4 weeks in South Carolina

Well, we've been in South Carolina now for 4 weeks and it has been such a good move! This place is just lovely and the "Southern Hospitality" is genuine! I have made more friends already in this month than I did in 3 years in Virginia. Nothing against Virginia or the wonderful friends that I made there - this lifestyle is just more conducive to a slower pace of life and time to cultivate friendships.



The area itself is just beautiful. Lots of trees and flowers and shrubs - not to mention the fountains that are located downtown. Everyone cares what their yards and the parks look like - great care is taken for landscaping.



The history here is also very rich. I've read three books so far dealing with the history of Aiken and have enjoyed becoming better acquainted with the area. What a pleasure to see places that I've read about!



I've joined a Bunko group as well as a knitting group. I've been invited to come to the next Newccomers meeting. Interesting - many of the ladies in this club have been members for 20+ years. That says something doesn't it? It must be a club that is fun! Their speeakers are often authors or historians. I'm looking forward to joining!



All in all, this place already feels like home. I'm still looking for a job but the time on my own has been well spent. I feel like I've got a better idea of the town atmosphere. Still - there's noplace like home - if you know what I mean.

Redcliffe Plantation

Today after church, we went for a drive. We had seen a sign for Redcliffe Plantation before, and so we decided we wanted to actually see it.



It was a beautiful day for a drive. This plantation was kind of out in the middle of nowhere - but I guess that makes sense. There was nobody else around so we just wandered around the place. There were supposed to be tours - but I'm guessing they don't have much business out there. We waited around a bit, but there was nobody else there ever.



The porch was so nice - it would be a great place to sit out on and enjoy your mint jullip.



Beautiful scenery - I'm sure it looks more pleasant than some would actually recall. We didn't get to see the inside - maybe we'll go back someday and try again for a tour.

Dear Diary

Did you ever keep a diary? I used to - back when I was a little girl. I had a little pink diary with a lock on it. I kept the key in my jewelry box - so I'm pretty sure my mother must have read it. Not a "sneaky" place to keep a key!

Many years ago, I started keeping a journal. This was a really good activity for me - and as I review over the past journals, I'm surprised to see some of the things I said and the events that I captured. Things I had already forgotten about. I still keep a journal today - though its more of a timeline and a spiritual journey recorder.

So now, this evening, I'm writing a "dear diary" entry - to make note of what i did today.

Dear Diary,

Yesterday, I made a decision that I was going to have to get out of the house and do something. I was lonely and bored and it was time to change that! I had seen an announcement in the church bulletin that the Medical Clinic was needing administrative volunteers. When I talked to them, they were very happy to have a new face and told me to come in on Wednesday.

I was really looking forward to today - it was nice to have a place to go! And I was not disappointed! This is a clinic offered to people who do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare and who cannot afford any other health insurance. They treat only chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, COPD, asthma etc. The doctor sees them and then they help the patients get medications from the drug companies without charge. You can imagine that there is a lot of paperwork involved.

It was wonderful to meet three interesting Christian women and even better to be volunteering for something that is so good for the community.

I'm going back tomorrow and will continue to do so until I find a paying job. :)

Goodnight Dear Diary - until tomorrow.

Adjusting - again

Well, we've been in South Carolina now for a little over a week. This is a very nice place and there are so many pluses! We had dinner last weekend at a BBQ place. Us and about 200 others! It is a very popular place - and now I know why. We had to stand in a long, snaking line for maybe 10 minutes or so. It moved along nicely. This is buffet style, which I generally don't like. You know - little kids sneezes etc. But I didn't mind it at this place.

The charge was $9 apiece. Seriously. And if you wanted ribs, it was an extra 50 cents. I was amazed! We sprang for the ribs and yowza. Delicious! There was absolutely everything you can think of in the buffet. Potato salad, mashed spuds and gravy, sweet potatoes, corn, corn on the cob, green beans, coleslaw, collard greens, hush puppies, BBQ beef (shreaded), ribs, BBQ chicken, bananna pudding (aka bananna puddin') and on and on. There were two HUGE coolers of sweet tea and one little thing of unsweetened tea. It's apparent which is the favorite!

There were tables where people would sit two sided that sat probably 20. Like at a church social. We ate off of styrofoam plates with plastic silverware and drank out of styrofoam cups.

Truth? No complaints about that from me! Except for the fact that it's not very eco-friendly, the meal was so good it didn't matter!

You paid before you went through the line - it was kind of on the honor system whether you took ribs or not. And honestly - everyone was so friendly!

So here it is Tuesday - and I need to figure out what to do. I admit that yesterday was kind of a "blue" day for me. I really don't have anyone yet that I can call and chat with. It's a little lonely. But I'm going to step out of the house today and go to the bookstore. I'm joining a book club and I need to pick up the next book they are reading. I might also stop at the knitting shop - for apparent reasons! :)

It's a good move - the place we live is nice and quiet. The traffic is minimal. People are friendly to say the very least. Jay is busy and happy with his job. Almost all the boxes are unpacked.

Now - come and visit!!!

My son

I've been given a chance again this week to reflect on my son's life. And the fact that he still has one. Yet again.

Josh was involved in another vehicle accident. This time it wasn't his truck, but rather a cement truck (full of cement I might add) that was traveling about 60 mph down the road. His left front tire blew out - not just a flat - but a blowout.

From the observation of the man who was traveling behind him, the entire truck flipped end over end at least the first time - as well as rolling two more times before it landed in the opposite ditch. Quite a feat for a cement truck I'd say.

Josh really only remembers hearing the BOOM and then ending up in the ditch. It's amazing to me how fast a cement truck can roll. I wouldn't have guessed that.

For all that action, Josh ended up with some stitches on his back and his arm as well as a torn ear lobe that was bandaged, a gash in his mouth that is healing on its own, a bandage on his nose and other various bumps and bruises. He lost his glasses and his hat (thrown from his head I guess).

And just like the wreck several years ago, the hat and the glasses were recovered. I remember that we had to search and search to find out where they ended up.

That really was the only similarity of this accident and the first one. Other than one important one. Josh is still alive. This wreck didn't leave him as seriously injured as the first one, but yet not as minor as the second one. The common thread is that he is still alive. His life has been spared - and I cannot help but think that God has something yet for Josh to accomplish.

My prayer is that Josh will seek what God has in mind for him. I wonder if God is trying to get Josh's attention (He sure has mine!!) and if that's the case, I want Josh to know how much God loves him and that He has things in store for him that are wonderful.

I am so thankful - and we are so blessed as a family that Josh is still alive. Thank you to everyone for your prayers.

Isaiah 40:29-31

There is one who takes you with all of your flaws and delights in all that you are. He sings over you when you sleep and hems you in while awake. He destroys the worth-measures of man and pronounces you worthy. He is Jesus. He is the only way we have made it thus far and our only hope for tomorrow.

Amen brothers and sisters!

Leaving Virginia

This is probably just going to be a rambling - but I think I just need to put my thoughts down.

Leaving Virginia really is hardly even bitter-sweet. In a few cases it is - and those cases would involve friends. One other case would be all the historical things there are around here to see. But beyond that, not so much.

Jay and I have talked about the fact that we have really already mentally checked out. He is finishing a class tonight and then he can really focus elsewhere. For me, I'm not working now, I'm finished going to knitting and we just attended our last worship service this past Sunday. I've had breakfasts, lunches and dinners with friends as has Jay - and really, we're now just waiting for the movers to arrive on Thursday.

We've seen pretty much everything we've wanted to see here as far as monuments and museums go. We would have liked to go to Gettysburg again - but that can happen sometime in the future I guess. We've enjoyed the cherry blossoms and Dorothy's red slippers. We've seen battlefields and statues. We've had fun at the Spy Museum and been teary eyed at the Holocaust Museum. We've viewed art and scenery.

Beyond that, we've made some wonderful friends and been a part of some terrific worship.

All that said, I've had the side of my car scratched up more times that I can even say because people are so careless in my parking lot. It seems like it's every man for himself here. I know that doesn't seem fair - but nobody seems to care if they knick your door.

I've been honked at over and over because I'm not a trigger moment quicker out of the starting gate when the light turns green.

I've been a part of traffic that is so annoying and had my bumper ridden every single day because people are in such a hurry to get where they are going - the stress level in this city is incredible.

We've not had close friends. Everyone is busy. Everyone gets home from work at o'dark thirty and leaves at o'dark thirty and don't have time. We've only been invited over to one family's house for dinner. A knitting friend of mine invitited us over but we were unable to go - but that certainly was appreciated! :) I have one friend who I could call and say "Do you have time for a cup of coffee?" and she would say yes. Otherwise, it would take practically an act of congress to find a time with anyone else.

One little comfort zone has definitely been my knitting group. I've felt "at home" there from day one. Those women are for real and know how to share their hearts. That - I will miss.

Ok - so. Now that I've moaned on and on, I am saying this. I'm ready to move on and I'm ready to make more friends and find a place in the south. I'm anxious to settle in our new home and anxious to find the church where God wants us to be. I'm eager to find out how we can serve Him.

We certainly have been blessed here - and for that, I am thankful. Our move has also been a gift from God. Another chapter is unfolding. Stay tuned.