Getting regular

No I'm not talking about prune juice and fiber! I used to be very faithful at this blogging thing and lately I've fallen off a bit. Not that there's nothing happening in our lives, I just have to find the time to write or remember to.

The membership class went well. To my surprise there were close to 20 people there. Some had been raised Presbyterian and were simply joining because they moved across town, but others were from Episcopal, Catholic, Lutheran and Baptist backgrounds. I don't think little old CUP had 20 people join the church in all the years I was there since my return. Anyway, we are already officially new members, but will be received during the 11 o'clock service on the 1st of March. Then, Bob (our worship and arts director) asked me to sing during the service that day as well - yikes! I'm not sure what I'm going to sing yet. Some of it hinges on if Bob will be around. He is currently in New Jersey visiting his mom who is in the hospital with complications from stage 4 cancer.

I'm reading a really interesting book. It's called The Shack by William Paul Young. Mom - has Book Club tackled this one yet? It was recommended by a friend of mine from church who read it and another lady in the church is reading it as well and once I'm done we're going to have coffee and discuss it. Without giving too much away for those of you who want to read it - it's about Mack who is dealing with the death of his youngest daughter (who was abducted and murdered) and how God comes to him to help him deal with his loss, pain, and his faith.

Evan will turn 15 this Sunday. It's hard to believe my baby is close to driving and three years from going off to college! Mike will come on on Friday to spend some time with him until Sunday about noon since it's a good drive back to Eagle Pass for him. I guess we'll have our family celebration Sunday afternoon and evening.

I think that's it for now. The kids and I are looking forward to heading home to PA in a few weeks! :)

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

(Maia and her friend Kaitlyn at the Houston Zoo)

Today's weather (mid-70's) is exactly why Jeff and I moved down here to Texas! It is going to be gorgeous the next couple of days with temps in the mid-70's. Okay, so Sunday it's supposed to rain, but still be warm.

This Sunday the choir is off, but the bell choir is playing, A Servant's Heart is singing and I have to stay for three hours after the second service for a "new members" meeting which I guess is required to join the church, however being raised in the Presbyterian church I think it's kind of goofy to have to sit about learning about the Presbyterian denomination. I understand it for real newcomers, but oh well.

I found a new house for us to rent next year. It was my hope that we would be able to buy, but unless we can finagle a down payment of $9,000 in the next month, it will have to wait another year. We can come up with 5k, so donations for the other 4 would be accepted! :) We are going to rent a home smaller than the one we're in now. It's a three bed room and coincidentally right beside Eli's babysitter Esmeralda, so it's right down the road, keeping the kids in their schools. It's a one-floor open plan and the lady who owns it said her electric bill in the summer is half of what I paid this summer! I'm hoping our landlady will let us out of our lease two months early so we can move in at the beginning of April. It is a lease to own, so in a year Jeff and I will have first choice if we want to go ahead and buy the home through owner financing or a commercial lender.

We found out earlier this week that Maia's friend Kaitlyn is moving not only from the plan, but to Humble (pronounced "umble") here in April. It will take her to an entirely new school district just before the year is over. I think Maia is pretty bummed about it, but since she's the only other girl in this plan, it doesn't bother her to move in a few months herself. Maia came with us to see the house and announced right away that she liked it.

Work is going well. The Spring issue went to print this week and next week I'll be finalizing my editorial calendar for Summer. The kids and I are excited to be making the trip back home to PA in March. However Evan has already said he's concerned it will be "cold" up there still! Well that's all for now. I should go out and enjoy the rest of the day - if only Eli didn't like to keep my hostage at home!