A whole new world...

Those of you reading this will probably know most of the things in this blog, but some may not...so here you go.
I've been thinking about starting a blog to keep others involved in our life and what is going on. Since we are no longer connected quite as easily to others (though the internet and phone may not make that seem so) and through some persuading of Theresa, I decided to let our friends and family have a new way to see into our lives.
I make no promises as to how often I will update, as most of you know it is the first year of teaching for both of us...but I will try.
Chris and I moved from Kalamazoo after both graduating and Chris substituting for a semester. We moved in with my mom in Hudsonville (near Grand Rapids) for the summer. This time was fantastic. I didn't see as many friends as I had hoped, but we got to hang out with my family a lot. We spent some time up north with Chris' parents, visited with some friends, got to be with Nicole and Janell on their birthdays, met part of the Foo Fighters (random), swam, and overall got to relax and have a good summer.
We also spent lots of time applying for teaching jobs and after visiting to interview, we both were offered and accepted jobs at Hoke County Schools in Raeford, NC. That is where we found a rental house that has some problems, but I absolutely love. Chris started school last week and is having a great time thus far, but is extremely busy. I have been going through things and unpacking the rest of our stuff. I start school on Monday, though I don't have kids for two weeks after that.
We also got a dog (Paris), who is beginning to show us more of her personality. She is quickly adjusting and we already love her.
As for North Carolina? It's beautiful here. There are things that I love and things that I don't like so much.
Loves so far: how green it is, the southern hospitality and how genuine people are, our house, the small town, downtown Fayetteville and a cafe with tapas we found there - Blue Moon Cafe, gas prices (at least compared to MI), how open people are about talking about their religion, a neighborhood I feel comfortable walking the dog in, the beauty of the whole state, and teaching jobs!
Things that are not my cup of tea? There are lots of those as well: lots of bugs (red ants..everywhere, cockroaches, and crickets)...though less mosquitoes, no fenced-in backyard with a dog, our landlord, how many things you have to do when you move out-of-state, how ridiculously hot is it and how much you sweat.
The good news? The good outweighs the bad.
There. Now you are updated on our life. The boring stuff is out of the way and we can get into the rest of life...