Love our new stomping ground

yay we just moved into our new house here in Michigan City and finally have internet and things to brag about. The two things that make blogging. first of all -I LOVE OUR HOUSE! I love it. The only thing I'm sad about is that we'll only be here for a couple of years before we're off to who knows where for med school. So I am really going to make our time here count and I feel like I'm off to a good start. Everything is unpacked and decorated (even though it did take me 2 months to finish. you can't rush decorating. It has to come to you I've found.) But our house is beautiful and I plan on taking a picture tour of it tomorrow. Cross your fingers that I make it to the finish line of posting the pics and writing about it all. My motivation? All I can hear is my sisters Janessa and Jamie's voices in my head begging for a blog update and pictures of the house. So besides the house being wonderful the city and branch are awesome as well. yes I said branch not ward. We're not in Utah, that's for sure but I LOOOOVE the branch here. Since Dylan and I have been married we have Lived in Valparaiso which was the same ward my parents were in so it kinda felt like "the Jolley's ward" and then we moved to Hebron ward wich is where Dylan's family went so it felt like their ward but finally we now have a place that we feel is OUR turf. Everyone is so welcoming (although everyone knew a suprising amount of details about Dylan and I which was kind of weird when a stranger comes up to you and says "I heard you weren't able to make it to your mom group last week. I'm sorry" or "I heard you got a new washer and dryer. I bet that's nice." But atleast people care enough to talk about us I guess). Everyone is awesome at stepping up to the plate and pitching in. ha those are both baseball things and I didn't even mean to do that. I'm so clever and don't even know it). We had dinner with the Fowlers and it came up that someone in the primary presidency also plays the piano PLUS is the chorister. I don't even know how that would work?! I told Kimberly that I was the primary chorister in Valpo and I loved that calling... wouldn't ya know it, a week later called into bishop's office. boom. primary chorister just like that. I'm excited. This week I'm getting set apart and it will be official. They told Dylan that he has to wait for his calling, that they had something they're holding on for and the first thing I thought of was... the branch presidency has been there for 5 years and there's talk that they're going to be released soon... but who's to know. but Michigan City is THE place to be. I tell you what you non believers out there - we got it all! one block away a beautiful cemetery. Maybe that's creapy to some of you but I love it. Our little family goes walking through it every night. It can take a good hour to go around the whole thing, that's how big it is. our neighborhood is so cute with kids always riding bikes or running through sprinklers. It is a quiet, nice, friendly block which is the best of one world but what makes it the best of the other world is that only half a mile away is Franklin street which has everything anyone could ever want. The best restaurants including sophia's house of pancakes (which I still have to try but I've heard it's the best :) there's Papa John's, Texas Road House, the best chinese I have EVER had at a place called Gourmet House, all of the major fast food chains, and Olive Garden which is a classic favorite. There is all of the shopping that I could want including a mall, Home Depot (which is a store I actually like. weird. who is this Jennifer? I know!) wal mart, hobby lobby, joann's fabric, and the real dollar store where everything actually really is only a dollar :) oh my there is so so much more that I can't even put down because I have already wasted so much boring time just listing the highlights. but just know it is a wonderful, magical road that should be paved in yellow brick. I didn't know such a place could really exist. believe it. we also have an outlet mall, amazing mom and pop old fashioned drive in place where every day they make their rootbeer. SOOO good, we have an outlet mall (plus the indoor one I mentioned earlier) we also have a splash pad, zoo, (this is the only pic i got of it. sad) and last but not least, the cherry on top... the beach is 10 minutes away!! And we are not talking smelly salt lake beach or rocky hard beach, we are talking soft white sand, awesome waves, adorable light house, cool marina, need-a-pass-to-get-in, VIP, type beach. It is beautiful. so there you have it. Can you tell I like it here? We moved here because it is in between Purdue North Central, 15 minutes away in Westville where Dylan goes to school, and 5/3 bank, 15 minutes away in Chesterton where Dylan works. If you can meet in the middle then that is what we call a perfect situation my friend. Dylan and I are so blessed and I hope that God doesn't humble me for bragging so much but I can't help it, i'm so happy here! :)