We are actually here in Florida, living here. I have to keep saying it because it doesn't feel real to me at all. I feel like we are visiting relatives or something. Very strange.
The Lord has been very good to us though over the last few days. Traveling by myself with the kids and the amount of carry-on luggage I decided to take was slightly stressful:) The airlines had us all sitting in different sections of the plane on the long flight from Phoenix to Tampa. Obviously that wasn't ideal but the flight was full and the airlines were not willing to move anyone. I started praying/pleading that the Lord would sit us next to someone kind and thankfully he did. A lady gave up her window seat next to me to trade with Ellie (Ellie was crying at this point), and I was extremely grateful. The other kids had to sit by themselves but did really well over the next 3.5 hours. Gracie's big eyes only filled with tears one time towards the end when I went to check on her and the older man next to her had fallen asleep all slumped over on her. I woke him up 2 more times during the trip to ask him to stop sleeping on her! Poor thing. I finally told her she could kindly elbow him if he did it again:)
As we flew into Tampa I was overwhelmed at the view of Florida. There really is water everywhere! The state looks like a giant sponge floating in a bathtub. In fact, in the mornings mist floats in many places like wisps of fog. Getting off the airplane was huge relief and it became clear how much the kids missed their daddy when they rounded a corner and saw him for the first time in a month. They were like moths around a flame, all trying to get their turns with him. I had been keeping it together pretty well until then...
Driving to Brandon from the airport was beautiful. Tampa truly is a lovely city, especially since freeway views are not usually the best. Downtown is beautiful and there seems to be ocean every direction you gaze.
Yesterday we took the kids to Anna Maria Island, on the southern tip of the bay, and then proceeded to drive over the giant water causeways to the west beach towns of St. Petersberg and Clearwater. It was really beautiful. In fact, it reminds me somewhat of the prettiest parts of Southern California without the pollution and psycho traffic.
I know my mom was hoping I would hate it, but so far it's really lovely:)
As far as adjusting I know it's going to take quite a while. First of all, John hasn't got a permanent posting yet and we don't know at all how long that will take. Second, the latter causes us to not know where we are going to live and so, as more changes are sure to come, I'm trying to not waste to much energy learning information that I may never need to know!
I did however, take John to the airport this morning by myself and I got home without getting lost. All of this at 5:30am! Of course I had our little gps gadget that the Ellie named "LaFonda". Her voice sounds more like a "Susan" but oh well, she helps a lot.
This week will probably consist of just getting settled, learning where the basic places are in Brandon, and getting back on some sort of school schedule. The kids brains are like oatmeal presently. I will definately keep posting pictures of our adventures and also ask for prayer from our loved ones for our adjustment and that we would be submissive to the Lord in whatever he has for us here in the big sponge!
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