I was talking to my parents on my drive home yesterday (Friday) when I was able to announce to them that I had seen my first bit of snow on the ground as I turned onto my street Liberty Rd. I just love my street name! Anyways, I saw just a few specks of snow flurries while I was at my office and in the D.C. area but nothing like what Joli got to see! Our area (Northeastern part of Frederick County) probably got close to an inch of slow for our first snow fall of the season! Hey! Not bad as it is still a little early. It was so fun to drive up my driveway and see patches of snow covering most of the grassy areas around our property. Today there are still a few patches remaining. It is just beautiful. I wish Joli could describe what it was like. She said is was so peaceful when it came down.

I’m still trying to get use to this new part of America and hope I will get settled in soon. I have had trouble breathing on and off since I left San Diego. It all started when I hit Colorado and has been up and down ever since. I’m not sure if it is stress, the different climates, or what! The weather here has changed so much since I moved so I don’t think it is the weather as I’ve seen really hot, really humid, San Diego like weather and now this cold front. Today the high is around 30. The cool part is that I can deal with 30! My buddy, Ben Laughman, told me yesterday it did not get much colder than 30 in the middle of the day in Maryland (not including the wind), so I thought that was real cool! Don’t get me wrong 30 is VERY cold but not outrageously cold. I’m buying my first pair of long-johns today and already have an umbrella and two pairs of gloves! My job this fall consists of selling Christmas displays, so unfortunately, all my estimates are OUTSIDE! I had an appointment the other day when the temp was 23 degrees! OHHH was I cold. My body finally broke down on Thursday. All day Thursday through today I’ve felt like a whipped puppy. I have been outside quite a bit this week, and this has been the coldest week to date. So, I’m staying inside today getting a good amount of R&R trying to beat this flu bug or whatever it is I have! It is hard for me to stay in bed all day, so I got up to upload a few photos of our kids, family and write this quick blog.

One cool activity I just started was playing basketball with a group of Christian men on Tuesday and Thursdays. The last time I played ball with a group of guys on a weekly basis was in high school 15 years ago at the YMCA in Mission Valley. These guys are just awesome. They will discuss a few prayer items and pray together before we all start. We play from 6am to between 7 and 7:30. It has been great for me to get the exercise and get back in shape, as I don’t do well just being a runner or sitting in front of an exercise video. Just completed my 2nd week playing and am feeling better.

In short, besides my health issues, I am LOVING Maryland. I am so happy here yet must say…I wish I could see my wonderful Chism Family more often. God has not made it possible for man to figure out a way to be in two separate parts of the country at the same time. Sometimes I wish it were that easy. I love and miss my California family and my dear friends so much. Please come and visit whenever you are near DC or Baltimore. We are right in the middle of these cities.