Shall I even?

No. I shall not.  This post was about to be a venting post, but I am not far enough yet from the situation that I will not bleed all over you as I write.  So, let me take a few steps (days) back and calm.  The glories of community living.

Instead, while Adeline naps soundly, let me catch you up on our lives.

Matthew started back to classes about a week ago so the three of us are trying to get back into a groove.  Poor Matthew has yet to really get into his classes, which of course would make it hard to enjoy the work he must put into them.  He, still, plugs on.  I am anxious for him to latch onto something that interests him.  Sometimes the quickest of sentences in a book, a glimpse of something more interesting in a lecture, or a deep question brought to the surface can turn the least piquing class into a catalyst.  I pray that soon happens for Matthew.

So, mornings are basically the same in our household.  He dashes off to chapel/breakfast/class/lunch/work crew while I ready Adeline and myself, head over to the Canter household, and then get to work for a few hours.  But now, I have Margaret very shortly only a few days a week.  Ashley has been able to become a stay-at-home mom and has graciously offered to continue watching Adeline for me in the mornings.  The girls play, Ashley and I still get some adult contact, and I can still work.  We are eternally grateful to Ashley and even more excited for her…perhaps just a little envious as well..

That leaves my afternoons pretty much open.  Adeline and I usually head over to the refectory for lunch (yes, a guaranteed meal!) and then spend some good quality time together.  How wonderful to be able to do all of my running in the afternoons before Matthew gets home.  Wonderfully, however, I keep Margaret for a very few hours every week so the girls get some play time at our home, too.  Only one thing is better than a baby giggling, and that is two babies giggling!

That is pretty much the extent of our lives these days.  Nothing exciting and that is just the way we like it.  I will update again soon, but now it is time to prepare dinner, wake Adeline from her nap, and wait for Papa to come home for his few hours before he puts his nose to the grindstone for the rest of the night.

May you all have peaceful and un-eventful weeks…and I pray that you may hear at least one baby giggle this week.  It is the highest of blessing!

Something new…

I can sit by myself!

Playing with the toy Uncle Jonathan got for me.

Playing my drums that Uncle Andrew got for me.

Back Home Again in Indiana

This past weekend, Matthew, Adeline, and I struck out for Indiana to visit family and friends.  Matthew and I both went to college in Indiana, Marion to be exact, and found our first Episcopal church family shortly after we were married.  We spent many good times with our friends there and we truly miss them.  It’s certainly difficult to not think of our very first rector when I’m surrounded by priests every day!  We were able to stay with Fr. Jim and Kresha and really enjoyed catching up on the goings on at Gethsemane Church and Marion in general.

I was concerned that Adeline would not do well on a six hour car ride, but she did beautifully.  We stopped at a Target store about half-way through, got her out of her carseat, and walked around for about an hour.  It was nice for Matthew and me, too, to not rush as we have a tendancy to do while traveling. 

Before getting to Marion, we stopped in Pierceton to see my grandmother.  We haven’t seen her in almost three years, and though we knew she is healthy, I was nervous as to how she REALLY was.  Well, just was just as we remembered.  She was overjoyed to meet Adeline and Adeline loved her.  I pray to God that if I live to be her age that I will be just as healthy and astute. 

While in Indiana, we introduced Adeline to the glories of Penguin Point tenderloins, Ivanhoe’s Ice Cream, and the Ice House’s sandwiches…and I think I put on at least 4 or 5 pounds! Horrible!

When I was in college, I took a Nature Literature class.  It’s theme was “What is Home?”  and everything we did revolved around it.  By the end of the class, I determined that both Davenport, Iowa and Marion, Indiana were my homes.  Now we are at Nashotah House and the question intensifies!  I was born and raised in Davenport, started our marriage in Marion, and will raise Adeline for the first three years of her life here at Nashotah.  This is a question I am pondering  this week.  I thought I had it figured out in Nature Lit class, but I’m questioning that these days.  Was one of my very best essays wrong? Is a place not home if you don’t live there?

Anyway, we loved being with you, Indiana friends, and will miss you.  We miss Gethsemane and are grateful for all that you have taught us and that we still learn from you though we are away.

Happy New Year-ish!

I pray that you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas and beginning of 2009.  I haven’t posted in so long because we have had a beautiful holiday season!

We were able to go back to Davenport for a few days to be with our families and church family and have spent the rest of our time here at Nashotah House.  How rare a treat it has been to spend the majority of our days all together!  I’ve just returned to work for my 15 hours a week and Matthew has been able to be home with Adeline during that time.  I love coming home and seeing what the two of them have accomplished together. They are truly the best of pals and Adeline is a definite daddy’s girl. What a beautiful way to start our new year.

I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions, though I do tend to set a few goals each year.  (Often times the same ones…)

1.  Lose the rest of this baby weight.  Most of it is gone, but it sure doesn’t feel like it.  This includes a Weight Watchers meal plan and going to the YMCA as much as possible.

2.  Get back to/or close to my normal reading schedule.  I used to read about a book a week.  I’ve only read one since Adeline has been born!

3.  Start crafting again.  I love to knit, sew, and embroider.  I owe Matthew a bag for his diabetes stuff and there are 1000 things I would like to make for Adeline.  I’m currently working on making a felt book for Adeline about Anglicanism.  It is called-duh dun dun dun!- The Anglican Alphabet by Mama and Papa.  It is important to Matthew and me that she grows up knowing what we do and why we do it.

4.  In all things, especially my roles as wife and mother, be an example of Christ’s love.  This is the hardest for me because I tend to be a grouch.  But I sure am planning to give it a go.

Expect more blogging in the next week and onward.  Matthew goes back to school next week and life will get back to “normal” or something like it.  Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to strive towards our goals as you are in ours.

God’s peace!