Monday, November 27, 2006

A beautiful day for a birthday

It's my birthday. I feel like I've been celebrating for days already-I've already received and opened presents from my wonderful family in Virginia while we were there for Thanksgiving. And I was treated to a wonderful Mediterranean meal by my parents.

I'm at work after being out all last week. I'm really enjoying working today. My co-workers are all out of the office, so I'm playing good music and enjoying the sun coming in my office windows while I plan upcoming events and read my e-mail.

So let's say hurray! for low-key birthdays.

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Work

I did some this week. More working than usual, actually. I had a very successful teen halloween program and a successful internet program for older elementary and middle school students and their parents. In addition to the usual five preschool storytimes, collection development, planning, etc. I felt useful.

Matt and I continue to struggle with the place of work in our lives. We like our jobs. We like our church. We like our house. Most of the time, we like our cat. But we continue to feel off balance, out of whack, too often spread thin. Matt's job has been demanding long days and weekend time. I feel thankful for the flexibility I enjoy, even when I work weekends or evenings as well. But the very nature of my position requires being spread between too many places and people to serve.

We'd like to be more centered. Invested in one community. We're wondering when it could be right to bring a new life into our family. Matt's talking about a doctoral program again. I'm afraid of packing our life and our memories into boxes AGAIN. I'm looking at the people around us here, people I've only begun to know but that I love, and wondering how I can say goodbye.

"If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open." James 1:5-8, The Message

Strawberry Swirl

Sounds like a wonderful ice cream flavor to enjoy in early summer, but it also makes for pretty sock yarn.Dyed by me, with Kool-Aid, Monday night.