they were in great hands.


 It's been fun being able to break in our new house with the celebration of Riley's 1st birthday and Eli's 3rd birthday. Creating great memories already. Eli is loving pre-school with the slight adjustment of figuring out that everyone his age is not as tough and big as him, but have loved getting to see him become very interested in coloring, singing the ABC, and talking about numbers. Things he NEVER let me do with him before. It's a glorious thing how someone new and different can totally get your own child into something like that. I'm thankful that he allows someone to get him thrilled about learning, even if we can't always be that role. (First day of School on the right )
                                                           
Riley is a walking machine. Having a blast trying to catch up with his big brother, already taking            cars and "Vrooming" them along our couch, chairs, tables, etc. Even this morning he was driving his baked oatmeal across his highchair. He has such a fun spirit and is seriously so smiley. I'm sure lots of parents feel this way, but for some reason it feels like baby number 2 grows up faster!
(Left- Riley's 1st Birthday)

         So far the school year has gone well. This is probably our first week of a normal schedule of balancing me being on campus with students and juggling the boys and Eli starting school for the first time. I am feeling very blessed and loving working for Greek IV. I definitely had some concerns about my transition and a little uncertain at times of God's calling in my life, but since I've been with students, I feel more and more at peace at where God has led me and our family. I am thankful for the constant reminder that we live in a broken world that needs God, and how thankful I am I get to be smack in the middle of that loving on people. Thank you for your prayers and love through our journey of life. I will... I WILL, be better about updating on here! Let's shoot for once a month yah?