The Price to Live in Iowa

Being here in Iowa is great. We love the area and the opportunities that we have before us here. I just wanted to let you all know what my sweet sister-in-law already knows and that is Gas prices here are 2.18/gallon. Now I know I posted when we got our Excursion about how much it took to fill the tank. I am glad to say that it now takes less than $100 to fill it up. Ben said that he would cry if the gas went under $2.00/gallon. I told him I wouldn't cry I would jump for joy.

On a side note it's great living in the country and still have stores and large towns around. Now I know that for most standards that the towns around here aren't large but to us they are. The largest town near where we did in Wyoming was about 1500 people. Here we have towns that have 15000.

Ben is loving his job! We were laying in bed the other night and he says to me "Don't be offended but I love going to work". I told him I wouldn't of been if he hadn't of started that sentence the way he did. He says that working with the troubled youth is like therapy for him. Now I don't care how great your parents are or how lovely your life has been we could all use a little therapy to help deal with life.

We are grateful to be here and can see the Lords hand in the blessings that we have received. Our girls love it here, we love it here, and I feel like we have grown closer as a family. We are really lucky that Jared Ben's brother ( and by Jared I mean Melissa) thought to call and offer Ben this job. Thanks again you guys!

Sweet girls

So yesterday was Ben worked his first 24 hour shift at work which went okay for all of us all around. He had told the girls in the morning that he wasn't going to be home till the next morning and they took it well since they are use to having him going on trips for work.

The sweetness set in when I was driving home from the library and Aubrey all the sudden was really serious. I asked her what as wrong to which she responded,"Mom I have some really bad new". Here I am thinking that she's done something naughty when she then tells me the bad news. "Mom, Daddy won't be coming home tonight because he has to stay at work and help those kids who are having a hard time." I told her that was really bad news.

Then around bed time Alex comes up to me and asks "Mommy who is going to sleep with you tonight". I told her that it was okay I would sleep alone and she then said, "But mom won't you be scared sleeping alone?" I didn't end up sleeping alone anyway. Aubrey was the first to come out and get into bed with me and then an hour or so later Alex came out and slept on the floor.

It's good that I always have someone taking care of me.

Our new adventure

This is the first time that I have been able to get to a real computer in a while. For those of you who don't know we are moving to Keokuk, Iowa. Ben will be working for a troubled youth school. We were planning on Ben going into the military but his brother offered him a job working for him and it just felt right. With this opportunity we will be totally out of debt in 6-8 months which we are totally excited about. Ben will be working from 7a.m. to 11p.m. three days a week and then have four days off.

Being in the city right now is a little overwhelming. Driving in it is even worse. I guess I didn't realize how much I got use to living in the country where there is no traffic and no stop lights. I just hope where we are going is more country than city. I do know that there is a super walmart near by so that is good.

We are actually in Des Monies, Iowa right now and have a couple of hours left tomorrow till we are to our new home. I have to say that the Lord has yet again blessed us with this opportunity. This last week while traveling I haven't had any problems with my anxiety which in it's self is a huge blessing. I will post the pictures of our trip here and our new area when I find the cord to the camera and buy a new power cord for the computer.

Also we went to Martins cove which was so great and then today we stopped at Winter Quarters. Both places had such a strong spirit.