Around the same time we felt a stirring in our hearts for a facing a new challenge, a little lady prayed for us at a Women's Ministry event. After her prayer, she looked up at us and said something to the effect of, "You two are tall in stature like oaks and God will use you to call others to him, you're like oaks of righteousness". We never forgot that moment. Her words were beautiful, but the difference in height be her and us brought flashbacks from elementary school when I towered over everyone uncomfortably. But, the image of a strong, mighty, tall, visible oak tree seared in my mind. A sturdy place with small and tender beginnings. A covering and shelter for those that need protection. I knew that we weren't righteous. We were and are just people. We have our bad days and our sinful scenarios, too. But I also knew we had a vision to see people know God and in our imperfectness, God's perfectness would shine through. We spent the next several years ...

Things I have learned about Connecticut thus far: - Do not expect to finding a shopping cart in the grocery store, unless you either (a) pay 25 cents, refundable when cart is returned, or (b) grab a carriage from the parking lot. Do not use the term "cart". Nobody knows what that is here. - Expect to pay 60-70% more on most grocery items. - People own snowblowers, just as Virginians own efficient air conditioning systems. - Pay attention to the different prices on the sign at the gas station- one for the cash price and one for the credit card price. There is about a 10 cent difference. Lesson learned- keep gas cash in the car as much as possible. - I only have to drive 26 minutes to the closest Sams Club, which beats the 1 hour trip I made in VA. - There is a 30 cent (I think) fee for buying drinks in plastic, aluminum, or glass containers. You can turn in your containers and get your $ back at the grocery store. - Teenage Connecticut drivers do not have to take a behi...

During our first few days in Connecticut, we went on a camping adventure. We stayed in two different campgrounds in the evenings and ran errands during the days. Several times during those first few days, our oldest daughter (5) would look at me with big, curious eyes and arms wide open and ask, "mommy, is this Connecticut, too ?" I quickly answered her and got on with what I was doing. She did this at the campground, post office, on campus, at the next campground, and many other places. After the first three or four times, I realized she was really confused as to when Connecticut started and stopped. For months prior to our move, we shared with the girls about Connecticut and what was going to be there; our new church, our new campus, new students and friends, a new library, and so on. I never thought to give them a head's up that it might appear so different than Virginia. Passing the Welcome to Connecticut sign was helpful for me, but for someone who can't read...

Hurricane Irene has come and gone. She left quite the mess. I do not like girls that leave messes behind. We lost power Sunday at 10:30 and had it restored today, Thursday, at lunch time. Power companies from all over the country were in New England helping to restore the electricity. New Englanders aren't used to hurricanes. Perhaps it all the old trees (aren't trees in the south just as old?), but there was a huge mess and enormous amount of people without power. Gil and I are still in the process of house hunting, so we took advantage of offices being closed (no appointments to be made or kept) and followed our real estate agent around on a wild ride of wires hanging in the road, trees clogging streets and flooded lakes...all to see a handful of houses. She was helpful and gracious as we looked at each one and still wanted the one we had been waiting for. Today, we went to look at a house that was built in 1740. It was HUGE and had 29 acres. It sat surrounded by a horse ...