Coming Up for Air

Well, we have been here at orientation now for 2 weeks and I am finally able to do some blogging for the first time since we arrived. It has been a very busy time here with most of our days spent in class and most of our evenings spent trying to spend time with the kids and get our assignments completed before the next day. Although we are very excited to be here and learning all the important information, we do look forward to the weekends!

Some of you have asked what our accomodations look like. The Quads are 4 separate apartments that are combined by one large common area. We have a small kitchen, bathroom and 3 bedrooms in our apartment. It is small, but comfortable, and we spend our weekend evenings talking with other families, playing games, and working on puzzles in the common areas.

The kids are starting to adjust to life here in Rockville. They have school every day M-F. Connor has already been on one field trip to the main Richmond offices and out for Chinese for lunch. Kayleigh has made so many friends. I often see her holding hands with one of her play friends and whispering secrets back and forth. Cade is a constant bundle of energy. Most of my evenings are spent chasing him around the cafeteria, playgrounds, quad, etc...Although he still has not quite adjusted to the new routine as far as sleep goes, he does seem to love his class and enjoys his new friends as well.

There are 3 large playgrounds here, a river, a lake stocked with catfish, bass and crappy (Ken and Connor have already been fishing), some great walking/running trails, and lots of pasture and cows around. I guess it would be considered a great place to vacation if we didn't have so much work to do :)

One thing that has been emphasized here more than anything else I can say is to really increase our quiet times reading the Word and praying to the Lord. For me it has always been a challenge with three small children to do that, but now it is to be my top priority and it has been such a blessing to have that time with just God and me. Towards the end of the first week Ken and I were so tired and frazzled with the work, kids, and general adjustment. We just prayed together for God to help us to really focus on what was important. The next day they decided to send us all off with a box lunch to find a quiet place to be alone with the Lord. It was such a beautiful day. I remember writing in the journal our Sunday school class had given us Psalm 9:9-10

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stonghold in times of trouble.

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never

forsaken those who seek you.

I thank the Lord that He will never forsake us. He is indeed our refuge and fortress!