Wow - Life is Grand!

Ah Maryland. We arrived here one week ago this tonight. I can't believe that it's already been a week. Our stop in State College was -- as all of our stops to visit people were -- wonderful. Visiting Joel & Amelia was like visiting Dylan & Kristy and Shawn & Jessica -- like we had just seen each other a few months ago even though it's been quite a bit longer. It was different because they don't have a child of their own so all of their time was spent watching ours and wondering if they ever really want one of those things. J/K They loved Chantrea and she liked them -- especially Joel. It was like he was her long lost best friend. She warmed up to him instantly. Amelia says all kids just like him. Pretty cool if you ask me.

I realized about two weeks ago that I have gained nearly 20 pounds in the last six months or so. It sucks. I think I gained almost 10 on the cross country trip (sitting all day and eating crap will do that to you) and I think most of the other 10 came during our last six weeks or so before the move. Anyway, so now I have to do the diet thing. Well, I'm not really dieting yet. I'm just trying to exercise regularly to burn calories and watch my portions (mostly trying to drink water instead of juice/soda/etc.) and smaller dinner portions. I'm not really avoiding any particular foods. The good news is that I think I've already lost a pound in just a week of doing that!!! I'm sure it's not going to be this easy all the way down but . . . at least it's a start.

Also, in just one week I have a job and a church calling. I registered with a temp company on Friday and they got in touch with me yesterday about a contract that was for two months (40 hrs./wk) and paid $11/hr. Hey, I was on that like (fill in whatever phrase you want here). I think it will be good. It's in Columbia, MD which is about 30 min. away but I'm cool with that. Also, on Sunday Kristen and I got pulled into the Bishop's office during Sunday School and he asks me if I will be the Gospel Doctrine teacher. That's right -- GOSPEL DOCTRINE TEACHER! Of course, I say yes. I'm kind of excited but at the same time a bit overwhelmed. It's not like I'm replacing somebody who wasn't very good. The sister who was teaching on Sunday was really good (she also had a stake calling that required her elsewhere -- for those of you who are wondering why she was released). That just puts even more pressure on me. I'm cool though. I think the calling must be the right thing because I don't normally feel good about things like this (things that put me out of my comfort zone) -- unless they're right. I'm feeling pretty the job as well. Overall, things are going mighty well right now.

Trea is really starting to pick up walking. I think she gets excited about it watching her cousin, Lonna (18 mos.) walk all over the place. She's gotten quite used to meeting new people and now I figure she could meet anyone and warm up to them in about five minutes. We figure she'll adjust much easier than we will in Thailand.

Just Taking it Easy

Yeah, well I've been out of the loop for quite a while now. I'll blame it on the move and the stress of it all. We've been away from home for over a week now. We visited my grandmother in Delta, UT the weekend of the 28th and then headed off on our cross-country trip on the morning of the 29th. The first few days were pretty uneventful -- which is the way we wanted it -- no car trouble, Trea was pretty good, etc.

Nauvoo was a nice break. We both really enjoyed it -- Kristen for the first time and me again. The temple is beautiful! We weren't able to go inside (Trea) but just the outside -- WOW! At first Kristen was wondering if we would have enough to do in our day and a half there. Turns out we would have loved to stay for a couple more days. On our way out of Nauvoo we stopped at Carthage. It too was very nice. Of course everyone was listening to the audio and trying to have a spiritual experience and our daughter is alternating between laughter and being fussy. Luckily mormons are generally used to kids.

We had a GREAT time in Kokomo, Indiana. I'm so glad we were able to work out our schedule to visit Shawn and Dylan. You know how you can visit some people and it's like you just talked to them yesterday even though it's been a while . . . well, that's how it was with them. I seriously had so much fun just hanging out and playing with them. It's kind of weird to see all my good friends growing up and being adults (at least when we're not together). Both Shawn and Dylan have starter homes and kids and secure jobs -- well, I've got a kid. I think it would be so cool to live close to all my college buddies.

Now we are staying at my parents home for almost two weeks. We got here late Sunday night and have just been relaxing and taking it easy since then. My parents go to work and we just hang out and then play games and talk with them in the evenings. Tomorrow Kristen, Chantrea, and I are going to a storytelling workshop with my mom. She's going for work because she's a children's librarian and does story time and stuff like that. Should be pretty fun to hear professional storytellers.

Well, I hope to post a few more times before we head out to Pennsylvania and on to Maryland. Cross your fingers.