Dearest friends and family!

So, this is our FIRST post from our NEW home in LA! And, although we are still surrounded by boxes, it is really starting to feel like home... I think we're going to be really happy here.

We arrived on the afternoon of the 29th and, after a cursory look at our empty new home, headed straight for Hollywood! We had drinks overlooking the city and then walked down Hollywood boulevard before driving back to a local Italian restaurant near our home. David and Emily stayed at a hotel near the airport and left very early on the morning of the 30th, leaving the Gilchrist family to live minimalisticly until Monday, when our stuff arrived!

Although it was frustrating to have a few days in an empty apartment, it meant that we had time to explore the local neighbourhood. In one direction, we are a 2 minute walk from the Marina - and around the Marina there is a lovely 1/2 hour walk to our local shops - and then, in the other direction, we are a 2 minute walk from the quieter end of Venice beach and the gorgeous Venice canals! It feels like a really fun area, with lots of life and things to do... simply perfect for an 18 month stint in the sunshine!

We tried out 2 churches on Sunday - and although both of them are good, we did not have a sure sense that either of them was the one the Lord wants us to settle in during our time here. We are trying one more local church this Sunday and then we'll travel the 1/2 hour south to Rick Warren's church the following week... we're praying that the Lord will make it clear which one He wants us to join!

Although I am coping admirably (!), it seems that the stresses of moving do not suit the Gilchrist men! Ed has come down with a nasty man cold (although he is feeling much better today) and Daniel has decided that sleeping through the night has gone out of fashion. He seems fine throughout the day, but he has been crying in his sleep quite often and is waking every few hours wanting a cuddle. I guess all the change we've been through over the past few weeks is quite a lot for the little fella to cope with... isn't it great to know that, just as this move is part of the perfect plan that our Heavenly Father has mapped out for Ed and I, so we can trust that this is all part of preparing our son for a constantly changing and uncertain world where the ONLY firm ground to stand is Jesus!

I haven't found the camera yet, so no photos this time (sorry!) - once I find it (!) I will try to take some pictures of our new home so that you can get a taste for the new Gilchrist pad!

One last thing - apologies if you have sent us an email in the past few weeks - we only got Internet set up a couple of days ago and have a mountain of emails to wade through - we're doing our best! Please don't think we're ignoring you!