Thursday, December 16, 2010

Blog Vacation

Hello everyone!!
Sioux Falls is wonderful. We love our apartment and the city isn't as big or crazy as I had imagined. I've been snapping pictures of our new place and the progress we've made but I'm unable to put my pictures on my computer. Something is wrong and I don't know what!! So I'll continue taking pictures but won't be able to get them up until I get access to my parent's computer with a card reader. :( 


I found out my student teaching placement and I'll spend the semester in a 4th grade classroom! I will be spending some time in the classroom tomorrow and I can't wait. From the one e-mail I received from the teacher she sounds fun, lots of exclamation points in her e-mail! :)


Ben is trying to find a job here in Sioux Falls. It is a slow process right now because we are also busy finishing up our Christmas shopping, unpacking and organizing our apartment and setting up specific apartment related things - Internet, setting up an account with the power company, etc. On top of all that he is fixing up his resume and applying for jobs. 


Ben and I as of right now are planning on leaving to visit my hometown on Monday. Monday will be a travel day, we'll spend Tuesday and Wednesday with my family. Thursday will be another travel day as we head to Ben's hometown. Then we'll spend Friday, Saturday and Sunday there visiting family and the DeRuischer's. We'll head back home on Monday. 


We still don't have internet at home so our internet access is very limited. I think I will have to take a bit of a blog vacation for a bit to catch up on everything and to really enjoy the time we have with our family. After Christmas I'll have some crafts to show you that I've been working on for Christmas gifts and I'll have lots of pictures of our apartment!! 


Until next time.. 

Saturday, December 11, 2010

A Wonderful Surprise!

We've been in the hotel since around noon today and well there is only so much you can do to occupy your time. Ben didn't bring much to do besides a book so he was feeling kinda antsy. He picked up a shovel and shoveled the sidewalk in front of the hotel. He has done this a couple times tonight because he was bored. 

While we were sitting in the lobby a woman came over and asked what room we were in. Ben and his dad went to the desk wondering if something was wrong. The desk receptionist was on the phone with her manager and told him about Ben. He said Ben deserves a free room! So... Ben's boredom got us a free room!!!! 

Minor Setback

Hello everyone,
This isn't the post I expected to be writing. I thought I'd be telling you about our apartment, about all the progress that we made unpacking everything and about the beautiful city of Sioux Falls. That post will have to wait until tomorrow because....


WE ARE STUCK IN BLUE EARTH, MINNESOTA! 


Just under six months ago Ben and I were arriving in Minnesota with new rings on our fingers and hearts so big we thought they'd burst at any moment. The weather was beautiful and our drive was filled with many little pit stops because we weren't in any sort of time crunch. 


Today we arrived in Minnesota with all of our belongings in a U-Haul and hearts saddened by our departure from the UP. The weather is.... AWFUL! I can't recall a time where the weather was this terrible. The wind, cold and snow can truly be defined as a BLIZZARD! 


We are about 130ish miles from Sioux Falls. We were forced off the Interstate when it was shut down and led us a city called, Blue Earth. We couldn't see a thing and all the roads are closed so the first hotel we found we reserved a room. 


We have been chilling in the lobby of this hotel chatting with others who are unexpectedly spending the night here too. A restaurant employee, mail man, and others have walked through the door and have added some excitement to this relaxing evening. I really feel like I'm in a Lifetime movie. A family stranded during the holidays in a hotel filled with all sorts of interesting characters to add some excitement to the plot. (Okay, maybe I've just been watching too many holiday movies on Lifetime...)


There have been a few varying weather reports so we don't know exactly what is going on. Some reports say that things should slow down late tonight and roads should be open in the morning and others aren't as optimistic. We'll see what happens but I know at some point we will be in Sioux Falls! 


Until then, keep us in your prayers!

Friday, December 10, 2010

The Start of Something New

We left Marquette today. Overall, the trip has gone well. Everything fit in the U-Haul, the roads have been clear and not a single snowflake was seen. 


We are staying in Lacrosse, WI for the night. We are leaving bright and early in the morning to finish up the drive. It is about 5 hours to Sioux Falls. We'll get there around lunch time and the unpacking fun will begin. Ben's parents will be leaving Sunday morning. 


It is so crazy to think that just yesterday I was relaxing in our apartment. 


We will not have internet for awhile but I'll be back to the blog world soon. 

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

9 days

We are moving in 9 days. 


This is so surreal. 


Ben and I were talking last night how we don't really feel like we are moving. 


We are starting to say our goodbyes. 
My goodbye party is tomorrow.
More than half of our belongings are packed.
Classes are over tomorrow.
Moving plans have been made. 
Our apartment looks like it is getting ready for a big move but we still don't feel like this is really happening. 


Our relationship has only ever known Marquette. We're anxious to see where God will lead us next but a large part of us will stay in Marquette as we leave this beautiful city that has taken care of us so well over the last 4.5 years.


(Please continue praying for Marinette students and teachers. Today is their first day back after the tragedy. It will most certainly be a tough day for many.)