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11.11.2008

Getting to our new home

**I had a productive nap time today and got caught up to Sunday evening ~ scroll down for two more new posts below!**

We left Charlotte much earlier than we had intended. That was due to an email that Ian got Saturday afternoon when he went to my mom's office to check on what was going on at his work. There was an "all hands meeting" for the project he's been working on at 1:30 on A SUNDAY AFTERNOON! As much as he wanted to pretend he didn't get the email we knew that he had to be there ~ after all, he was hired specifically for this project. So we rolled out of my mom's just before 11. The kids fell asleep pretty quickly and Ian and I were both lost in our thoughts for a while. Basically both of us were extremely bummed to have been "visitors" at the church we love so much and were also bummed at how much Ian is going to be working until Saturday when he leaves for Texas for five days to present his project at SC '08.

When I dropped him off at his office the kids both woke up with the shutting of car doors and began to cry. I too had a hard time keeping tears from flowing as I thought about getting our stuff out of the car and then taking both kids to the grocery by myself so that we'd at least have some milk, bread, and a few other basics in the house. My spirits were at least lightened when Kylie recognized our neighborhood and started looking for our house (which she knew was going to be on Caleb's side of the car). As we started up our hill, I noticed that there were cars in the driveway, and I caught Shannon and Glenda in the act...
Not only had they brought the sign, but they had gone to the grocery and picked up the basic things that I thought of and more! Wow, how blessed are we to have such wonderful people in our new location! Then Shannon sent Battle and their boys over to rake leaves and cut the grass. That meant that I had three sets of manly arms to bring in all of our luggage while I watched Caleb explore his new home. After a little while Battle sent Noah in to tell us to come outside because he had made a big leaf pile for the kids to jump in. At first Kylie and Caleb weren't too sure, but Noah and Graham showed them how to royally enjoy themselves out on a fall day!

Graham, Kylie, Caleb, and Noah. I must say here that outside of family, Noah and Graham are two of Kylie's favorite people! She sang her little "Noah and Graham" song all the time in China! She was so happy to see them, and Caleb even immediately gave a wave when he saw them!

Kicking leaves ~ oh, she decided to wear the hat on her own. LaoLao bought it for Caleb, but she saw it and fell in love...

Caleb getting into jumping!
Never too early to start teaching them how to do yard work! Thanks Battle for being so patient when I know you just wanted to get finished.
Contemplating life over a pile of leaves ~ she's still asking for "Mih and Grams leafs!"
Because I can't get enough of this smile!
Noah giving Caleb a few tackling pointers.
Graham taught Kylie how to roll down the hill.

It was a glorious afternoon and did my heart wonders to see how much we are loved here already! I was tired but happy when I piled the kids back into the car to go pick Ian up and grab dinner on the way home. Cindy, you'll be glad to know that Caleb and Kylie both LOVED Taco Bell...

12 comments:

Andrea said...

What a blessing your neighbors are! I'm so glad your needs were met in this simple act of love. And I LOVE that boy's smile! What a smile!

Nicole said...

Welcome home guys!! Isn't it great to have such a wonderful "family" even when you have to move!

Laurie said...

Welcome home!! So great to see you guys at your new place!! Ian- I hope things go really well with your presentation!!

Nancy said...

I was almost in tears reading this just thinking of you being exhausted and doing the unpacking, shopping, watching the kids, etc. by yourself! I am so glad you had your friends waiting for you! Yay!

Anonymous said...

I am so thankful for your new community and their loving kindness! I love it when people allow Christ to use them! Welcome home!
Love, Jen

Melissa said...

Laurie - Oh what an amazing neighborhood you have been blessed to now live in! Welcome home! I LOVE to see Caleb's smile and Kylie rolling in the leaves! They aren't happy, loving children at all, are they? :) I am so happy your welcoming crew in your new neighborhood did such an amazing job!

Mendy said...

Welcome Home! Love that beautiful smile on Caleb's face. What wonderful friends you have.
Mendy

Cindy M said...

YES!!! A junk food junkie and two more Taco Bell fans!!! I can't wait to give big hugs to those kiddos! Surely, you'll be hopping on a plane soon, right? I will go back and comment on your last few posts tomorrow (it's almost 3 am, and I have to work tomorrow), but know that I humbly bow to your blogging superiority...I accept defeat. :-)

Kylie and the hat...a hoot!

Caleb and that grin...melts my heart! A little "boy" insight...God gave him that irresistable grin for a reason...believe me, I know of what I speak...

:-)

Cindy M said...

Oh, and give a little shout out to Shannon and Battle for saving the day! They rock! Wish we could have been there, too! Love ya!

Traci said...

I am so happy that you have such great freiends there in Raliegh. I must say it breaks my heart that you call yourself a visitor at Bethel. I guess you are closing that chapter in you life.
I hope you find peace there.

Tricia said...

I wish my kids could have been there to jump and roll in the leaves. They wanted me to rake leaves so they could do it at our house. You remember that one lonely, little tree in the front yard? Just doesn't cut it.

It's so nice to see Caleb and Kylie enjoying themselves.

Anonymous said...

What a blessing that you were welcomed home - even though you "busted" them; with friends who were so thoughtful to even bring groceries. I know you were concerned about getting back, leaving Ian off at work and then having to take two tired kids to the grocery. Battle and the boys surely made a wonderful afternoon of fun and yard clean-up for you.
The pictures of the kids in the leaves are too cute. I am so happy that there are friends in Raleigh who love you and are looking out for you. It just breaks my heart that you are up there instead of here in Charlotte.
Believe this is what they mean by "bittersweet".
God be with you,
LaoLao