Rob's here!

We are all breathing a little more easily having our whole family together again, even if it is only for two weeks. The kids and I drove the hour and a half to Charlotte, NC on Saturday to pick Rob up at the airport. We went early and found the Ikea, much to my joy and the boys dismay!!

Rob and Grace just left to walk to school. Eli is home sick, I think with streppe throat. I will need to find a clinic today to take him to...poor guy. Ben and Jacob are just rolling out of bed, lamenting on the beginning of another full week of school. Ben is hopeful that he might get to hold a snake in science class today....

As much as we miss worshipping with our church family in TL, we are really enjoying our church experience here. We are attending an Anglican church called "Church of the Apostles". It is pastored by our good friend Chip Edgar, whom Rob swam with on on the swim team during Wheaton undergrad days. As it is a newer church, they meet in a part of a really cool old factory which was converted into a museum. We are enjoying the liturgical components of the service as well as contemporary and traditional music. The youth program has been very impressive. Jacob and Ben are in a weekly sunday school class led by the youth pastor and a bi-monthly bible study. They will also participate in a community outreach activity each month (homeless shelter etc.). Rob went to a parents meeting yesterday and was really impressed with the youth director's mission, goals, organization and passion, as well as a dynamic youth staff.

I attended a women's ministry kick-off event yesterday. There are so many opportunities to get involved. I am looking forward to a weekly bible study beginning in Sept. and attending a ladies retreat in November. I am trying to restrain myself from volunteering for too many things, but there is just so much great stuff to do!!

Rob is going to his first meeting with the institute for freshman transitions in which he will be a "visiting researcher". Check it out at http://www.sc.edu/fye/.