The call process

Had a call from a seminary friend tonight.
She's still looking for a call (more than a year), workin' retail,
having family problems, lonely and unfulfilled
and wondering what God's up to.
She's a bright woman and I have no idea why some church hasn't snapped her up.
If you have room in your prayers please include her.
I'm worried for her.

Updating

Pop died Friday. Sunday night was the wake, this morning was the funeral.
I am told it was beautiful.

I am back in our town. We drove 13 hours yesterday.
When I say we, I mean Hubby.
He said he'd drive if I read the book we've been reading, aloud.
So, I read from Reading, PA to Richmond, IN. Today I have very little voice.
Needed to be at my class at 8:45 in Biggish town an hour away
and my mind wandered and I got really lost. But I got there.
The class is OK. I can't imagine how they'll drag out this topic until Friday...but we'll see.

Flash threw a royal fit over how Hubby made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.,
just before I got home. Mommy can fix that. Nice long bath for him and some stories.

Now Hubby and I are hanging out for a while before our own bedtime.
There's lots that needs to be done...laundry and whatnot from the trip...
but its not gonna be tonight.

Good News/Bad News

The much worried-about funeral situations didn't occur.
However, my grandfather is on Hospice now and the funeral will probably be next week.
And I can't be there.
Taking a 5 day , 3 credit intensive class next week.
(Need credits for my license/job)
Luckily Pop was/is very big on work, and would have approved of me missing for work.
Weird, but true.
And I saw that side of the family at the wedding so.
Feeling guilty about it even before it happens.
And its been a strange week being with my family in PA as they go back and forth to Pop
So, Friday wedding rehearsal,
Saturday wedding
Sunday drive to Corn Country
Monday...perhaps...Pop's funeral and my class in the semi-big city.
Not really sad, just, sigh.

Wedding

If you are having a backyard Barbecue type wedding,
and inviting families and friends with children,
may I recommend...
hiring a Moonbounce for the day!

All the kids bounced, ate, bounced
and were a little worn out during the ceremony
and then bounced some more.
We think Flash bounced for about 3
this after we tried to wear him out with 2 hours at the hotel pool.

We all slept well and now we're in lovely PA

A Blog-related Friday5

1. So how did you come up with your blogging name? And/or the name of your blog? Well it was originally a book blog (bookladykate) until lifw changed! My husband was called, and I met up with the revgals, so it needed a new name for the new life. Then it was hipastorzwife2b. This name reflected the angst about frumpiness I associated with being a pastor's wife (hence the hip and the z and the 2b) After a while it chafed a little and now I am a pastor's wife so its just Hip2b now. There's also far too much Huey Lewis and the News on my Ipod
   
2. Are there any code names or secret identities in your blog? Any stories there? Hubby was easy. I don't call him that in real life and it gets the point across. I'll ask if he'd like something else. Flash, my 4 year old son, has been a speedy little booger since he was small and now that he thinks he's a superhero...its very appropriate. New Baby will have to earn a name...currently I'm toying with Tiny. The hard thing is remembering the nicknames of peripheral characters.
   
3. What are some blog titles that you just love? For their cleverness, drama, or sheer, crazy fun?I'm sure there are tons that I can't think of right now. Hubby actually reads more blogs than I do, mostly milblogs and some political ones. I read a few library and book ones and then the revgals of course.
   
4. What three blogs are you devoted to? Other than the RevGalBlogPals of course! Hipchickmama (who's name has changed), a friend from seminary's which is sort of a private blog, Rev Abi, Songbird and Mompriest are on my regular check list. Flash thinks the computer exists for him to play Ben10 games on. He actually asked me the other day if he could take Daddy's computer when he got married to (oh dear what did I nickname her?) Twonames and moved away, because all his Ben10 games are in it.
   
5. Who introduced you to the world of blogging and why? I don't know! I may have just read about it in School Library Journal or from a colleague and decided to try it out. Remember, originally a bookblog. It was haphazard from the start, but I've come to regard my blog as a sort of open diary of sorts.
   

Bonus question: Have you ever met any of your blogging friends? Where are some of the places you've met these fun folks? I met Kate the photographer at the seminary she and my husband attended. She's the only one...so far.

Bookblogging:
Let's face it I haven't recommended a book in a long time. So here:
Savvy
by Ingrid Law
Its a teen novel, OK preteen really, about a girl whose family all demonstrate miraculous powers that wreck havoc on their lives. Your power turns up on your 13th birthday in its wildest form and you spend several years taming it. On Mibs' 13th birthday her father is in a terrible car accident miles away and she and some others try to reach him, while her power begin to show itself. Excellent and I haven't quite finished it and I forgot to pack it! So, I'll finish it when we get back in a week or so.

Vacation all I ever wanted...

We're on our way today, after the funeral.

Hubby really needs this vacation but its looking iffy now. Last night he had a call from the son of a prominent member who will probably die this weekend. So we may go to the wedding this weekend (my cousin) and then he'll will have to fly back for the funeral and maybe join us again towards the end of the week.

I'm questioning this, but Hubby says theres only a few folks he'd come back from vacation for, and this is one of them. I think it sets a bad precedent, however noble.

Anyhow, we leave today!

Ultrasound

The ultrasound was fine.
Lovely tech who has 6 kids of her own.
Liam came with us,
because I thought he'd enjoy seeing the baby
but he was unruly and didn't really get it.
Live and Learn.

Baby looks healthy,
has all the parts that are important, for 18 weeks 6 days
(they are so technical with that...I count a new week every Sunday).
As for gender, she couldn't tell.
Baby was facing strangely
with its bottom towards my spine and legs crossed.
So, no gender yet.
I was hoping to know, I admit it. But Baby is shy.

I'm not sure if we'll know before the birth now.
If all is going well, we may not have another ultrasound.
And I really want everything to go well.
So for now...its just Baby.

On the road again...

Tomorrow morning, before dawn, I'll drive to Chicago for the day for a class.
Another credit.
But a class with a teacher I'm excited about and have seen before.
And then hustle on home. Should be a whirlwind.

Tuesday, ultrasound! maybe a run through to fountain at the park and a trip to the library.
Wednesday...pack, church luncheon and then VACATION!
sorta. Mostly visiting my family...but its away and should be fun.
Also, its my last visit before school starts and baby comes.

Camping Friday5

1. Did you go to sleep away camp, or day camp, as a child? Wish you could? Or sometimes wish you hadn't?
I did and although I have great memories of it
...it was only a week and I was terribly homesick and culture shocked.
I will however send my kids to camp...I think I'll prepare them better.

2. How about camping out? Dream vacation, nightmare, or somewhere in between?
Oh, yeah. I was a girl scout for far longer than was cool ad we went camping a lot.

3. Have you ever worked as a camp counselor,
or been to a camp for your denomination for either work or pleasure?
Nope.

4. Most dramatic memory of camp, or camping out?
My friend Barb got a really bad bug bite on her eyelid
while we were camping at Chincoteague.
Her whole eye just blew up. I remember that more vividly than the horses.
I think we were middle schoolers.
She works in outdoor education now, I wonder if she remembers.

5. What is your favorite camp song or songs?
Bonus points if you link to a recording or video.
Ah no bonus points for me.
Other girl scouting friends always used to sing this song about a lost cat
...but I never picked up the words.

On another note...
We could use some non-specific prayer, if you don't mind.
Thanks.

Thankful Thursday

Friends and Family
good weather
food, shelter, clothing
healthy growing baby-in-belly
Healthy growing boy in bathtub
Hubby
our town
our jobs
dogs...some days
pillows
chocolate chips
My sister passed her Nursing entrance test!
talking with faraway friends on the phone.
superheroes, rescue heroes, and all other heroes

Photobloggin

Groucho goes to the VBS picnic.

Too early

Here we are in week 18
and its too early for that weird pregnancy sleep problems...
and yet here I am typing at 5 am.
Its dark. Hubby is snoring, birds are just beginning to chirp.
The dogs did not bother to follow me from the bedroom.
Flash was up around maybe 2 with a nightmare, but that was ages ago.
Hopefully he'll sleep late.

Just wondering what to do with myself,
and wondering if I'll be able to go back to sleep
...or if I should just "go with it" and start the day.
and if so...what should I do?

Quiet week

Not much goin on this week for me and Flash.
Hubby is busy with some pastoral care things.
But next week we go on vacation for a week and a half.

Independence Weekend

Just exhausted after a long, long weekend.
But here's a picture of the float!
We didn't win a prize, but it was lots of fun
and we were Visible!

Friday 4th!

So lets have a bit of fun:

1. Barbeque's or picnics ( or are they essentially the same thing?)
Cookout. I imagine we'll do hot dogs, beans and salad
...if I get ambitious I'll make potato salad,
but I'm the only one who really likes it.
We're on our own for this celebration which is sad.

2. The park/ the lake/ the beach or staying at home simply being?
Home! Fireworks at the High school tonight.
Hubby had a really late meeting last night so we're laying low today.
Most of the folks we know will have family obligations today.

3. Fireworks- love 'em or hate 'em?
LOVE THEM!

4. Parades- have you ever taken part- share a memory...
LOVE THEM! and yes our church is having a float in the parade tomorrow morning!
I'll post a picture tomorrow of Sunday.

5. Time for a musical interlude- if you could sum up holidays in a piece of music what would it be?
Hmmm...
Summertime - Will Smith- a favorite summertime song for me.
Not particularly right for the 4th though.
God Bless America as sung by Kate Smith is perfect though.
I grew up a Flyers fan and they always played that version of the song at the games
...so it feels wintery to me.

Happy Independence Day. Let freedom ring!

Power

Flash woke up this morning and crept into bed with us.
He immediately started in about how he's grown last night,
and his super strength had gotten more strong too.

Occasionally I worry about his certainty about his superpowers, but I figure he's 4.
The other day he thought he had a developed a new power: the ability to control cars. Apparently he wanted a red car to park at the neighbors house and it did.
Not a power I want him to have, mind you.
Just think of how a 4 year old would use that?

Eventually he decided that maybe his power is about colors.
It was a red car after all.
I was wearing a teal colored shirt and he brightened it for me.
Thats the new power, he can make colors brighter.
So, naturally, yesterday we painted.
Well, wouldn't you?