"Coming home to a place we'd never been before."

We reached the long-awaited departure date for our trip to Pueblo one week ago. Tuesday afternoon we left Blacksburg for Maryland, where we spent the night in Dave & Cindy's empty house.

That the house was empty represented a change in plans. About a week before we left, we learned that Dave would need bypass surgery, and would be in the hospital for the week that we were gone. It was alarming news! He has come through the surgery, which was Good Friday, very well, and is home now, recovering. But the children needed to find a new destination. Thankfully, because of the generosity of our dear friend Anne and of my beloved cousins, Leah & Matthew, we were able to find other arrangements for them.

Anne arrived at the house at 6am so that we could leave to catch our plane! While we were running around airports and hurtling through the air, she was driving our children to Williamsport in her car, and transferring them into Leah's borrowed van (thanks Uncle Doug!) where Miles and Adele were able to spend the rest of the week in Rochester, with Abby and Tai Tai. So many hands helped to make our trip possible. We're so grateful! As you will see, the few days in Colorado were very, very fruitful.

On the plane to Charlotte

Flying over Virginia. Seemed a little silly. We waved. 

Flying over Kansas. We watched Adventureland, uninterrupted. Miracle!

When we landed in Denver, this picture was waiting for us, instantly soothing whatever worries about the kids I might have had!

They had a blast with their cousins; didn't even miss us. 

We rented a car and began to drive- in increasingly intense snow! During the two hour drive from Denver to Pueblo, I marveled, first at the emptiness of the state (it was like the unloaded gray portion on a google map, in places), and then at the beauty.

Colorado Springs was breathtaking! It was like the mountains had been creeping silently up and suddenly loomed up to flank the town. The pictures I was able to get just couldn't quite capture the majesty.

Our first view of Pueblo was not from its most advantageous angle. Our hotel was located in the commercial district, and we were mainly looking at big box stores and restaurants when first we got off the highway. After checking in and freshening up, we went to our dinner appointment with John and Rachel Gardner, priests-in-charge at Ascension Episcopal. Someone had already done some networking on our behalf to introduce us. Get this: John and Rachel used to be priests in Martinsville, VA, only 2 hours from Blacksburg! How small is this world?!
Rachel gave us a tour of the church before we left for dinner.

It's very formal! and lovely. 

I especially liked the Christ the King window:

The kids are going to love the blue windows on the sides. I took a shot of this one because it contained John the Baptist (Adele's favorite):

I love the rood screen:

We got to see the Godly Play/ Children's Chapel room. I sent this picture to the kids:

Our dinner with John and Rachel was abundant with benefits. Not only did we meet some fun people, also parents, also Episcopalians, with whom we had a lot in common, but they were able to give us gales of information about the town, and about the experience of moving to it. They have only been in Pueblo for three years, so we got a newcomer's perspective as well. Sadly, John and Rachel will be moving this summer! They're at the end of their tenure as priests-in-charge. But they promised to meet up with us again when we move in. They're even sharing their favorite babysitters with us!

I can't think of a much warmer introduction to our new home than this dinner with our new friends. We had Mexican food. Mexican food in Pueblo is SO LIT.

Thursday morning began early. We were on Eastern Standard Time, so we were up at 5 local time, breakfasted and out the door by 8, and in this coffee shop by 8:15. Solar Roast Coffee is very hip and will definitely be a favorite.

On the way to the realtor, we caught another view of the Rockies. They're hard to photograph, but so gorgeous in the sunshine.

We saw four houses that morning. It's hard work! I joked with Jon, we don't have the luxury of going on multiple dates with these houses;. we had to have a define the relationship talk on date one. It was funny how quickly the houses arranged themselves in our minds, ranked by desirability. And it was not the ranking we'd given them from our pictures that we ended up fixing on. We visited one elementary school, and then decided, since it was still so early, to visit Jon's new workplace. 

Unfortunately, we ended up with a fairly cloudy first full day in Pueblo, which made it hard to fully appreciate the view from campus. It's the highest point in town, though, so the skies are huge and the mountains line the horizon. I know on a sunny day it will be breathtaking.

The Thunderwolf is our new mascot. Isn't he cool?!

The campus is very modern, so different from the atmosphere at Virginia Tech. There is a wideness and a freedom to this town, this part of the world. Everyone seemed very relaxed. I'll get used to the vibe; there's a lot to love. 

You can see the library above, with the fountain before it. Jon's office window has a fabulous view.

Speaking of libraries, this is the public library:

We have a smaller branch library in the neighborhood where we're going to be living, but this is the downtown one, only about 15 minutes away. I can't wait to explore & find out what they offer.

Dinner on Thursday was our chance to celebrate 10 years of marriage. Though really, the whole trip was that. Last year at this time I would not have believed we'd be on the verge of buying our first house. It's so meaningful to spend our 10th anniversary shopping for homes and getting to know our new adventure. We had a great talk in this restaurant, with no interruptions from kids or anyone else, and gazed out the river at the river while we ate some surprisingly good Italian food. 

The riverwalk is going to be a joy. The Arkansas flows smoothly through town; it reminds me of the Erie Canal.

Among the many things this trip did for me was to make the move seem real, make the town real. There will be a lot of challenges, but there will be so much that is solid to love. I am so looking forward to coming home to this town. 

Tertia Die Resurrexit a Mortuis

What a lovely, golden Easter weekend we had.

Miles and I started it with some appearance therapy: haircuts and a stop at the YMCA for a new coat and bag.

Doesn't Miles look like David Cassidy??

Next, we hit up the library where Miles read to Cary, the therapy cat.

It's not so much that he needs help reading, but that he finds reading to a cat so incredibly calming. His favorite animals are "calm" ones; just ask him. 

Afterwards, he enjoyed some WiiU (at the library!!) before we left for the egg hunt at Smithfield Plantation!

We hugely enjoy what has become a Blacksburg tradition at this historic farm. We'll miss it next year!

Miles really bonded with the blacksmith this year. Adele, not so much.

This was the year Adele really was able to get into the egg hunt. She followed directions with enthusiasm.

The eggs need to be pursued, don't you know!

Miles performed admirably too. 

Miss April in 18th century costume gives directions. 

Oh, Springtime in Virginia. Thank you God for one more. 

That night, we lit our vigil fire at home and said prayers..

The kids are doing this awesome thing where Miles reads whole Dr. Seuss books to Adele and I am off the hook! 

The next morning, we arrived in time to help light the vigil fires at church:

Stole this picture from our curate!

The Easter Vigil service is hands down the best of the year. I will miss it sorely next year! Beginning in darkness and telling the stories of God's action throughout the Old Testament, the dry bones, the acclimation at dawn and the shouted Alleluias... the moment when the lights come on and you can see the profusion of flowers on the altar; it's breathtaking. 

At Easter brunch between services, I decided to avoid the mimosas this year. It was a good decision. 

Adele and I had time for an Eastern morning selfie: 

Before we left, a kind friend took our family picture. Happy Eastertide to all!

We leave for Maryland tonight and tomorrow morning, Jon and I will, if all goes well, board a plane for Colorado. Please please pray that all goes smoothly and that we find the right house for us while we're out there!

(The Resurrection Gardens started sprouting brownly on Good Friday, and turned green just in time for Sunday!)

Please send us good energy, and any tips for spotting potential problems with houses which one is considering buying!

March-ing

March is nearly over and I've hardly updated at all. I know you all understand. All my projects are like cooking pots and they're all just simmering and have to be kept that way. My planner is rapidly becoming my mainstay in life. Should I accidentally murder anyone, it will most likely immediately become a hoarcrux. My planner that vital.

We have been keeping (extremely) busy, though. Here are some highlights:

The weekend before St. Patrick's day, we caught the storyteller at the Lyric theater doing a St. Patrick's themed session for free! Blacksburg never fails to provide fun, wholesome stuff for kids.

Psst... don't tell Adele, but this extremely talented young woman is the same one who impersonated Princess Esme for Adele's birthday party this past year...

We continued to attend Wednesday Lenten suppers at church. Major side perk: I get to hang out with babies:

Me and sweet Hazel

Spring has finally asserted dominance over Blacksburg.

Miles' science fair finally came and went. His hardy carpenter ants live on, to chew scraps of meat and honey in their jar in Miles' room, to this day.

I was so proud of the way he articulately and enthusiastically described his project to the circulating judges. He really hardly needed any prodding to describe the whole process and all that he's learned. 

The turnout was excellent! Adele got to meander around and participate where she could.

Meanwhile, Adele has been making enormous strides with potty training. Like, she's pretty much there. We went from utter despair that she would ever use the toilet at all, to near perfect confidence that she will use it every time, in a week. It was just as the friendly woman at church told me one week: she had to make up her own mind. When Adele makes up her mind to a thing, that thing shall be done.

She's been like that since birth. 

The Ariel doll was the long-anticipated prize for making it a week without accidents. This is such an enormous relief to our family! Thank you, Patron Saint of Preschoolers, whoever you are!

Last weekend, Jon was gone for even longer than usual (he works 6 hours a day on weekends, at the library). But it's ok, because he was winning this at a conference:

Obviously, it's on the refrigerator. "Best Paper"!!!

Warmer and warmer, and closer and closer to the main action of the semester.

Actually, it's all felt like main action. This will go down as one of the more intense semesters of our life together.

Fortunately, there is sunshine, flowers, and Eastertide! 

It does help, when you lift your eyes to the hills, wondering where your help will come from this time, that those hills are increasingly green and fragrant.