Long Promised, Much Awaited Post

Finally, I'm making time for an overdue post.

Let me start from the beginning:

After leaving Tennessee, we had a wonderful time in Chicago. We even had time for some touristy things. To the left is Kenyon and I and the "bean" in Millennium Park on Michigan avenue.

On January 1st, we headed out for New Hampshire. In Illinois and Indiana, there was quite a snow storm, so after losing some time the first day, we didn't arrive in NH until late on Wednesday night. We were relieved to be home.

Speaking of home, here is our home:



The main house is the part off to the left, but the chunk of the house over the garage is our special place. See the two small windows between the main house and the space above the garage? That's the hall that connects their bedrooms to our suite. Our suite is LOVELY. A bedroom and storage space and a bathroom... with two sinks! My dream. Behind the two garages on the front of the house, there is a garage around back where Kenyon and I can store a car. The Fulfords take such great care of us.

The Fulford family with whom we are living resides in Amherst, New Hampshire. Wikipedia has a cute little article on it. Christine always talks about how it's similar to the little town on Gilmore Girls. Though Manchester feels more like a Chicago suburb, Amherst is very colonial, with a "common ground," a "meeting house," selectmen who serve instead of a mayor, and family owned businesses instead of big box chains. Quaint and wonderful; refreshing after a fast-paced day in town.

Work is amazing. I officially started at the church on Monday. I'm working at Manchester Christian Church, a wonderful and thriving church truly reaching people in all walks of live in the community. Feel free to check it out here. Manchester reminds me of Bloomington-Normal. All of the businesses and stores that you can think of, a great mall, a Starbucks (where Kenyon works! He starts this coming Monday), and a church that we are taken with.

At the church, I'm able to be involved in so much. I'm on the teaching team, who plans the teaching initiatives and sermon series for the church. I get to help with preliminary research and resources. Love it. I (and Kenyon too) participate in the programming team, also, which plans the artistic and logistical aspects of the Sunday morning services. Kenyon is very involved in these programs. The church even has a cool role for him to be involved in that we've never seen anywhere else. He's going to function as a "producer" for the worship team. Every week, this individual takes the service and nurtures it from creation to fruition. He takes care of the transitions, makes things work with the tech director, and directs things according to the vision and theme laid out by the other teams. SO HIM.

I feel like God formed a special little place in his kingdom with Kenyon's name on it, and then disguised it as my internship, simply to surprise Kenyon with something so wonderful! We're so excited.

Other cool things: WE WERE ABLE TO VOTE IN THE NH PRIMARY! How cool. Here's some pictures from the Obama rally we were able to attend:

Kenyon just reminded me to share that he was able to shake Obama's hand at the rally. We were so close. Cool, huh.

All in all, it's been an exciting week to be here. We are refreshed and excited; ready again to pour into ministry and learn from people of such excellent caliber. We'll try to keep you updated as we get even more settled and involved in different things, both at home and at church. We miss you all, dearly.