Status Update

Collin is back from two weeks in New Jersey for National Training. He had some great experiences talking with his colleagues about the Church when questions came up about our beliefs and practices. He got to clarify some misconceptions and ask some thought-provoking questions to his new friends as well. One of his friends even expressed some interest in going to a church meeting sometime. We'll take him up on that and even feed him afterward! Collin also became very popular with the hotel staff because about half of them were Haitian. Collin loved the opportunity to speak Creole and show how much he loves their country. We heard a wonderful talk on Sunday from Elder Christensen about incredible member missionaries in the area--past and present. We were both touched by the message and hope that more chances to share the gospel come our way.

Rachel is so happy to have Collin home again. Two weeks was a long time--even longer than the six weeks she was in Guatemala when we were engaged. And you all may wonder what she could be doing with her time. She goes walking in the morning for about an hour with some friends in the ward/neighborhood. Then runs errands and spends all the money Collin earns. She's working on a cross-stitch sampler for the baby (with the birth date, how much he weighs, how long, etc.) and some memory books. She's continuing to put together the house to make it more like home. And of course laundry, cooking and baking, cleaning, and other stuff like that. Oh, and reading and trips to the library.

The baby is growing well. At the last appointment at 28 1/2 weeks the uterus measured 30 centimeters. Since the average is one centimeter per week we're ahead of schedule! Rachel feels good about just continuing what she's doing--eating plenty! The baby is moving around but doesn't like to perform for other people. When he's doing crazy somersaults and Rachel calls for Collin to come watch and feel without fail he stops as soon as Collin looks over.

Collin was initiated into our new calling yesterday. We're teaching the Sunbeams (actually only half of them--even then we have eight kids!). It's going to be a fun challenge. We have some very talkative ones, some shy ones, some rowdier ones. They are going to be a handful, but at least we get snacks during church. :)

Our big adventure Saturday was trying to install a new light fixture in the bathroom. We had to replace an absolutely horrid fluorescent fixture that didn't even turn on half the time. And since the bathroom is already a florid combination of yellow porcelain tiles, tub, sink, and toilet (I really do not know what possessed the original decorators of that bathroom. No one looks good in yellow. It's just so depressing in the morning to look at yourself in that mirror surrounded by yucky yellow tile.) a flickering fluorescent light just makes everything worse. So Rachel found a normal light fixture at Ikea for $4 and we set to the task of putting it in. We took out the nasty old one and Collin did most of the work while Rachel held screws and handed up tools. We had fun poking around in the creepy, rickety basement looking for the power box to turn off the power. Then we matched the right colors of wires on the fixture to the right colors of wires in the ceiling. It was all somewhat of an ordeal, since neither of us had really done this before (maybe watched someone else do the work, but never had to figure out how to do it ourselves). We were quite proud of ourselves when it was all put in. It still doesn't make up for the horrendous yellow bathroom, but it does make it slightly more manageable.

More Great News!

Well, it is official. We are having a baby boy! Rachel has seen with her own eyes what is causing the extreme weight gain in her midsection and some severe back aches. And if he isn't exactly cute now in his scrunched-up current home, we are confident he will be adorable soon!

We are loving making our new apartment into a comfortable home. There are still the few stray boxes to unpack, but this should all be done by the time the baby comes (hopefully!) We are enjoying getting to know our new surroundings and try to have a good attitude when we are lost which is often. The first thing everyone in the ward--even locals--ask us when they find out we are brand new from Utah is whether we have a GPS. Well, we don't . . . but Christmas is coming soon and we wouldn't refuse such a thoughtful gift!


One our favorite things so far is trash day. Apparently here in Belmont it is not only welcomed but expected that people go through other people's trash and take stuff. Especially during moving season Belmont residents put out couches, dressers, strollers, chairs, organizers, etc., etc., etc. that is lightly used or reparable--things that you would find at a thrift store for a few dollars. And it's all free for the taking if you can carry it or load it. We have found some much needed items this way--two dressers, a chair, a kitchen cabinet, and several other useful things. It's really funny to see people taking walks the evening before the garbage men come and take everything off the curb and rooting through stuff. And it's really fun to find something necessary in decent condition and know that it's completely free!!! This whole system works quite well for Collin's frugal nature and Rachel's thrill when finding a bargain.

Collin has also been to his first Red Sox game. It was a great introduction to the fan-culture here--being a "Sox" or a "Pats" (Patriots) or a "C" (Celtics) or a "B" (Bruins) fan is serious business.

We also are getting a little into the history of the East Coast. On our drive here we stopped at Gettysburg and met up with some friends from Utah, Liz and Joe Dixon. And we took a walk our first Sunday here along the Old North Bridge trail.