Pools & Transit

OUR FIRST WEEK IN CLEVELAND HAS FELT LIKE A MINI-VACATION, MINUS ALL THE UNPACKING.  JEFF HAS BEEN ABLE TO BE HOME WITH US FOR MOST OF THE WEEK, AND WE HAVE BEEN BUSY EXPLORING OUR NEW CITY.  THE RTA (PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM), WAS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO MY HUBBY AS IT IS WITHIN BLOCKS OF OUR HOUSE, INEXPENSIVE, AND TAKES YOU ALL OVER THE GREATER CLEVELAND AREA.  WE MAPPED OUT A SHORT TRIP TO SHAKER SQUARE, AN ATTRACTIVE SITE IN DOWNTOWN SHAKER HEIGHTS FULL OF SHOPS, RESTAURANTS AND TO OUR SURPRISE A SATURDAY'S FARMER'S MARKET. ("IT'S JUST LIKE MADISON..." JEFF COMMENTED.  NOT EXACTLY, BUT CHARMING NON THE LESS.) THE KIDS WERE VERY EXCITED FOR THEIR FIRST "TRAIN RIDE" AND LET OUT SWEET "CHUGA CHOO CHOOS AND WEES" FOR THE DURATION OF OUR 10 MINUTE RIDE.

TODAY WE ATTENDED OUR FIRST SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE AT PARKSIDE CHURCH IN CHAGRIN FALLS.  THIS CHURCH CAME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND IS THE HOME CHURCH OF PASTOR ALISTAIR BEGG, WHOSE TEACHINGS CAN ALSO BE HEARD ON THE RADIO PROGRAM TRUTH FOR LIFE.  WHILE THIS CHURCH COULD NOT BE MORE DIFFERENT IN SIZE, QUANTITY OF NURSERIES, AND NUMBER OF PASTORS ON STAFF THAN OUR HOME CHURCH IN MADISON, WE WERE GREATLY ENCOURAGED BY THIS MORNING'S MESSAGE AND LOOK FORWARD TO GROWING WITH THIS BODY OF BELIEVERS.  THE LITTLE LADY ENJOYED MEETING HER NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, AND WE ENJOYED LISTENING TO A MORNING MESSAGE WITHOUT HOLDING THE LITTLE MAN AS HE EXPERIENCED HIS FIRST NURSERY.  

AFTER SUNDAY NAPS, WE WERE COAXED INTO ANOTHER TRIP TO THE POOL.  THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT FOR AN AFTERNOON DIP, AND WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME SPLASHING ABOUT AND ENJOYING THE WARMTH OF THE SUN.

"READY!"

WE FOUND THE LITTLE LADY'S CHOICE OF SHOES TO BE QUITE AMUSING.  WE DID WAKE TO THUNDER STORMS THIS MORNING, SO PERHAPS SHE WAS JUST BEING PROACTIVE.  READY FOR RAIN OR SHINE.

THESE TWO ARE BECOMING THE BEST OF FRIENDS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING CONSIDERING WE LEFT ALL OF OUR FRIENDS BEHIND.  DON'T WORRY, THE KIDS ARE VERY SOCIAL AND WALK UP TO PERFECT STRANGERS SAYING "HI" AND STARTING CONVERSATIONS.  SERIOUSLY, I HAVE NEVER SPOKE TO SO MANY STRANGERS IN MY LIFE.  SHAKER HEIGHTS IS A VERY FRIENDLY PLACE TO LIVE!

THANKFULLY, I AM HERE WITH MY BEST FRIEND, TOO.