Living in the Desert!

I'm almost embarrassed to write this update, because I haven't blogged in sooo long! We had some complications getting internet set up in our house though, but we finally have it fixed :)

Wow! Where to begin? We've been here for about a week and a half now, and I have to admit, I love it. It's really beautiful here... a very different beauty than I've ever really known, but beautiful all the same. The mountains (and cactuses!) are almost mean looking, but they're contrasted by these beautiful palm trees and warm sun. It's the "rainy season" right now, so there's quite a bit of greenery which alot of people have told me will disappear in summer. Weird to think of greenery DISAPPEARING in summer!! I'm such a northerner through and through! And I have to say, the way we northerners take pride in being tough in the cold and snow... is the same way these south-westerners take pride in toughing out the heat! They're really scaring me with tales of not being able to leave your house in April because it's so hot!

We've been for a couple hikes already and the "wildnerness" here is alot of fun. There are so many cool trails and mountains, and you can stumble on turquoise mines all over the place! So cool!  (Sorry about Bryan's weird pose in this picture, lol, not sure what he's doing!!!)

Peyton LOVES riding in her back pack carrier. Honestly, she thinks she rules the world when she's up there! She smiles and looks all around at everything with this snub little look on her face! Haha it's great. She'll skip naptime and even feedings when she's in there because she has so much fun!

As much as we love hiking around Arizona, there's a lot of work to be done as well. As I explained earlier, we moved into Bryan's late great-grandmother's house and we are helping to fix up the house and clean it out. It's been a lot of fun to think about how to landscape her backyard, and what to do to improve the house. Bryan also is now working to sell the antiques and other items in the estate. He loves the work, and we are able to more than live off of what he's getting paid, which is a huge blessing.

If all continues to go well, we will be in South Africa in June! We are praying that the Lord would continue to prepare the way for us.

We found a church home here in Arizona! Broadway Christian Church. We really love it and think we'll fit in well there. We actually met a guy in Walmart last week and he stopped to see Peyton, and we ended up talking, and he mentioned that BCC is his church home, so we decided to check it out! Is that the Lord, or what??? We love the energy at their contemporary services and the preching is rock solid and right on. We're excited to have found a chuch home so quickly... now we just need to plug in and make some new friends :)

I'm staying really positive, but it is hard to be in a place where you really don't have any friends. I miss the community of close friends and the luxury of calling up a girlfriend to do lunch, go shopping or catch a movie. I'm praying God will bring me a sweet friend soon.

Well, I have a million and one things to get done today... I just wanted to let you all know that I'm still alive :) But before I go, Thanks so much to Steph for these thoughtful awards!