Decisions!

( Sorry for the lack of posts- I am not sure where my time has been going...)

I have good news and bad news- good news is that Kevin FINALLY started his job today. After about 5 weeks after being hired, he had his first day. It has been a long wait. He is working for a security company that helps run the Seattle port (they also provide the same services for the Port of Long Beach). We were so excited when he got hired, but it has been a LONG wait to begin and the much needed cash flow could not come fast enough. The bad news is, the schedule is going to be crazy and changes every week. So that will be a big downer since most shifts are at night and sometimes into the early morning... lame. BUT we are grateful for the job, and Kevin said his first day was "scary but exciting too". We are hoping to move in January, and will be looking for an apartment for our first year (we are hoping to save a lot more this way so that we can rent a home/condo in the near future). 

On my side of things- my "students" are doing great. Many of the kids are adjusting to going to school and learning about routine, following rules, praying to God, sharing, talking, potty training, singing, and lots of "wiggle time" which is when they copy things I do (i.e. clap your hands, tap your feet, touch your nose, wiggle your arms) in order to let them move but also practice following direction and about animals or whatever I have them do. It is so cute. I have been getting good feedback from parents, which has been really rewarding and encouraging. Some kids ask if "Teacher Colleen" is coming to their house, swim practice, or for bedtime stories, and some apparently ask if they can go to school on their day off :-) To say the least, I am being spoiled by cute kids and great families. It is a great school and I am so lucky to be a part of it. 

 It has been weird though, I notice so much more about motherhood just by being at this school and interacting/observing the mothers. I daily struggles, the loneliness, the love, the joy, the demands, the need to relate, the ugg boot with stretchy pants and a sweatshirt look, the crazy do everything moms, and also the rare stay at home dads. I feel much closer to it all than I did before at the preschool I worked at in college. I'm not sure where I am going with this- but I will reflect on it later. Overall, these children are helping me and building me into a person who practices much more patience, kindness, gentleness and love. Being more self aware and remembering that all that I do reflects and teaches something to these children- and knowing that I want it to all be in love. I want them to think of school as a place where they know Teacher Colleen will be there to love me, teach me, and encourage me with gentleness and care. (*Note: for all you Duggar Haters out there- watching that show- since it is on demand here- has really helped me to channel my inner Michelle and change how I teach and interact with these kids... If you dont know what I am talking about- ask me- or go watch an episode of 19 kids and counting) 

Okay enough rambling. I'll have a more fun post soon!

Long Awaited!

Hi friends-

Well the biggest reason I have not posted photos and updates from our journey to the NW is because my computer won't let my phone sync to it anymore and  I can't upload my photos from my phone OR my photos from my camera- because our other cord is packed away. Wah wahhhh. So that being said, there are a few that I was able to sync by some Christmas miracle and I have a few photos for you.

Our going away party was a blast. Thank you to everyone who came and showered us with love as we begin this new journey! It is scary but so exciting for us. The drive went really well! Zoey slept literally the entire way until we were two blocks from the house and she was fed up and screaming/howling/wimpering/barking- but I still see that as a victory!

Our first day we drove up to Sacramento or "The Sac" as Kevin likes to call it, and stayed with our friends Phil & Kathy. We had a great time, went out for appetizers at the Diners, Dives, and Drive through guys restaurant- yummmmm. Then we went on a journey to Phil's favorite taco truck (which involved a 30 minute drive into God knows where- it looked like we were in Indiana! Sorry Em..) But let me tell you- THOSE TACOS WERE FLIPPIN AMAZING! YUMMMMMMMMMMMMM . Thanks PHil! And ended it with DELISH donuts! Thanks Kathy for sharing the Mint N Chip!

Kevin on his first leg of the trip ( I took the mornings he took second shift)

Lookin' snazzzzzay in his new jacket and glasses

Guy Fierrere's (or however the heck you spell it) restaurant!

Posing for my parents by his picture!

Em- Doesn't that look like Indiana!? Come on!

The famous truck. We will meet again.

Phil and Kev determining their orders- note the seriousness.

Into Oregon now! 

What Kevin does when I ask him to take pictures. 

Getting closer to Portland.

Mema's swanky condo!

Her sweet view!

Funky breakfast place we went to! Double Yum!

For Tiffany.

Everyone told us to go to Voodoo Donuts b/c they are the best..

They were right!

The famed "Bacon Maple Donut" 

Kevin chanted that mantra the entire way while we walked there...

Leaving Portland!

We spent the next day driving for 11 hours up to Portland, Oregon to stay the night with my Grandma in her hip condo in the city. That place is dog central. We took Zoey on a walk and business owners asked if we would bring her into the shop and they proceeded to get on their hands and knees and kiss/play with Zoey and then give her treats. It was really strange. I'm talking grown men and women in business clothes. Maybe it is just weird to me. *Fun fact about Washington- apparently it is now known as the biggest dog state in the US where more people have dogs than they have children- thus the giant section of dog clothes everywhere we go. 

The third and final day of our voyage was.... really crappy/horrible/draining eventful. While leaving Portland, I noticed the car tow was swaying pretty strongly and dangerously next to cars. We pulled over and found out the lever to the car tow and lodged its way up and under the bottom of our bummer (into this plastic area) and there was no way to get it out. We tried to drive slow, but the front tire being unlocked was  making the car shift all over the place and we were not willing to keep driving. So we pulled over, tried 10 things that didn't work, and figured the only thing we could do is pull the call off the tow and drive our two cars separately. We did so, and bent the underneath of our bumper pretty bad, but better than the car flying swinging into someones car and creating a huge crash. So that short 3 hour drive turned into a 6 hour drive because we also hit ridiculous traffic coming into WA because a truck slid onto grass. Let me repeat- a truck- did not crash, and no other cars were involved, and no car was even damaged, but a truck, slid onto grass on the side of the road, and needed to get pulled off - SO LITERALLY JUST A TRUCK SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD- and people decided that was 5 mph worthy on the freeway.... LAWD people in WA can't drive! 

(Kevin has the entering Washington Photos)

Here is the sign that we drove up to!

Did I tell you they have chickens who we get fresh eggs from..?

With names... and personalities!? They hold them! haha!

We had our first and last Dick's burger. It is NOTHING compared to INNOUT.

Pretty views!

We had our first Five Guys. Pretty good man.

Our drive home everyday. 

Snapshot of my classroom!

View of the Bergin Home!

Sunshine for all your WA haterrrrrs out there- it happens!

:-)

In my sweet fleece my sister got me- I fit right in now! 

So anywho! We made it to WA with overall great ease and we are having a great time. We live in a beautiful neighborhood with my aunt/uncle/cousins and we are loving all the trees. I mean seriously, its like the woods. It is beautiful. All the leaves are starting to change color, the fog sits nice and low on the mountains behind us, and on clear days (which we have had quite a few) it is even better. My job at the preschool is great! The facility is beautiful and the kids are so sweet and fun. Kevin has a few prospects, but we are still figuring out a few things. We have driven around lots of neighborhoods and cities looking for where we would potentially live. So please pray for these specific things:

-Kevin would find a great full time job that he enjoys and can learn from
-I find a fun restaurant to work at that is closer to wherever he works
- We find a nice place to rent (we want to rent a small home)
-We are patient
-We find a church in that area

If you read this whole thing- I love you! Thanks! More pictures and posts to come!
xoxoxoxoxo Colleen

Anticipation!

While the timeline for our move is happening quite fast (We pack up Sept 30th, and drive away Oct. 1st) it is really the anticipation that is killing me. I keep trying to pause and take in all the "lasts" we will experience here with our family and friends in California. It sounds so weird to say that, I knew one day we would move, but I never realized how quickly it could happen!

Each day I pack a few boxes and have Kevin load them into our garage space- that way when we move almost everything will already be downstairs (I figure if we do a little each day- it wont seem as miserable when the day to pack it in the truck comes). So far things have been going smoothly, I feel quite accomplished because I have only paid for tape so far! All our boxes and packaging has been FREE since I went to Salvation Army and got free boxes from them- they will give you some if you donate or are moving! It was awesome! I have also been using old newspaper/grocery ads to stuff/wrap most the stuff. Lets hope it pays off and we don't end up in Seattle with boxes of broken glass! YIKES!

Since making our decision, I may have secured a part time position, and plan on nannying part time in addition. It has been my goal to get back to working with kids again, as that is my passion, my calling, and my greatest joy in life; serving families. But I will post MORE on that later! Please pray that as we get there, the Lord will guide Kevin in his job search and that he will be inspired by our new surroundings to serve wherever that may be!

We are also eagerly anticipating joining a new church! That is something brand new to us. Saint Andrews has been the church for both of our families since our parents were kids. We are so excited to go to a church and be met and known as "Kevin and Colleen Cox" Weird. We also want to join some type of sports league! Fun right!? I have never done such because I am a bit too competitive and needed the Lord to soften my insane need to win.... just being real! And I think that he has over tha last few years- so here I am- ready to go play flag football, or soccer, or volleyball, or even softball! Gasp! Never thought I'd get there! haha! Okay that is just an update for you all!

Please keep praying for peace, patience, and that we would seek GOD above all else as we continue in this new journey together! God is so faithful!