(To write about: We moved!, the new schools, this house, the area, what I'm learning, status about my family)
It's official. We are now living in our 'new' home on Behrens Dr. in Edwardsvillle, IL. E was having a really hard time with the move. After we got here, C was really sad about moving away from Bentonville and her friends. I miss our friends and home in Bentonville too. It's hard to be supportive of Curtis and his new job and not talk about how hard the move is. I've had some time to reflect on various aspects of life in general in Bentonville. Life there was great! All our friends are there. Our home was perfect! I think we were all fairly happy there. Curtis was getting frustrated b/c he wasn't going in the right direction with his job. Finally, he got this promotion as band 1 Manager at a mixing plant here. I truly hope this is what he wants. I want him to be happy too. Basically, I guess the Lord saw that it was time for a change for us. Life may have been a little too good for us as home. It was time for some changes and challenges. A plus side is that now we are only about 45 min away from a temple. (instead of 3 hours) Another plus that I've told myself and others, is that our parents live in AR and OK and so we'll be back for visits. Mom and dad will be home from their mission the end of March. Curtis's parents are in Muldrow. They'll be reasons to get back to NWA. :)
The schools here in Edwardsville are thus: K-2 (Goshen Primary school), which is where C will go in the fall. It turns out, her school is next door to E's middle school. 3-5(secondary/elementary) Cassens is where Mer attends. It's actually in Glen Carbon, but it's only about 8-10 min away. Mer starts school at 9:05. It IS nice to get a little extra sleep in the AM. 6-8 grade is Liberty Middle school. It's a much bigger school than E is accustomed to attending. E starts school at 8:05 and starting next week will catch the bus. We live fairly close to the middle school, so if E misses the bus it won't be too big of a deal. Now, something I was NOT prepared for is all the fees and things we have to pay for. $18.00 for a PE uniform, $45 book rental fee (thats only half b/c we are in half the school year) and $25 for choir. OUCH! I'm told the schools in IL are underfunded. (the entire state is) However, you get a heck of an education but you have to pay for it. The schools are rated really well here. I guess it's worth it. (Ps, the girls need a physical exam, a dental exam and an eye exam all for school. That's new to me too!)
This house is a little bit of a fixer upper. Curtis is really working to make improvements here. Mostly I'm discovering that I'm suffering from first world problems with this home. It's strange going from a home that is just right, to a home that is 'sufficient for our needs'. (more on that later) Basically, the main living area, kitchen and 3 of the 4 bedrooms are on the main floor. We have a basement with plenty of storage area, which is nice. However, our master bathroom is quite small. (It will do) It's different too with our bedroom very close to C and N's room. That will be an adjustment. E's room is all the way down stairs in the basement. She'll have to get used to hearing all the noises upstairs. (Dishwasher, washer, dryer, people walking around, etc) Pretty soon Curtis wants to replace the carpet up here with wood/laminate. (NOT carpet) I do like that the basement is finished. E has a half bath down there too.
Edwardsville ward is a little smaller than Sugar Creek. The people here are very friendly. (not just at church, but in general) The population here is about half what it is in B'ville. (smaller here) There will be an adjustment period for sure. There is not a regular book group here. :( But, there are 2 YMCA's and I've been told good things about them. Maybe we'll get a membership? The King family invited us to dinner our first Sunday here. It was nice to visit with them. E was unable to join us as she was sick. (poor girl) We all ready have a speaking assignment on the 22nd. Oh and Sis. Pearson invited us to dinner with her family next Sunday. :) Valentine's day is coming up this weekend. Curtis suggested we go for a date to the Temple! Just perfect! It will be great!
"We have sufficient for our needs." With this move, I feel that the Lord is teaching me to be content with what we have. We did get a new couch and loveseat, but that's b/c we'd have no other furniture in the main living area. Our old couch and love seat are in the basement. Perhaps also God is also helping me to be less needy? There are plenty of times in life when I feel much TOO needy. It frustrates me at times.
Clara REALLY misses Layla, and she wants to go back to Bentonville. I hope that getting her into preschool or some regular activity, that will help her make new friends. (I miss my friends too) Fortunately, this move isn't too hard for N. M misses her friends too but she hasn't said as much. Actually, I really hope to get E, M and C in activities that they will like and will be beneficial in some way. I am concerned about N. There are so many things about her that remind me of Mer. (not just her looks either) I hope and pray that N will not be a challenge the same way that M has been. However, if that is the case, I hope and pray even more for the Spirit and guidance I need to be a better mom for N than I have been for M. All to easily I get frustrated with M. It's not her fault and it's not nice or fair to her. I am trying to be better for M. Some days are better than others. (that's true of life in general too) Curtis truly is a blessing to all of his girls.
