ALABAMA

At last, the lost daughter has appeared in cyberspace, calling: Greetings, Utah! Come in, Utah. Can you hear me? Is anyone out there? My voice just dies out though, because, well, the great people of Alabama don't make mountains like the Utahn's do. It's all right though. It's been pretty warm, lots of rain, and a frightening windstorm to shake things up a bit. Just their way of saying, Welcome, we like you and have a good life--and speaking of which, mine is pretty good.

Jacob and I have settled into our apartment, it's a cute little place. One bedroom, a vanity and a toilet/shower room, A family room and a tiny dining room that connects to the kitchen and niches for the washer and dryer. Jacob and I have been decorating it slowly, placing pictures of all of you on top of shelves and the mantle. Oh! We have a fireplace! Very handy.

My new goal is to go running every morning, apply to one nursing home a day and learn this town inside and out! Jake seems to have already picked up on this little current, he keeps sending me out on my own with brief instruction and keys to the van. So far, I haven't gotten lost once! Ka chigga.

News keeps trickling downstream from Utah and it's fun to receive phone calls and hear about the dating lives of my brothers, Dane and Braun, and then to talk to my sister, a mere ten hours away in Texas. Though I am relatively far away, I feel very close to you all and I think that helps the heart ache.

The ward is very kind, though, they are fewer than those in my single's ward, or even in any ward in Utah for that matter, but they all have very large hearts and have taken us under their wings. We were given some furniture by the Bishop's wife, and my neighbor (about five minutes away by car) had me over for lunch :D Her name is Rachel and she's some years older than me but I felt right at home. She was so kind and I got to know another woman in the ward. Rachel is an amazing cook--she won't admit it, but she knows a thing or two I'd like to learn. She made Banana pudding with whipped cream and nilla wafers...oh, my mouth has been watering all morning. I want some more! It's my new favorite food in all the whole wide world.

I wish that I could rewind and start from day one of Jake and my courtship and through the honeymoon and every day since, but there is so much to cover and so many thoughts and feelings and ideals that have passed through my porous brain, so I will begin today and try to share with those of you who are following, just a tiny insight into my life. :D

Love, love, love, love,

Baby Courtney
(And Jacob)