Our New Life In The City

We've now been settling into our new "city life" for almost four weeks. We exchanged a typical suburban lifestyle (where the living is very easy, I must say) to a most urban one. We live right IN the city; not outside of, not in a suburb, but smack dab in it. The adjustment has been surprisingly non-eventful. By that I mean, there hasn't been much of an adjustment at all. I am astonished by our children's ability to adapt to the most dramatic of environmental changes. As I type, I can see the skyline of the financial district and Union Square as well as the the morning commuters making their trek into downtown from Highway 101. I used to type with a view of our swimming pool, nestled into our cul-du-sac in our gated community. Now the only gate to be had, is the one that protects our front door from the possible non-desirable elements of the city. Yes, its different, but different can definitely be good!

Most of you know that the reason we moved was for Sloan to attend a school that specializes in teaching bright kids with learning differences. At his old school, he was being punitively sent to the office almost daily right before we pulled him out. They did not know how to approach his differences. At his new school, I get a daily progress report sent home on how he performed throughout each subject of the day. He gets a star in almost every subject, every day! What a contrast! With slight modifications, and teachers who are enlightened with differentiated approaches, all children can learn, succeed and reach their potential. I asked Sloan if he was homesick or if he wished we hadn't moved. He exclaimed, "No! I love it here! And I want to go to The Laurel School forever!" That one statement made it worth every step of this journey.

I had an epiphany or revelation the other day. Since I spent a semester in London in law school, I have always gravitated toward cities, and lamented the fact that I hadn't lived in one for longer. (Sorry Angelenos, L.A. doesn't count. ;) I thought that my time had passed since we had kids and families just don't live in big cities; or so I reasoned. Still, that yearning always remained. I realized just recently while navigating the busy streets of San Francisco, that it was God who gave me that desire. He gave me that desire though for a purpose. I hadn't moved to a city earlier just for self-serving purposes. He waited until their was a much greater purpose: Sloan needing THIS school, in THIS city, at THIS time. No wonder the transition has been so easy. God had been preparing our family for this all along. So follow us along on our new city adventures. Though the transition has been easy thus far, their are many potential obstacles and road bumps headed our way. So we'll all be holding onto the cable car for dear life.


Our new city views from our home




The Bay Bridge view from our kitchen and master bedroom


And a peek-a-boo of the Golden Gate; just the tops



Sloan's first day of school


Way to go Sloan. We knew you could do it!


Moving day. 22,000 lbs of "stuff" Yikes! Notice the hill. We're gonna be in shape!


Kensie and Chad in Chinatown


A beautiful day in a beautiful city!


Our "city kids" holding onto the cable car for dear life. (Even though this one isn't moving. ;)