we're here!

After an exhausting day of moving on Wednesday we got into our apartment in Clemson late Wednesday night. We had tons of help at VT and loaded the truck in about an hour. We dropped Finn off in Y-ville (he'll be joining us soon!) and then arrived in Clemson around 7:00pm Wednesday night. Thanks to Clemson friends we unloaded in about an hour too! It was snowing the whole time we were moving in and so cold! We were trying to beat the weather before it got too bad on the roads. It turned out we probably could have waited until Thursday morning anyway, but... at least we are in now! We are so blessed by this new home. It's huge! Especially compared to our VT apartment! Pictures of the move are below....

Finn is ready to go!

Mom is a packing machine!!!

Our unloading crew in Clemson (In the snow!)

Den

Eating area and desk (den is to the right)

Kitchen! Some of the cabinets are still empty!!!

Our room

so it's been a while...

Sorry for waiting so long to post but A LOT has been going on!

We are moving back to Clemson this coming Wednesday, January 16th!!
Jon has accepted a position as an Area Coordinator. We're really excited about this move but will certainly miss the wonderful friends we've made here in B'burg.

Additionally... we're having a baby!

When it rains it pours... that phrase can be used in positive sense, right?!? :o)

exciting things in october

We have had an exciting month! Some great things happened...

I'll start with the least wow thing...We went to the NASCAR race in Martinsville. Not sure it's something I'll do again, but it was a fun experience for us together and of course Jon loved it! I have to admit that having the headsets to be able to listen to what the drivers were saying was pretty neat!

Even better than that... WAY better than that... Rebekah and Javier are engaged! YAY!!! We are so excited for them!!

Josh and Kami and big brother Silas welcomed Baby Joseph to their family! And Meredith and John welcomed Baby Reagan! (see their blogs for too cute pictures!)

We are planning a trip to Philadelphia over Thanksgiving Break so hopefully some nice pictures will come from that!

oct 07 update

Well... it really seems to almost be fall. The leaves are starting to change, we just had Fall Break, and it's getting colder... so much colder that we're wondering if we'll have a fall at all. It's going from highs in the 80s to lows in the 30s in a matter of 2 days! It really has been beautiful lately though.

We just got back from a long weekend in Chapin (funny to say that--- at my parent's new house) and Clemson. It was a great weekend! We were finally able to see the house and got to help with a bit of final unpacking, all very much fun!

We are surviving after Clemson's horrific loss to VT. Thankfully most folks have been kind and not made a big deal about the loss... I think this is mostly due to the fact that neither of us truly care too much, so it's hard to get us real worked up about it.

We have been doing a lot better lately with eating healthy! We met with a nutrition student a couple weeks ago who gave us some great tips. Here's my latest thing: 32oz. tub of Stonyfield Farms French Vanilla Organic Yogurt. Spoon a serving into a small tupperware container. Right before leaving for work throw in some frozen mixed berries (they sell a mixed bag at Walmart with blue, black, rasp and straw- berries). Then stick it in the fridge at work.... but lunch time the fruit is thawed but still just a bit frozen in the middle and all the melted juice is throughout the yogurt. Amazing! I don't think I'll ever buy the individual yogurt tubs again!

And of course... pictures of Finn :o) The box is a little small for him, but he manages to squeeze in... silly cat!

we have not converted... but the picture is fun!

Papa Wylie's homegoing

Earlier in the month Jon's grandfather, Papa Wylie went home to be with the Lord. After my Gran's passing this summer and other things going on in our life these burdens of grief seem to keep coming, but we continue knowing God is in control!! The memorial service was beautiful and really Christ-centered. We know Papa would have been glad that this final event in his earthly life was so God-honoring. Even though it was a sad time, it was still good to get to visit with family, especially cousins that we don't see very often.

One happy thing this past month was that we celebrated our 2 year (or 730 day) anniversary! It is hard to believe that we have been married for 2 years, in some ways it seems like a lot longer and in other ways it has really flown by.

This month we also went to Columbia for Dad's play and then to Clemson for Bethany's birthday, and over that weekend found out that Christy and Matt Knarr's baby, Haley Elizabeth was born! Congrats to the Knarr family! The following weekend we made it Raleigh and had lunch with Sarah, Jon's cousin, and then spent time with some of Jon's NCSU crew, Josh and Kami Johnson and we got to meet their adorable son Silas! We really enjoyed it and hope that it is not two years before we see them again! In other news, the Moore family is moving :o( :o) (rather bittersweet) in the coming week. So big changes there.

Next month we're planning to head to the Clemson vs. VT game in Clemson! Go Tigers!! But other than that we are staying put Lord willing!

almost done

Beginning in late July through mid-August is the mad dash, the rantic frenzy to the finish... aka the beginning of the school year. In some ways it's kind of funny that though school is just starting, we are working towards finishing the starting process... if that makes any sense at all! Jon started training in late July and move-in should finish up TODAY! Then classes start Monday and things will gradually settle into a much more normal pattern. It's hard to believe August is halfway through.

We have a great staff of guys this year who really seem to work well together and who really care about their residents... that's a great combination that will certainly make our lives a lot easier. We are very thankful for them!!

I have been working to get my class ready for the fall and have been meeting a lot with my international students who have just come to campus and were unable to come to orientation. I really love working with this population and the unique challenges they face! I've also been trying to help Jon in the evenings stay caught up on some stuff for work which also gives us a chance to hang out that we otherwise wouldn't have.

This past week we had a wonderful visit from Andrea and her boyfriend Brian. They are moving to Charlotte and stopped through for dinner. It was fantastic to see her and get to meet him. Who would have ever thought 5 years ago that we would end up living so close to each other now!

Last night we had a dessert drop-in for the RAs and some of Jon's colleagues. It was a fun break in the midst of move-in weekend and everyone seemed to enjoy it. I love it when we have folks over! It's also fun when we have the door propped open to watch the incredulous faces pass by as they wonder what in the world our apartment is doing in this residence hall. Some stop by and ask... like the new student last night and his mom who asked me to make sure and take care of her baby to her son's "none of that baby stuf mom!!" It was precious.

Here are some updated pics... Andrea's visit and ... Finn (of course!)

In front of the stadium.

Resting on top of the (clean) laundry