Whew! It's been a crazy time since I posted last. We've been pelted by severe storms, visited with family, gone on a field trip, played at a new park...the list is going and going. I've come to appreciate the phrase, "Seek shelter immediately"-- this has been tornado city in the last couple of weeks. Everyone here asks how we're handling it, I laugh and reply it's taking some getting used to. Thankfully, the house we rent has a basement and the school is just a quick trip up the street if the weather should get too crazy. I've visited both refuges in the last two weeks. I've forgotten the crazy rush you get in the midst of a tornado. I was at Target with my sister this last time when Chris called and asked where I was. He then said, "where's Hannah-the sirens are going off...you need to get somewhere and stay there." Well, she was at the hotel with my mom. So the mother bear raised up inside me and said to Ashley--come on, we've got to get to the hotel...fast. We got there while the storm continued to be all over Lauderdale County, we got inside and saw them playing in the hallway. I kept up my panic mode for a few more minutes and got us to the school where Chris was. Within just a few minutes hail was everywhere, sirens screaming, another family who attends the school came so they could seek shelter in the basement too. It took a little while, but a gentle calm came and we made our way to Olive Garden under sunny skies.

Easter Sunday went well too. There were no major changes to the morning's service. The choir sang a couple extra songs and Chris did a dramatic reading between them. The official count for the morning was 177! That's about 40 more than we've been having each week, so maybe we'll pick up some families from that CEO crowd...you know who they are. Then that evening, (we had evening service) the youth group did a black light mime to, "My Redeemer Lives". It was wonderful! Peace--I know some of you wanted to do this...you so could! It was great, very powerful and moving!!! Overall, it was a great day in the Lord! Things are really going well here. We're still learning names, but loving our people!

Hannah and I went on the K4-2nd grade field trip to The Alabama Hall of Fame last week. It was quite a trip. Many neat things inside. She participated in the egg hunt filling her basket to the top! And today, we played at Spring Park in Tuscumbia, AL with our friends Nicole and Aiden Hackett. Chris and I went to FWBBC with Nicole and Shiloh. She's on spring break this week, so we met so the babies could play. It was so nice to be with someone I know...a very close friend at one time! Hannah is 2 months older than Aiden, so that was fun too! She also invited some people from their church in Muscle Shoals, so it was a good little group before lunch. I have some pics...they are in the camera...in the car, so I'll add them later.

I hope this little update was as fun to read as it was to remember! Enjoy the weekend! I'll post again next week...hopefully!

Settling In

My "cween-up" princess


Our sweet Carolina girl!

Well we've been here for almost two weeks, and the majority of things are where they are going to be for now. There's definitely more in the basement than there is in the "house". Last night our Realtor here called and said that our offer was accepted on a house in Killen, AL--about 10 miles from here, so we'll start packing it all up again! Right now it looks like we'll try to move in around May 8th.

Things are going pretty smooth for the most part. Chris is doing a great job at the church. The students have been on spring break this week, so he's had a lot of time to be out visiting church members and the sick. Our first Sunday went well too. Several of you have asked about that-- he seemed so calm and it was very natural for him to be up there. The congregation seems very excited about us being here. They were very gracious in the moving process-cleaning the house before we moved in, unloading the moving truck, providing meals the whole first week.

Hannah is doing good adjusting to things. The biggest challenges have been a new room(all hardwood and echoy and very slippery), allergies, and no friends...(I'm struggling with these too!)We've tried to keep the same sort of schedule like going to the grocery store on a certain day, story time at the library, playing at the park...visiting the pediatrician--yes, we've already been--but it was for 18 mo. well visit and immunizations. I have to say those things are all so normal but very hard for me to do here...not knowing anyone. I'm trusting that God will bring me to a new group of friends and playmates for my sweet baby. She's all the time asking for Nonah(Jonah), I-wi (Eli), Carkeen (Carson), Emma...even Charwee (The Hull's puppy) has been called out. She walks around calling names, "wherawyou--anywhere"(I can't find you anywhere...that's what I always say when playing with her)--those are common phrases right now. I always try to say what they are probably doing at their house, but we're going to make new friends here too. She's even asked for Weswee and Missme--Leslie and Missy...so she definitely knows what's going on and that we're not with them any more. We've spent a lot of time outside in yard picking the fwowers and waving hi to the birds.

We're very excited about the coming week! School will be back in session so Chris will have a new set of responsibilities to grasp. Then, my mom and Ashley are coming to visit Friday for Easter weekend! It'll be great to have them here.

Well, I should go. Hope everyone out there has a wonderful weekend! I'll try to keep you posted and add some pictures along the way. Thanks again to our family at Peace for the many gifts and encouraging cards! We love you and miss you very much!