Our First Visitor!!!

It's been a while since our last (and first) blog, I'm starting to think I kind of suck at finding the time for this whole blogging thing :)

For the first few weeks of January, we struggled and struggled some more. I guess I didn't realize moving across country with two little boys was going to be so difficult.. DUH! But, in my defense, I've never moved more than a mile away from my childhood home.  Well, either way, it has been a little on the tough side trying to adjust to a new City/State, new weather (although I am loving the snow - maybe because we haven't had much yet) and a new school. 

But, just as I started to lose sight of why we came here.. my mom arrived :) Funny how just being around the people you love can make such a difference in your mood! My mom was here for a little over a week and we crammed that time in with as much fun stuff as we possibly could.  We spent four days in the City seeing Times Square (the M&M's shop is awesome), FAO Schwartz (I think we spent more time in there than anywhere else and had more fun there than all the other sites combined.. and that includes us adults). We also took the ferry to Staten Island and got a great view of Lady Liberty and went to the 911 memorial. (It was such a struggle deciding how much to share with Connor about the terrorist attacks - we wanted him to understand what he was seeing - partially so he would understand why he couldn't just run around like his crazy silly self but also because we want him to understand how important it is to know Christ to be able to find peace in the midst of a fallen world). We also went to Rockefeller Center (We didn't iceskate this time but Connor and I will be taking a mommy/son day there soon to go iceskating... can't wait to surprise him with it!) We spent the rest of our time exploring our little area and enjoying deeper conversations than I think my mom and I have ever had. All in all, it was a great trip and we were incredibly sad to see Babette (that's what the grandkids call her) go. And, we are already planning her next visit ;)

We are continuing to learn so much about ourselves.. Our faith in the Lord is continuing to be tested, and we are learning to wait patiently for him to show us his plan. The verse that keeps coming to my mind is "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10. Sounds like such an easy instruction but for someone like me who needs to have a plan and to be in control of that plan, its not! (But, I'm working on it :)) We are learning to be less hard on Connor - it is unbelievable how hard he is on himself - he gets that from him mommy- poor guy - so we are trying to adjust our parenting with him (Any thoughts/ideas from other moms on how to discipline a child who more than disciplines himself would be greatly appreciated!).  We are constantly discovering just how full of life Seth is and just so smart!  I am consantly being reminded of how lucky I am to be David's wife.. he really just couldn't be a better man! And, we are learning to really rely on each other (God of course too). Being without extended family really forces you to do just that.. And, I actually LOVE it and LOVE what God is doing in our marriage!

Til next time, thank you for being a part of this journey with us! Even miles away, it is incredible how much encouragement we have received from our friends and family (We have been so amazed at the many fun packages that have been sent for us and the boys! Connor's favorite thing to do now is to check the mail). We couldn't feel more blessed to have such amazing friends...

"No lapse of time or distance of place can lessen the friendship of those who are truly persuaded of each other's worth." - Unknown.

Love,

The Callaways 



911 Memorial





M&M Shop in Times Square







Feeding the Ducks at the Park




The Staten Island Ferry



Rockefeller Center



The day Babette left we got just enough snow to play in!

Come back soon Mom! We miss you already!!!

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of CRAZY .. to say the least! A few days after Christmas, with the help of some of our amazing family and friends, Audrey & John Sands, Melissa Miller and my INCREDIBLE Mom and Dad (to name a few), we managed to get our entire house, ok no, actually about 1/4 of our entire house :) into a Uhaul and on the road to the East Coast. The drive out was actually pretty awesome (although David would probably not agree) In my opinion, the boys did fabulous .. for those of you who know my boys, it is only by the grace of God that my rambunctious boys lasted for four twelve hour days in the car without losing their minds! And they DID, they were absolute troopers :) I know God must have been feeding them some kind of medicine for relaxation or something.. whatever He did.. it worked and I wouldn't mind if He did it more often .. just saying :) In Dave's opinion, the ride was a little scary and stressful.. this was his FIRST time pulling anything, let alone an incredibly heavy trailer across the country. The weather mostly held except for a little rain and a lot of wind.. and some ridiculously bumpy roads! (watching the trailer sway back and forth over each bump was very SCARY - so after awhile I stopped looking in the rearview mirror..)

After four days, we made it to our destination!! We checked into a hotel at 11:30 on New Years Eve and rang in the New Years happily asleep :) (there's always next year ;) ) We spent the next few days looking for a home as Dave was quite anxious to offload the trailer, and we were all anxious to NOT be living out of our car! After looking at a ton of pretty gross homes, a few disappointments with either not getting approved for a home we wanted or something we wanted already being taken.. we FINALLY found our HOME .. Home away from Home that is :) (pics to come soon)

We got the keys for the house on Thursday December 29th at 4:30, spent the next several hours unloading the trailer, went to sleep and then got up the next morning at 5:00 a.m. to catch a plane to DISNEYLAND! (which we will save for another post) We spent the weekend in Cali and then headed back home to get organized. (not an easy task with two flights of stairs in the house.. one leading upstairs and another to the basement.. which anyone who has a one-year-old knows best that this is a little bit of a death trap!)

Since we have been here, we are already learning a lot about each other and enjoying spending our time with only each other (since we don't yet have any friends on this side of the country :))  About Connor, he definitely needs time to adjust to change. Dave and I were at first very surprised by his behavior over the last week or so and then we remembered how he reacted to his brother being home with us the first few weeks (not so good at first ;)) But, with Connor, the nice thing is that he only needs a few weeks to adjust and then he is back to his sweet self.. so we are looking VERY forward to Connor being back to his normal self. Seth seems to be adjusting quite well.. he is his normal self .. picking on Connor and laughing at everything Connor does.. and talking like CRAZY! He certainly is FULL of personality! David has been enjoying being home with us (or so he says :)) And, I have LOVED having him here.. if only he could just not get a job and always be home! (of course, we certainly need the income so if you think of us, please pray he finds a job soon!) I am a little back and forth.. I am excited to be here and love watching Connor experience so many new things, but I am also sad to see how much he misses his friends and family. And, I of course miss my friends and family as well.. for someone who has never been away from home for more than a few weeks at a time, this will definitely be a HUGE change.

Anyhow, thanks for visiting our blog.. we will continue to update you all often on our life here.. We MISS you all and LOVE you tons!!!