We are alive in Montana. Barely alive, but alive nonetheless. The intensity in both the work and pace of life has not slowed down since busy season started. In fact, it feels like it has increased in speed. I'm finding myself with less and less time to do things like talk on the phone and read emails, let alone respond to emails, read blogs and post blogs! (To the shock and gasp of some of my friends, I've only found time to download pictures from my camera two times in 2009! Thank you, God, for multiple memory cards!) Here are the highlights:
1) We took a five day vacation via driving (13 +) hours in the truck to Colorado where we camped for three days with Jeremy's friends from NC. Then we visited MORE friends of Jeremy's who currently live in Colorado Springs. It was good to get away from MT. The trip confirmed our theory that CO would be the grand "compromise" location for us to live. Too bad a compromise isn't up for discussion... :)
2) The puppy is like having a fourth child who destroys all of my things but will never take care of me in retirement. Because of the stress of said dog, I haven't even managed to go to the park with my kids this summer. Summer will be over in approximately five weeks. I suppose there is always next year!
3) We have submitted paperwork to be licensed as adoptive foster parents and this past weekend we spent 18 hours getting trained, if that is at all possible. (For those who don't know, we feel that God wants us to (eventually) adopt two little girls. We want to be "ready" if and when God leads us to bring a daughter home out of foster care.) If you want to be confronted with the realities of sin in the community where you live, if you want to get out of your "Christian bubble" and see suffering just a few streets down from your own house, then get licensed as a foster parent. There were times sitting in the class that I was physically sick hearing the stories of what happens to kids in my community. (Thank you, Lord, for the grace shown to me and my family that those things didn't happen to us.)
4) House projects. Oh the house projects! Oh the woes of buying a house as old as your father...
5) Jeremy's parents are here visiting (and cooking and working on #4 above and playing and playing and playing). I found them a house just two blocks away to live in. Too bad that isn't up for discussion right now either...
6) Hannah needs to drop her nap so that she will actually go to sleep at night. Benjamin's nap needs to be shortened so that HE will go to sleep at night. You can imagine how much this thrills me!
7) I got a piece of mental sanity (a NordicTrac A.C.T.) and it is the biggest reason why I've successfully avoided professional therapy this summer. :) And in addition to the sanity, my "old" body is s-l-o-w-l-y coming back. I'm so glad I had 2/3 of my pregnancies in Korea! It is impossible to "bounce back" without walking everywhere!
Those are the highlights. Off to wake up the kiddos...
