It's official. I've done all I can do......so, my apologies to all that shall enter our humble abode this weekend. I'll be at a conference the rest of the week. David is in Starkvegas. So, what's done is done.

Work has me tightly wound. Hopefully, getting out of my cubible will be good for the soul. Thankfully, the conference is about 30 minutes from my grandparents. I'll get a good visit in before heading back to T-town.

just a ramble

I’ve had to work longer days this week b/c of my frantic upheaval last week. I think I had to cut off my boss mid-sentence 4 out of the 5 days. While technically, we are an 8-5 office….. salaried individuals are expected to work longer hours. We were told that 40 hours is a base minimum. VBS was totally worth the dirty looks though!! Four children accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior!!!

My little brother & his wife drove up Tuesday night for dinner. They even graciously picked David up in Starkville and took him back. Thanks for the gas-saving tactics of Matt. It was the first big meal I’ve cooked in the house…… plus the first time we ate on our dining table. I just re-covered the chairs this weekend…..so, it was nice to use them!! I miss having family around... especially my brothers. I remember going off to college without them. It was the first time anyone met me for me.....not me & my brothers (we are stair-steps..only a year apart b/t each of us). My brothers eventually ended up at MSU (but 3-4 years later). Anyway, I love my sister-in-law, Kellie (David's sister is named Kelly as well). Matthew married such a lady. I'm so proud of him. He's doing so well at his job (& making 3x my salary!!). They'll go far in life in many ways. I wish they lived closer.

We still have boxes everywhere……and nothing is hanging on the walls. I still haven’t found blinds/curtains for several rooms. It’s a never ending battle I’ve decided. I don’t want to shove boxes in the attic without going thru them first. I’m trying my best to purge!

VBS

VBS (Vacation Bible School) is this week!! I have the privilege to teach missions… something, if you know me……know that it's something that I truly have a passion for!! I left a part of my heart on the other side of the world (Ukraine) a few years back. I know that missions will always be a part of my life…… I love new languages and cultures. (David too... he's been to Haiti & Honduras on missions!!) My Russian is getting pretty rusty around these parts. I’ve only met one person here that I’ve been able to converse in Russian with. I guess for all practical purposes, Spanish would have been a good language to invest some time in!! Okay, back to the kids…… oh, the kids are great. I have 1 yr olds to 12 yr olds!! My lessons are geared toward the older kids……so, the younger ones are a bit trickier. I must admit, I’m plain pooped by the time I get home. Although, all day at work……I have our VBS theme song running through my head.
The kids are learning a lot about different “islands” of the world. I feel like a geography teacher…..(which is truly more David’s forte……he kicks my tail on the geography section of Trivial Pursuit). Our lessons are pretty short, so creativity has to play a role in it. I’m definitely not a gifted teacher like so many of the other workers (that are in fact teachers), but I do love to see the children smile as they soak up things of God. Even some neighborhood kids have come to VBS this week (two of which I mentioned in an earlier post). They are precious!!

I don’t work with kids much anymore (I know & I was a nanny in college!!.. not to mention the 2 daycares I worked at!!). It’s a strange place to be right now……if you have kids =then you’re involved with the kids. If you don’t have kids, then somehow you aren’t involved. I think David & I feel like lepers sometimes at church b/c we don’t have little ones. I guess a young couple like us without kids… it’s just plain crazy in the South.

Our church covets your prayers this week. So many children come to know the Lord through VBS. We hope that many will come to find Jesus as Savior & Lord!!!

But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Luke 18:16 NIV

Bottletree Bakery

We had a lovely, yet abbreviated time with everyone Saturday. A few of us arch. grads got together in Oxford. Several people were around for weddings this past weekend (Robyn & Andy, Kelly & Matt)... plus Anne, Lacie Carole & I drove over. (Anne, I had a great time with you Friday night. Glad we got some extra time before the semi-reunion!! I'm glad Jack liked you.......and I'm glad the spare bedroom was semi-put-together!!)It was so refreshing to spend time with my counterparts. College carved out the perfect niche for us all. Then, we were dumped in the real world. It's hard find those friends that challenge, spur, and understand you. David & I have made friends here......although, we both realize that our college friends will never be replaced. I realize how much I miss that intellectual stimulation!! I miss discussions on theory & philosophy. I haven't found anyone that's heard of Jane Jacobs, much less mourned her passing. I miss someone truly understanding what I do!

If another person asks me, "Do you draw houses?"....comments, "Oh, you make so much money." (Yeah, look up the national average! I could make much more teaching! You only make the big bucks if you OWN your firm) ....or the real kicker, "I wish I could spend my days just drawing." (To which I reply,"So do I!!") Okay, down off my soapbox......I just miss the mutual understanding that I had with my classmates. Life is so short, I guess I'm just blessed to have for a time been completely surrounded by the most wonderfully gifted, clever, and freakin' hilarious people.

To my fellow archies: YOU ROCK!! You are loved!! Let's definitely do that reunion!!