Potpurri

Here's a broad overview of what is happening with the Ryerse Family:

Robb has an application in for a Bible and Theology 1 year teaching position at John Brown University (about 20 mile from us). He sent initial paperwork already and they contacted him to fill out their application. He is about to take over as interim manager at Family Christian Store until the DM can come from MS and interview him for the regular Manager position in the first week of May. He is also still teaching at PCCS until May.

Tonight we are doing our taxes. I have no idea where all the "stuff" for that is and it will be on my to do list to round up the "stuff" from hither and yon. This includes, but is not limited to, figuring out the adoption costs of Charleigh.

We are also trying to make a decision about the price of the house we are selling. With our time at HH ending, we need to sell soon, but have a financial obligation to Ithaca Baptist to fulfill since they loaned us money for a down payment, which we are to return to them. This has been on our minds all these months. Tax return will play into this.

I am exploring different housing options, and have spent a good chunk of the last few days on the phone making appointments to see rentals and finding out who will put up with pets. Most of these situations require a 1 year lease, so I am also trying to research all the different schools to avoid having the kids in one school one year and another the next. (There is not "school of choice." It is limited to where you live.)

I'm behind on ebay and got a nuetral feedback last night which reads, and I quote...

"??????"

Since I haven't gotten any other communication from this buyer I am left wondering what the stink the problem is. I couldn't have used more bubble wrap or been more honest in the description. I'm left scratching my head.

All three kids and I have colds, which Robb has just decided that he WILL NOT get. So far, willpower is working for him.

Mattie is taking her first batch of standardized tests at school. She said they were mostly easy.

Vin and his dad have been getting up early in the morning to spend time together. They are working on a great project together. I will let Robb elaborate on it, but it's pretty cool....and I've gotten to sleep in for the last few mornings with no kid with ice cold feet wanting to cuddle with me at 5:30 a.m.

Charleigh turned 2 last week and has decided to become very conversational. Last night, while bringing her in from the car, we had this chat....

Charleigh: "Seat"
"yes, Charleigh, that is your car seat."

Charleigh: "Car. Brooom. Seat Car."

"yes, that's right. That is your car seat in the car that goes 'brooom'."

Charleigh: "Nubia!"
"okay, we forgot your bunny. Let's go get it."

(nubia, btw, is her word for "bunny." )

Last night was our Informational Meeting for Vintage Fellowship and we had a good group there. There was a good energy, even though I must admit that is was very weird to be "back in the saddle." I told the story of how Vintage Fellowship began and the guys did the other talking. Jaye T covered all the behind the scenes work, including getting up during the meeting to check on my kidlets who were having some kind of juice altercation. It was fun to see Robb and A together in action again...it hasn't been that easy-going and fun since college. We got a commitment from a guy who is very serious about helping as Worship leader, which was huge. He's a big U2 fan, so that's pretty much a good thing: ) We are also awaiting news about some other possible team members who could be filling some HUGE positions.

It was also at this meeting that I revealed a quirk I've developed: I don't say AMEN anymore at the end of my prayers. I am in fact, as awkward as a new calf at praying out loud these days. In my prayer transformation, I realized that this word has too much baggage...too many men shouting it out during sermons that were being hollered out when I was a little girl, too many "fake" moments in prayer, too much churchy jargon. A and Jaye T dissolved into laughter when I ended my prayer with "Talk to you later." This is how I end my conversations with my friends. I in no way want to lower the place of God to my standards, and maybe someday I'll be able to come back to "churchy words." and have them be more meaninful to me, but for now, this is what I've got.

The weather in AR today, as it was the last couple of days, has been PERFECT...sunny, bright, and in the mid-70's. You can actually feel the vitamin D as the sun soaks into your bones.

I've stopped at a couple of sales recently and found some good stuff. It's all very random, but it looks like I should be able to keep my ebay business afloat.

So that's where we are. We need prayer. We're tired but hopeful. We love each other more than ever, but sometimes the stress makes us snappish. I'm trying to decide at every given moment whether it is more important to clean up the house or find another one to live in. We talk to God a lot. Last night was a great time of refocussing for me.

Mattie asked us last night, "Isn't it more important to have a church than a house?"

Out of the mouths of babes....