Transitions and friends

Last time I moved Germany, I was single and care free. I just showed up and figured it out as I went. It worked out fine. This time, with a wife and two small children, I planned and prepared and thought it would be okay. It was way more complicated than I thought. After six weeks, we are still working on getting settled. We are making good progress; there is just so much more this time. We have a bigger apartment because we need more space, but that means you need more stuff to fill it. Everything is just more complicated with small kids, but so much more worth it. They've done really well with the transition.

Alex is happy because he can now open the cupboards in the kitchen.

Lizzy is happy for the same reason.

Kristina is happy to live somewhere green again. No offense Rexburg, but you really are in the middle of a desert.

I'm happy too. Even if it doesn't look like it.

We were sad to leave our beautiful house and wonderful friends in Rexburg.

Not to mention family. We were glad my parents were able to make it out one last time.

But we are glad to see old friends again.

And thanks to the generosity of new friends, our kids already have more toys here than they did in Rexburg.

The kids are growing and learning. Alex has been putting everything in his mouth, as is common at that stage. Kristina finally has stopped using bibs with him because he just chews on them until they are sopping wet. He managed to pull this last one from the drying rack before she could put them away.

He has since then transitioned to chewing on diapers.

We received this great chair and table that combine into a high chair. Unfortunately, we can't get Lizzy as close to the table with it, and more food ends up on the floor. Alex likes it. It gives him more options.

I think more than anything, this transition has taught me the importance of good friends. We were truly blessed with good friends in Rexburg, at church, at work, and in our community. Because of the world-wide Church, we had friends as soon as we arrived here. They were invaluable in helping us survive this crazy move. I've never really been one to put a lot of effort into maintaining friendships after moving. As a young, single person in the Church, there are always new opportunities to make friends and be social. I think I've now come to a point in my life where some friendships are worth maintaining. As I told a friend recently, I might have realized too late that some friends can't be replaced. I'd not really experienced that before. I am grateful for my friends and am inspired by their example to be a better friend. A major key is really being there for each other. Taking the time to put away the distractions and interact, share, and listen. I hope to thank you all for your friendship by being a good friend in turn.