Catching Up (as if that were possible)

Ok, I'll try to catch some of you up. Tim is still pastoring here in OXR where he's been for a while. Wonderful, truly decent and loving people. I'm working PT as a children's pastor up the mountain a ways -- equally wonderful people. Elisabeth just started 4th grade, and Andrew just started Kindergarten. Andrew was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (specifically Asperger's Syndrome) in Spring of 2008, and getting used to a full day of school has been a challenge. We got Elisabeth's SAT scores back from last year and her equivalent was 1380. We've always said she was more brilliant than either of us. Now if we could only get her to clean her room. I will be starting a new FT job next week teaching tiny ones. Literally, one year olds. Yes, I was in school. Yes, I will return. But paying for higher education is unfortunately required, so I'm taking a hiatus to make it possible. I have declared this year my year of jubilee. Go do your research. Ciao for now!

New Beginning

Well, here we are...as of March, at least! Not much has changed, I guess, physically (except I've now lost over 75lbs lol!) But a lot keeps happening to us and I decided it is time to try my not-so-great technical skills out on you guys.

I have been fascinated by a book called 'Composing a Life' by Mary Catherine Bateson. The caption of her book is 'Life as a work in progress -- the improvisations of five extraordinary women.' It is about five women who have made an impact on the modern world and how they wove together the complicated and seemingly insurmountable events in their lives to create something extraordinary. It's about interruptions, discontinuity -- women who have been through a lot of transitions and how they are able to not only cope with them, but make something beautiful out of them. Enough about the book. For those of you (you know who you are) with a more anthropological interest, try this article by Bateman on how she came up with the idea of this book: http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/05/03/con05110.html

So, my goal is to simply observe the sometimes beautiful/sometimes sublime patterns of our complex life. If I ever feel ambitious, I'll try for another traditional blog for those of you who don't have time or interest to read the ramblings of my mind and just want to know/see the kids (you know who you are too! You don't have to be ashamed.) But for now, you'll just have to wade through to find what you want.