We have so much time and so little to do. Strike that, reverse it.

Well, here we are. Exhausted and happy. Busy and confused. In other words, newly arrived in our home. It's hard to believe that we've been here--what? A month? Time has lost all meaning as our lives rocket on. Chelsea and I both agree, we'd be awfully despondent and worn-out if we weren't so darn happy about everything. So now we're just worn-out.
Virginia is beautiful. Not perfect, certainly. Plenty of weird culture-shock going on, figuring out the norms and dialect, getting used to a different way of talkin' and a different way of life (highlight of today: "Yeah, he works down at the far [fire] department"). But holy God is it beautiful, and I mean that. Inside and out, in the house or in the fields, this place seems to have a special golden air lingering over it, something I thought only existed in Homeric verse.
The kids have taken to it rather well. Their biggest thrill is just having room; room to run, to jump, to play, to get scraped up and dirty, to chase. They've caught lizards, spiders, and kittens. They've ridden horses and corralled chickens. There is no more seventy-degree slope to their yard. It's grass, fences, horses, and trees. Julia has become one with the country; she cares for anything that comes near her, as you'll see in the video. Jack is happy; he's adjusting to the rigors of a full day at school (he falls asleep on the 20-minute ride home about four days of the week). Some days he gets in trouble just for being all-boy; rowdy, talkative, busy. But most days he's glad to talk about what he's learned and loves coming home for a snack and play time. Of course, I have to constantly switch up what's playing in the car for our daily drives; lately he's been loving Pavarotti but today he heard Good Vibrations and I think he may be a convert.
Chelsea and I are running full-speed downhill and praying for easement of burdens but even that is done with peace, since we are so grateful for this new place and how our lives are starting to smoothen out. It's been an insane year but insanity can be fun. Below you'll find links to the same video, depending on your preference of Web site. Wanted to let you see how the little people are doing. Our love to everyone.

Click here for the YouTube video

Click here for the Vimeo video