Blogging...something else "new"

I decided that as I am adjusting to all of the "new" in our lives, I might try to throw in some blogging. So...we'll see how this goes.

I'm not sure how to start because I feel like most of "my readers" already know the general (and some specific) details of our lives.

We just moved SOUTH to Valdosta, GA. We tease that we don't go South to anywhere b/c we are already just about as South as we can get before hitting Florida. Everything is NORTH! Chuck is working at Valdosta State University in the athletic department. His official title is "Director of Ticketing and Game Day Operation." He says, "...the longer your title, the less important you are." Well, I happen to disagree and would like to take a moment to brag on my boy. He has broken every ticket-selling record at VSU! He's doing such a great job and is really enjoying himself. I love watching him so happy...so loose...so laid back! As for me, I am making a pretty large change in moving from teaching 5th grade to 3rd grade. I really like my students...they are 8 or 9 (as compared to 10 or 11) and very sweet. When I'm gone for meetings, or when we have long weekends they MISS me. It has been challenging changing to a new grade level...lots of early mornings, long days, and late nights, but (hoping I don't jinx myself) I feel like I'm getting into some sort of a "groove" now and praying that the balance comes soon! At the beginning of each school year, I have a breakdown in which I realize that I can't handle it all...I can't be a great wife, teacher, housekeeper, cook, friend, child of God, etc. I can't do it all! It makes me re-evaluate, re-prioritize, and re-do life!

Right now, we are living in an apartment...a THIRD floor apartment at that! (You should have been here for move-in day...we didn't tell anyone that it was 3rd floor until they got here!) The point here being that although we miss our wonderful, beloved 1618 Woodrow, we are trying to count our blessings. This is a great time for an apartment...while adjusting to a new life, we have NO yard work, and small amounts of housework. Unfortunately, we have 9 speed bumps, shared, thin walls, and a P.O. Box. But like I said, we're trying to count our blessings.

We have joined a really great church here. One of our favorite parts of moving here is that Chuck's college roommate and dear friend, Ross Cook, lives here. He is the Youth/College Pastor at the church we have joined. He has gotten us immediately involved in the College Ministry and I have to tell you...Chuck and I L-O-V-E this part of Valdosta so much! We are both discipling college students...just pouring our lives into them....living life in front of them, the ups and downs. Chuck is teaching a Worldview Class on Sunday nights for college students and we have FINALLY fallen in love with a Sunday School Class...the Newly/Nearly Marrieds. We pray that our ministry here will continue to grow. We are so grateful to God for giving us a place where we can easily love on others.

(As I type, I've thought of several future Blog Entries...this will be my reminder: "Our" House, Friends, Chacos)

Okay...I'm going to conclude for now and try to figure out how to email this out and add some pictures.