four generations....myself, Sara, Elisa's father Chris Noonan, Phillip, Elisa, William, and her 92 year old grandmother.

I spent the night Wednesday with Elisa's parents, Chris and Elaine and really enjoyed getting to know them. I really like the whole family.

I took a break Tuesday and went to see my new grandson, Jamie. I guess I was more excited than I thought because as I was preparing to load my car, I locked my keys inside the house and locked myself outside the house! Luckily, I had the cell phone with me. I called Cynthia who had to walk back to the house from the metro station to let me in, making her late for work on a day she had an important meeting. What a way to start the day. I felt so rotten for causing her so much trouble, but after almost a 100 miles of praying, I was able to put it into proper perspective and enjoy the rest of the day.

These are photos of William, Elisa, and their family - her son Phillip, his daughter Sara, and their son Jamie and a very happy grandma. This was the first time Sara had seen the baby; Phillip saw him Tuesday night.

NOW, remember that Elisa drove me to DC on Saturday. On Tuesday, September 1, 2008 at 1:42AM, 7 lb. 15 oz. William James (Jamie) Strange was born! We are calling her Super Mom.

I failed to mention earlier that the toilet was delivered Tuesday am, and I went to Home Depot and picked up the tank the same day, so once again, Adam and Cynthia came home from work and immeditely began to put it together. So now I have a very nice working bathroom, and we are only waiting for the kitchen counter top and sink. But I am able to stay in my apartment and I LOVE IT.

actually at this point, things are looking much better. After two yard sales and lots of give a ways, I still had way too much to fit into the apartment. I have since given away 14 boxes of food storage (to members of the church in need) with the help of the bishopric and the relief society. I have donated several boxes to a thrift store and am in the process of trying to figure out where to put the rest.

Cynthia and Adam had worked feverously for the past month to get things ready and ran into one problem after another. So the first couple of nights I spent upstairs in their guest bedroom.

Of course we did not work or shop on Sunday, so it was Monday before we were able to get to Ikea and purchase the wardrobe. The did not have the hinges at the time, but Cynthia and Adam put it together without doors for now. At least I was able to get my clothes off the bed and I slept in my bed finally Monday night. The fun part was in the fact that I still did not have a toilet downstairs, so there were two flights of steps to go to the restroom. Oh, my poor aching knees!

Leaving one phase of my life, beginning another.
We had to go by the church building in South Boston one more time and it excited me to see that they were pouring the sidewalks around the building. I look forward to returning to visit at the dedication.
Then....Elisa laughed at me as my excitement grew. I began the countdown at 50 miles to DC, then 46, next 38 all the way to my first glimse of my new hometown and the beautiful Washington Monument. What a moment.

Again, I failed to take any pictures of the unloading. I helped a tiny little bit, William, Adam, and Cynthia worked like dogs. We would not let Elisa do anything as she was due to have a baby in 15 days.