New Digs in June

We've been living in a seminary-provided 2 bedroom apartment this year but found out last week that we get to move to a 3 bedroom apartment on or around June 1st! Here are the many reasons we are excited:

• a bedroom for baby
• a little bit more space in general 
• it's on a main floor so no more stairs for groceries, car seats, etc...
• and that also means we will have a walkout sliding door to a grassy lawn and hill behind our apartment - close to having a back yard!
• our apartment is in the back of the building so we won't hear all the parking lot noise that has become so much a part of daily life now
• we will have a laundry room in our own building so no more lugging laundry across a parking lot in rain and snow 
• there is a big community room in the basement of the apartment building for the kids to run and play on yucky days
• there is a playground right next to our building (probably close enough that we'll get tired of hearing the playground noise but the convenience will be nice)
• we will have a storage unit in the basement of the building (we currently have NO storage!)
• we will live across the street from the seminary instead of 3 miles away
• we will have easy, walkable access to Calvin College's nature trails and cross country trails

I know there will be some things that we will miss about our current living situation, but it's hard to know what that will be until we move and it's gone. I do know we will miss our neighbors and the great friends that Cora and Peter have to play with here. There has been a great sense of community here, even though most of those we socialize with are from different countries than us and there can be some stress that comes from cultural differences. But it really has been such a beautiful blessing this year. However, many other families are also moving, either graduating or moving on campus or to private homes, so the dynamics here are changing anyway. So, we pray for good community with our new neighbors, that we can find our way into each others' hearts as we have done so here. We pray especially for Cora and Peter as it will be a big change for them to make new friends again and adjust to having a new baby sister all around the same time.

These are a few pics of our current apartment. We really have felt at home here this year and have been so happy to have a nice apartment to live in. I've also come to appreciate the simplicity of having a small living space: I always know where my kids are and what they are up to, and it's very quick to clean a small space. We've made some adjustments over the year to ease the space issue, like storing our love seat and larger dining room table in my parent's basement. We replaced the table with a smaller older one from craigslist and it's been so worth it! Especially as I've gotten more pregnant the extra space in the dining room is necessary for me to move around. :)

 This is what we will miss the most when we move: our friends! At least we are only moving 3 miles this time and will still be able to come visit these friends and see them at seminary events. We still miss our Colorado friends and family and wish we could pop over to visit whenever we wanted!

 And we've enjoyed the spaciousness around these apartments. The large parking lot has been fun for bikes and scooters, and the grassy hills between buildings have been wonderful playgrounds for the kids. It really is a pretty peaceful atmosphere with the giant trees bordering the property. I will also miss being able to walk to Aldi (a super-discount grocery store).

Well, change is in store. It's inevitable. It's easy to second-guess the decision to make a change. Sticking with what you currently know is like staying in a room that is well-lit. Deciding to make a change is like deciding to open a door to a room that is pitch black, or at best dimly lit from one corner and you can't make out what's lurking in all the dark shadows. And it's not until you've stepped into that dark room and been there for awhile, gradually feeling your way around, turning on little lamps here and there that you start to get used to the new room. But that groping around in the darkness, when your eyes haven't adjusted yet to the lack of light, can be really clumsy and uncomfortable. 

The first week of June, as I mentioned before, holds 3 large changes: school is out for both Brad and Cora; we move to a new apartment and community; baby girl is likely to be born. 

Whoa. 

And yet, I'm not anxious. I think I just know it's going to be crazy; and I'm OK with that.We have lots of people offering help and I've gotten better at accepting and even asking for help. I know I'm going to need it so if you've offered, I hope you meant it! :)