Life here started out slow and simple. It was cold and snowy, but soon warmed up and we haven't gotten any snow since.We had about month here to get settled and organized. It was really fun we spent alot of time together that we don't normally get and probably wont get for a while, if ever again.
The pace started to pick up slowly after Ron and I spoke in church. He was called to be the young mens president. At first I was so excited for him then I was felt disappointed. The reason I felt a bummed is because everyone here has been telling me that this first year is the hardest and throughout this whole experience I will become a "chiropractic widow" hardly ever seeing my husband. So I thought just one more thing he has to do, means less time with me. Then I got called to be the activity days leader.Which is good, I always liked activity days when I was younger, and we get to go to church on Wednesdays together twice a month! There is always a silver lining, he is an amazing leader, and rises to every challenge he meets.
I really wanted to get my masters degree while I was out here, but I have felt the need to support Ron. After he received his calling I really felt the need to support him and put off my masters. I will get it, but I just don't know when.
School started at the beginning of March, it started slow then kicked into hyper-drive. Ron is taking 30 credits this semester. He is really busy studying ALL the time. He also is playing baseball on the Palmer team which is a nice stress reliever for him.I have been doing my Iowa licensing for the past three weeks up in Ceder Rapids which is about 65 miles away. So last week I saw Ron for a total of about 4 hours. I was really sad I missed my sweet husband. I have also been working at the ymca here teaching swimming lessons, but I want to get a job that pays better and has better hours. So I am going to try and find a job for the summer, because I am set for when school starts again.
We live in whats called the Quad Cities. It is composed of Davenport where we live, Bettendorf IA, Moline and Rock Island which are a part of Illinois. The area of town where we live is ghetto with a capital G. There are houses which are really old many of the originals. They are huge and I can only imagine how they looked in their prime. So we live in the old part of town mostly comprised of Black people. I have never lived in a place with so many Black people, even in all the places we have lived and we have lived in 4 different states since we have been married. I am a little scared of them because when they are on their porches and I drive by they all stop and watch me. I have also heard that there is a lot of crime that happens in this part of town which I think contributes to me being a little scared. (Dont tell my mom!)
All in all we really do like living here. The weather is good the grass is green and the trees are starting to turn green as well. We have a really awesome ward and have made some good friends. Although things may be challenging at times we are happy and know this is where we are supposed to be, and we couldn't have chosen better companionship to go through this crazy, challenging and wonderful time of our lives.
