American Freezers

Is it just me, or are tall American fridge/freezers all designed to work best at the temperature at which ice-cream is most easily scooped? Or may be  I just haven't left the ice-cream in long enough to harden...

Third Week of Snow

It's the beginning of the third week here, and the snow continues to lie thick on the ground. I am enjoying the cold, and am grateful for the 6 foot long wool scarf that I knitted for myself many years ago. It isn't something that was really required in the UK, but its certainly nice to have it here in Minnesota.

In other news, we decided that the Nissan Maxima isn't a car worth keeping. There are three things possibly wrong with the engine, and the rust on the body makes me think that even if it was worth putting money into repairing the motor, the body would rust out before we could get enough miles on it.

Frustrating News: I had a call from the job agency across the street asking me if I had my Social Security number yet. Reading between the lines, this means that they aren't willing to employ me without a number. I can't apply for most jobs online without a number. I cant seem to do anything without a number! I am not a number yet!! So, that's the frustrating news.

Happy News: We got together with Mumum last week. We took the kids over and made black walnut cookies. Yum Yum! Then Saturday was her Birthday and I took Emma to buy and deliver some flowers. Then we got white chocolate and Macadamia nut cookies! Yay (even if the chocolate was topped up with some dark) Grandmas are great for cookies.

On Wednesday I plan to go to the registration class for the GED, which is a diploma certifying that you have reached high school standard in your education. Lord willing, this wont take too long, and then I can see about maybe some kind of further education.

We visited the third of the Churches in this area, Divine Love Fellowship in Champlin, and were treated to dinner afterwards by the Pastor there, Paul Baird. So that was nice. Times are good, and if I can relax about the number and the job, I think I can have a nice time waiting. I've even found time to start on www.scripturestudies.net again. So, go have a look!

Second Week

Its the start of the second week in Minnesota, and it's already snowed twice. It snowed on the day after Julia told us that we are in for a long, cold, snow free winter. She is now considering a career in weather forcasting.

Last week we continued the process of settling in. I bought the biggest boots that I have ever owned, and we got winter boots for the kids too. Here's a photo of Elisha modeling my boots.

It's also been a week of parties and leftovers. On Thursday we had Thanksgiving, and I can proudly say that I contributed by carving the 24lb turkey. I enjoyed doing it, and I was told that I did quite a good job. So that was nice. Then on Saturday we had a welcoming party organised by Evelyn. She went to some lengths to make it a nice get together, even having a special sign made which I was allowed to keep aferwards.

I preached at Grace Ministry on Sunday, which is Don Hoffman's church, and I think it went quite well. I am still looking for the leading of the Lord as to the place where we should settle down.

The car we got has an engine problem. It was diagnosed by Nate as a Throttle Position Sensor problem, and he is looking into what it would take to get that sorted. So once we know we need to make a decision about the worthwhileness of putting money into a car named Rusty. At the moment it doesnt look like it will cost too much, but it's still something we have to think about.

Job hunting is still going on, but it has been slightly hindered by the colds that we have all gotten. Rachel was kept awake on Saturday night by my snoring, and in the morning Emma told me "Daddy, your snoring is funny!" But I dosed myself up with Lemsip, Throat coat, vit C, clementines, hot lemon and honey, and good ol' PG tips, and I didnt snore quite as badly last night.

Catch you all later then, and Lord bless.

Monday Morning News

And here is the news. The snow didnt last long; it's only left in a few places never touched by sunlight. This morning it has been replaced by a frost that is already melting away.

Yesterday was our first day at church. We fellowshipped with the good folks at Grace Ministries in Hopkins. Don Hoffman, the pastor, preached an encouraging message on the grace of God. Certainly that is something that we are believing in as we start our new life here in the States.

Elisha is gradually getting over the cold that he caught on the flight over here, and we went shopping for the first time. Rachel was shocked that a small bag of groceries costs $40. We found some oats that the kids like in their porridge. And after church yesterday we were given a car by Uncle Randy. Here it is - a Rusty Nissan Maxima.

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Now we have to work on getting insurance and the registration. I was going to say "slowly by surely" but as we have been here less than a week, and already have a bank account, phone number, car and a library card, its a little faster than slowly; Quickly and surely we are settling into our new life here.

We even got our first bit of post addressed to us at this new address!

Interesting Discoveries

Earlier today I went for a walk. Rachel and I took advantage of one of the many aunts we now have in the same household to stroll down to the Moir park. It was an interesting walk, as we saw 4 deer and a blue kingfisher. I also made an interesting discovery. My reactive glasses react far slower in the cold of Minnisota.

Who'd have thought it?

Second Morning

So, the second morning here, and Rachel is already re-arranging the rooom we are sleeping in. But in keeping with the fine tradition of Minnesota, we were woken by the sound of snowploughs trundling by the main street outside.



This is the view from the other side of the house. Emmalyn told Grandma that it was winter - maybe it's still fall in Bloomington, but to the rest of the civilized world, I suspect that it's winter.

First Full Day

Its evening on Friday, and I am pretty tired. However, we did get our bank account sorted out, and I am signed up to a job agency. I also have a new American number on my old mobile; I guess that makes it a cell phone now.

Elisha isnt feeling too well, he has a little cold and is a little hot. There are periods of time when he feels himself, such as this evening when we sang "glory to his name" with him, as he ran around the couch in the living room.

Rachel is tired, but starting to sleep a little better. Emma has been playing up and got a stern talking to with a little smack to re-enforce good behaviour.

The job agency phoned the house today while I was out, and would have offered me a job if I had been able to contact them sooner. But it wasnt to be, and when I did get in contact they said the chance had gone to someone else. The Lord knows best. They have my phone number now, so there's little chance of that happening again.

Tommorow I am hoping to get my Minnesotian driver licence sorted. But I have to get to bed tonight. I'd kinda tired, as you may have suspected!

Arrival

Well, we made it. Thanks to Peter for driving us to the Airport, to Rose for lending us the large car, and NWA for getting us here. No problems, and the visa processing was nice, quick and easy. Ron and Pam have welcomed us, and Michelle even went out to buy some PG tips for me. I feel almose like an honoured guest rather than a part of the family.

So, everything fine, starting to settle in tommorow.

Tuesday Morning

Although the majority of the work is done, there is still a whole lot of little bits that remain to be done. Small things, like having the Paulie come over to take the ironing board. Oh, here he is.

TTFN

First Post

Hey Folks,

Its Monday evening, and the ol' appartment in Southampton is looking pretty bare. We've completed the shipping side of things - after a mad few days of sorting and getting rid of stuff, the shipping company was in and out of here in only about 4 hours. It seemed a short time in comparison to the ages we spent preparing. Now we only have a few items left to give away or chuck. The big computer is gone, and I'm setting this all up on the laptop.

Regrets: We shipped all the musical instruments. And the CD's. And the backup of the music on the main computer. So I only have the limited amount of music to play on the laptop speakers.

Happy Because: We're nearly there!