It's That Day

Happy Valentine's Day 2009! We don't make a big "to do" of it in our house (although the flowers in my kitchen do look nice!) but I didn't want it to go by without wishing you well. In fact, yesterday, Friday the 13th, has more significance for us than February 14th - Sabian and I had our first date on a Friday the 13th. As if that doesn't tell you enough! A Greek dinner and a viewing of the original Japanese version of Godzilla later and the rest, as they say, is history. It is fun to think, though, that this time next year we will have another someone in our family to love.

Here's hoping you are having a good day and at the very least, a relaxing one. So far we've been to a funeral (ah yes, THE way to say "Happy Valentine's Day, eh?!) and now we are headed to the beach to have some crab legs. It's a dreary day, but a glimpse of the sand and surf is good any day.

I am thankful for a thoughtful husband who, even though he's one of those "this is just a Hallmark holiday" kind of people, still indulges in a flower or two.

Back to School

In one of my last posts I mentioned a couple of events we were able to participate in with the high school - a True Love Waits rally and a Super Bowl party. In ministry it is a rare opportunity to have access to the local schools. It is actually one of the things that was appealing to us when we were considering moving to Wewa. Sabian was really excited to know that he would be able to interact with the students at school and that he was actually welcome in the schools.

As a result, he has been able to visit the kids at school during lunch and has had opportunities to connect with teachers and other staff members. I can't begin to pretend to know everything about the schools here, as I have not been able to be as up front in school activities. While I understand that the schools here have some things to be desired, it is valuable to know that their doors are open. In Illinois and other communities in which Sabian has worked the schools are closed to ministers.

In the nine months since we have been here (which seems both like a long time and a blur!) we know that there are other ways in which we would like to be involved, but just haven't been able to yet take advantage of those opportunities. But, knowing that the schools are willing to sponsor activities or participate with the churches in town is a blessing. Others who know more than I do may have more to say on the topic, but I thought I might clarify the ability to be involved in the school system here. Some people we know have been able to teach as substitutes and Sabian was approached the other day by someone at the school to do so, which is another opportunity. It is one that causes my stomach to turn at the thought of ME doing it, but kudos to those who do. Put me in charge and I'm afraid I might let them eat me alive!

I've been lacking in sharing much information lately about Wewa and I realize there is still so much to tell. I'll try to be better at it and please, if you are reading this and wonder anything at all about Weeewawwwwhitchkaaaa, ask and I'll attempt to answer.

I'm thankful today that Sabian was able to meet with kids today at lunch. It really is one of the things he loves most about what he does.

Farewell

I visit the boot again in homage to our friend Roxy.

I discovered today that Roxy is no longer living across the street. I don't know where she is living because apparently she's been stolen. Dognapped. Who does that? Who takes someone else's dog? It made me very sad to hear that she was taken. I was hoping she was still wandering around town somewhere. Alas, she is not. No more sprinklers, gun cases, blow up balls, trash, and other miscellaneous items in our yard. No more sunbathing. No more Roxy.

It was a busy weekend. We did get to lay low a bit on Friday, but Saturday and Sunday picked up quite a bit. One of the college students at our church organized a True Love Waits rally at the school, complete with a band that came in from Southeastern, an AG school in Lakeland, FL (more about them in a bit). We did not have the pleasure of hosting any of the band members at our house, but the ten of them stayed with various families in our church for the weekend.

Sunday was church, and then the ladies at church threw me a baby shower (hence the cake above). It was a lot of fun and Addie received some great gifts and lots of love from our church family. After the baby shower it was church at 4 because we were having a Super Bowl party at the high school at 5. After that, it was all over, but I know for many others it was a crazy weekend with other miscellaneous events and happenings. Sometimes Wewa can surprise you.

Back to the band. The Josh Hiers Band hails from Lakeland and is affiliated with Southeastern University. I first heard them at youth camp last summer and the kids here often talk about them, so it was pretty exciting for them that the band would be in Wewa for the weekend. They are considered a praise and worship band made up primarily of Southeastern students. Full of energy and extremely approachable, they make quite an impact. They stuck around and led our worship service Sunday morning and even the older people were pleased with them, so much so that they didn't complain about the volume. It wasn't all about their music, but even how they carried themselves and connected with the kids and congregation. It was great to have them here. If you're in Illinois and going to camp this summer, they will be in Carlinville and from what I understand, they have been there before.


Just a couple of other things. This is what my laundry room looks like these days. If I could post the sweet smell of Baby All, I would. It is fun, washing all of her clothes and contemplating all of the questions - will she have enough to wear? How quickly will she grow out of some of this? What will she fit into right away? How big or small will she be? It is hard to believe that in a few short weeks all of these questions will be answered. Until then, we wait and continue to pray that she will turn but that most of all, she is healthy and growing and developing like she needs to for the rest of the time she is in there. Ready or not, she will soon be here!

An interesting bit of information - you can obtain your hunting and/or fishing license at our local IGA. How about that?

Today I am thankful for cooler temperatures here. It just feels nice.

Catching Up

It seems my "flurry of posts" has turned into more of a trickle. Nevertheless, I will get on with some of the other things I mentioned in an earlier post and then move on to more recent happenings.

Canine Relocation
This is what our yard has looked like since we returned from visiting home at Christmas:


No sign of Roxy, our friend from across the street. Well, I shouldn't say "no" sign of her. It's just that it seems she has abandoned us. Left us. Shown us the door. We didn't see her for a few days after returning and I thought maybe it was the other way around, that she felt abandoned by us, so she took off. Now I'm not so sure. I did see her one day in the empty lot next to our neighbor's house, basking in the sun, so I thought maybe she was just proving to us that she didn't need us, but I assumed once she knew we were back, she would be back, too. I even noticed that the sprinkler, a boot, and some other items had appeared in that empty lot, her surrogate home. This was a few weeks ago. She still hasn't come back.

One morning while I was out on a walk with my friend Libby, three dogs came charging at us and one of them was Roxy. She was pretty quiet, as was one of the other dogs, but the third was very vocal and seemed to have a bad attitude. My true fear is that Roxy has taken up with the wrong crowd and is no longer the sweet dog we once knew. Oh, Roxy.

This is not to say that the dogs in Wewa are any less apparent. Just this morning I had to weave around a big black dog that was laying in the middle of our road. Literally, would not budge and I had to drive part way in the grass to get around him. Unbelievable (I even said it out loud). Not to mention the cat that ran out in front of my car the other day. It was like the scenario in the movies, when a car is trying to beat a train over the tracks. I saw the cat on the left side of my car, poised, but I thought, "certainly it will stay there." Never assume anything about the animals in Wewa - the cat looked at me, I'm sure in the eye, and shot out right in front of my car. Ridiculous.

No sign of my bunny friend, either.

Hee Hee Whooooo
Lamaze classes are in full swing. We've been to three weeks and have three weeks to go. We're really enjoying them and have met some nice couples. There's even a girl from Belleville, IL in the class! The midwife we have been seeing is teaching the class and it has definitely given us some things to think about concerning the birthing process. We went on our hospital visit on Sunday, which was good, and even better now that we know the TVs in the birthing rooms accomodate Wiis. Tennis? Bowling? Not quite, but in my pre-labor optimisim I envision playing some Tetris. Maybe not? We'll see. Each new thing we learn brings this baby stuff home just a little more.

In other baby news, we'll go to the doctor again this week and find out if Addie has turned. In the meantime, she's letting us know she's in there with much purpose on her part. Six weeks to go!

Toes: Missing
This is my view down these days:

If I lean forward, then I can catch a glimpse of my toes:


This is a pregnancy milestone, right? I'm sure if I had really noticed I'd have known earlier that I couldn't see them anymore, but it hit me last week and struck me as a little funny. Just one of those moments.

I posted some new pictures last week on Facebook. Here is the link if you are interested:

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=63591&l=e5938&id=615177836

That about wraps it up! On to hitch the horses up and go into town.

Today I am thankful for our neighbors (again). Mrs. Miller stopped by yesterday to see how I was doing since she knew that Sunday I was dealing with some back pain. If you ever need to duel it out in Cranium with some fun people, the Millers are it!