Life and goings-on in Boone

Our new life in Boone is not really feeling so new anymore.  Morgan has friends.  Nate has friends.  I have friends.  My family is close enough (3.5-6 hours away) that they can come visit, and do!  I'm starting to see Nate's vision that we are supposed to be here.

On October 29th Morgan started going to a pre-school.  This was a hard day for Mommy, especially considering how hormonal Mommy is right now!  She has a slight speech delay, and this preschool specifically works with kids on speech.  At first I felt like she was too young to send out into the world without me.  But we prayed about it.  And prayed about it some more.  And I finally caught up with Nate in realizing it was a great opportunity for her and our family.  It's only 2 mornings a week for a few hours each day, and she pretty much IMMEDIATELY loved it and started excelling. 

This is her first morning.  There were a few tears on her part and more on mine.  But she got over it pretty fast and had a great day.  By the 2nd day her tears lasted for about 15 seconds.  Mine lasted much longer.  By the 3rd and 4th days she was able to walk away from me with no tears!  More for me again.  I'm so glad my baby is doing well.  They love her at the school.  She is friendly and social and now talks all the time!  Apparently some of the older kids want to baby her and she has to push them away to keep her independence.  But she is doing so well, it has shown us that we truly did follow the answer to our prayers.  How do parents keep their sanity without involving Heavenly Father?

My cousin Shawn and his family only live about 3 hours away, so they came up to visit after our Halloween snow storm for a special event at church.  We took them to a pretty place we had found off the Blue Ridge Parkway called Cascade Falls.  Morgan really loves to be outside, and we're trying to get in as much outside time as we can before winter and the baby, plus I definitely need the exercise, so a nice easy hike is perfect for us.

On Sunday they joined us for church for a historical event here in Boone.  For years there has been a Boone Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and we were blessed to be here for the Branch to become a Ward.  Also, Nate was sustained as the 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric of the new ward!  He will be busy with this calling and school and family, but we know we will be SO blessed as we strive to live the gospel here and strengthen our neighbors and fellow ward members.   I was called about a month ago to be the Relief Society weekday activity coordinator, and absolutely love this calling as I get to know the other sisters!  I have definitely met some of the best people I have ever known by living here for just 3 months!  Shawn was able to ordain Nate a High Priest.  It was a spiritual moment as I watched the man who baptized me ordain my husband.  Nate and I were so grateful to Shawn and his family for hearing and responding quickly to the call!  I am so glad to have other family members in the gospel who can appreciate the duty and set an example for us.

(I have mixed feelings about this picture - it was an exciting and spiritual day for us that I am glad to have recorded, and I love the people in this picture, but whoa I feel really  huge right now!)