Hello! It seems like forever ago that we created this blog and I can't even believe that it has been 2 months since our DR trip. The past two months have been a whirlwind of craziness and this week has been one of the first that we both have simultaneously had off since CHRISTMAS (and the DR trip was not time off...it was amazing, but still work)!!! I thought I would fill everyone in on what's been happening the past few months and on our new beginnings in NASHVEGAS (yeah, I'm pretty sure NO one else calls it that here).
J finished his Master's in Teaching English a few weeks ago with a final GPA of 3.8! I'm so proud of all the work he has accomplished and also happy to have him home more :) This last year was quite challenging trying to juggle marriage, school, work, graduate applications, and the like, but we made it...scratch that God pulled us through BIG time. Props to God. We couldn't have asked for a better year though (sorry we have been measuring years on school time since our whole relationship has revolved around school from the beginning...therefore the "New" year begins in August and ends in May-June and July are free months-just trying to be like the Chinese). It's true what they say "what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger."
Packing and boxing up our life in Atlanta went semi-smoothly. I had my last day at work after two years on July 17th. It was pretty rough. I had been trying to set myself up for the change, but you just can't prepare for these type of life-events. Jill(my boss) and John Brady (the little boy I nanny for) attended our Softball Bash/Going away party that our AWESOME friends threw for us. I was so glad that everyone came out to send us off because it meant the world to us. Thursday before the move was pretty emotional (I'm a crier people...don't you know this already?!?). I created this slideshow of pictures that I have been taking of JB since he was about 10 months old and another little girl (his neighbor) that I have watched this summer. We all watched it together and it was pretty hard. I'm really going to miss that little guy:( Jill was so sweet and we hugged and cried and hugged and cried some more. I mean they have been a 2nd family to me and it is hard to leave people you love working for, but we will keep in touch.
We were both exicted to get all the boxes OUT of our living room and into the truck (finally). We had a lot of great help from our families. My Dad and little sis Emily even came up here to help us get settled. There is just no way around moving being stressful, but for the most part it went well. The first day we got here two young neighborhood couples came up to the house and introduced themselves. I was shocked! Usually people are so evasive these days. We are so happy to already know some people in the Hood. The older gentlemen who lives to the right of us has lived in this hood for 54 years! He lived he during the Civil Rights movement...how freakin' cool is that?
We live in East Nashville, which is right across the bridge from downtown and the Titans football stadium. East Nashville is a very unique little place and so far we love it. It reminds us of a Little Five Points mixed with VA Highlands. Many parts are Historic and even the house we are renting was built in 1899 (don't worry the owners spent the last year renovating it - no more wood-burning stove yippee). Other areas, including our street, are not the nicest houses, but this area is growing so fast and quickly changing. Although some of the houses are older, our street is very quiet/safe, and our neighbors are super friendly. Across the street we have the Five Points area which is really neat. I have a new favorite breakfast spot "Marche" and a ton of other indie places like: Z's Deli, Pied Piper Creamery, Bongo Java, Alley Cat Tex Mex food, and lots of bars: )
J has been planning the upcoming school year with his colleagues and he is looking forward to this school year. He will be teaching 9th grade Language Arts at a high school 3 miles away. It is a pretty rough school, but he is going to make such an impact there. The principal is much much much better than his last school and he has this amazing classroom. We have been working on getting it ready this week and I think the kids are really going to dig it. The room is on the 2nd floor with TONS of windows and bookshelves (I forced him to bring most of his books to his classroom because honestly the amount he has is getting out of control). I don't begin classes until Aug. 25th and my RA positionn doesn't begin until Sept. so for now I'm chiling at home. I couldn't be happier. I'm trying to work on decorating, but I think I overwhelm myself with starting too many projects at once. We have been doing a lot of yard work and it's beginning to look fabulous....well semi-fabulous anyway:)
Beau and Ernie are adjusting well. They LOVE having a backyard and being able to bark at people who walk by!
Anyway, I think this is enough for one entry! We miss everyone, so start scheduling your visits ASAP. 5 movies for $5 isn't going to last forever at Blockbuster and then we will need some real human interaction... My older sis Crystal is coming to visit this weekend and I cannot wait.
****Nashville Pics. coming SOON******
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