New Start...kinda

Ironically, the last time I posted on this blog I entitled my entry "New Start". Well, I guess the same is somewhat true in that today is the start of my summer vacation! Granted, I plan on spending the bulk of my summer holed up in the library studying...but more on that in a later post.

The semester began with a series of "Snow Days" that have been well documented by a previous blog entry. On Valentine's Day Weekend (Feb 13) we took a "Day Trip" to Lexington, KY -- home of the University of Kentucky (previous home of John Wall [who I hope will be making his home in Sacramento next year]).

We walked around the campus and fought horrendous, L.A.-like traffic to get to an amazing Italian restaurant called Bella Notte. The traffic was so bad that we parked in a mall four blocks away and walked to the restaurant -- but the fresh baked bread made it all worth it!

We also had a chance to see the biggest pagan temple in all of Kentucky (also known as Rupp Arena). During basketball season once, maybe twice a week nearly 24,000 people gather to worship at the feet of the UK basketball team. And the worshipers are fairly passionate to say the least.

When we first moved into our house in December, we were pretty sure that there were other human beings occupying the houses in our cul-de-sac, but we weren't entirely sure. But as the snow began to melt and the first signs of spring began to appear -- our neighbors began to appear as well! With the weather getting warmer, we decided to jump-start relationships with a few of our neighbors by, you guessed it, baking for them! (Well, Cami actually did most of the baking and the plating...but I helped with the delivering and the eating of the leftovers!)

We also made several additions/subtractions to our home over the past few months. In March we added two new couches and a set of curtains to our living room. Strangely enough, when we went couch shopping, the couches we found to be the most comfortable were ones eerily similar to the couch we brought with us from Sacramento!

While couches and curtains were added to the house, the huge ugly rock and the horrendous bushes occupying our front yard were removed! At first, we weren't sure if we wanted to spend the money -- but when the landscapers broke their masonry drill bit and started using a sledgehammer and a wedge, we decided it was a good use of money.

The warm spring weather not only meant more opportunities to meet the neighbors and have some landscaping done in our front lawn, but it also meant (and still means) the grass in our yard grows incredibly fast! In Sacramento (when I was still living with Mom and Dad), I could get away with mowing the lawn once every 3-4 weeks. And while we were living in our duplex on Ark Way, we would mow (much to the dismay of our landlords) once every 4-5 weeks! But here, you have to mow at least once a week in the spring! So once a week, I'm out there fulfilling my Adamic mandate to "subdue the earth". Cami also started her own herb garden! Well, it's not really a "garden" just yet. But she picked up some basil and some chives to grow in our kitchen. She also planted a tomato vine that she has affectionately named "Bob". No tomatoes just yet, but we're hopefully optimistic.

We have also been getting more involved at our church -- Baxter Avenue Baptist Church. Besides getting to know some of the couples in our small group (over dinner, dessert and lots of Settlers!) we've also been able to begin serving the body at Baxter in different ways. From arriving early to make the coffee and fold the bulletins, to helping out with the monthly food pantry and even teaching a Wednesday night Bible study for 4th, 5th and 6th graders -- each opportunity has challenged, stretched and blessed us immensely!

Well, this post is getting long enough! We'll post about our second trip to Cincinnati, our visit from two very important people and the "seminary" side of this past semester soon enough!