Flight of the Sparrows: The Big Move

So we are officially living in South Florida now! First of all, I would like to dispel the myth that South Florida is hotter than any other place in the southern regions of the US. Just because it's further south does not make it hotter. If you have never visited Greenville, NC and West Palm Beach, FL in succession, you must do so before making an informed decision on this subject. Let's just say that hot, humid, stagnant air FEELS ridiculously more smothering than hot, humid air which is mingled with a gentle breeze from the Atlantic Ocean! So all you G-vegas people --- come visit us! :)

We had a very smooth trip down. Ben is a master Budget truck driver; the only incident he had was with a garbage can at a gas station (Budget truck = 1, trash can = 0; thankfully plastic cans can be bent back into shape!). Although I went a little crazy driving the Honda all alone, I finished Anne of Green Gables on audiobook, my phone battery never died, and my appendages never completely went to sleep - win! We made a pit stop in Jacksonville, FL on Day 1 to visit some dear old friends of mine (they're not old in years, but I have known them a long time!). Thanks to our pastor in Greenville, the next day we were able to meet up with some members of a local church body who helped us move into our new apartment. It was not the best moving conditions, as the rain made the truck ramp slippery, but nothing was broken, and more importantly, nobody was injured. :)

So of course there are adjustments to be made as it is with any new town, but we are loving this area. I particularly enjoy the beachy breeze and the SUPER TARGET 3 minutes down the road. :) We are slowly making some friends in the area from the church we visited yesterday as well as some neighbors. My favorite part, by far, is the abundance of time that we have had since moving here. The last year has been fabulous, don't get me wrong - God has been good to us in our marriage and our school endeavors - but finding quality time together while meeting the demands of our lives has been interesting to say the least. The lavish amount of time that we have had to set up our home, unpack our things, take breaks from that to sit on the porch and talk, walk down to the pool and check our e-mail, explore the area, and get lots and lots of sleep has been a gift for which we are incredibly thankful. Being a first year teacher, Ben will more than likely be quite busy, and I believe that my internship will require a lot from me as well. It has been lovely to begin our lives here slowly.

Enough for all my chatty words, here are some pictures from the last few days:

Pit stop for gas: this truck sucked it down!

My view = I-95 and the moving truck!

This photo was taken right after we crossed the GA-FL border. The sign's caption? "Welcome to the Sunshine State." Ironic.

Right after this, the camera battery died. I was unable to take any more photos until all of our stuff was in piles in the living room, as seen below. :)