Life Update

The girls are playing softball on the same team with girls all from their school.  Weekly practices; (mostly) weekend games.

Patrick is playing with some classmates on a team based out of a community league.  Weekend practices; week-night games.

Brian is currently working on a translation paper that's due tomorrow.  He passed up chance of a lifetime (for him) for *Cardinals home opener/Stan Musial Day* tickets with good friends in order to finish it on time.  That was a character-building experience, and I'm so proud of him.  He could have asked for an extension, or just turned it in late, but he never considered it.  I did.  He's a better man.

Our school's Fun Run Fundraiser that I'm in charge of is on Friday.  It can't get here soon enough.  I'm beginning to drop important balls that I've been juggling.  Time to wrap up this particular gig so I can make space in my brain for other things.

Lillian turned FIVE last month--or did I already say that sometime on here?  It's crazy how she's changed into a big girl in the last few months.  She's a funny, funny, funny person.

Patrick has changed too.  He's coming up on SEVEN in just a couple of months.  I'm sorry, but the boy is ripped.  His body is so filled out, muscle-wise.  I asked Brian if he had a chest, abs, and arms like that when he was that age, and he quickly said, "Not even close!"

Of course, at the end of the summer, Sarah Frances will be ELEVEN!  She and Patrick will both compete this summer as the oldest in their age group on the swim team.  It's going to be a great summer, swimteam-wise.

...assuming we'll still be in STL the entire summer.  Nothing is moving in a particular direction regarding a ministry call for Brian, but we've been encouraged by people remembering us, Senior Pastors recommending us for particular openings, other students making sure we see particular job postings.  I can say with full confidence that whoever gets Brian Brown is getting a huge secret.  A friend said well that he (and her husband) are the kind of guys who it's good to have around initially, but after a little bit they are indispensable.  My prayer at this point is to be somewhere for when school starts.

I haven't mentioned Catherine... This NINE year old (all caps for continuity) lives for others.  Seriously.  Total self-disregard, but will bend over backwards to care for someone in need.  She's excelling in school--first in her class in math.  It's amazing the things she "sees" in math.  It all fits together easily for her.

And, I don't think I've mentioned yet, that I did end up getting a tattoo this winter.  It says "rest" in Greek, like the rest for your soul in Matthew 11.  Look it up--good stuff.  I forget I have it, then see it.  And it seriously helps my anxiety/fears/worry.  I seriously love having it.  Oh, it's on the inside of my left foot in black ink.  And very pretty.  Seriously.:)

Alright, I'm off to start a load of towels before I completely crash.  Or not.  But if I put them on now, I can dry them in the morning.  But if I start that, I'll keep working till too late.  Oh, decisions, decisions!