Potpourri

It seems like I have been so busy for the last week or two. I have a bunch of video and photos that I want to post here, but I haven't had the time yet. Be prepared for an onslaught when they do come! Hopefully soon...

Karl was home for 6 days out of the past month, flying missions around the world. It looks like (fingers crossed) he will be home for awhile now. He's getting ready to start a new desk job, and there is often a learning period involved. We're supposed to find out today what that job will be. So exciting! I often want to complain about it here when he's gone, but I'm not comfortable announcing to the world when we are home alone. I could go private with the blog, but I don't want to make people ask for permission to read it. It's probably for the best, anyway, as this way you don't have to listen to me whine.

Since we have dwindled back down to the three of us, we are trying to settle into regular life again. With the exception of brief respites to check my Facebook account, I shamelessly admit that my free time has largely been spent on the sofa, watching Team U.S.A. in the Olympics. We, like the rest of America, have Michael Mania. I am in (sisterly) love with Dara Torres. I enjoyed the gymnastics too. But beach volleyball (followed closely by indoor volleyball) has me by the horns. We can't get enough in this volleyball-obsessed family!

We realized last night that Garin has watched far too many volleyball games in his lifetime, whether they be Daddy's intramurals or the pros on TV. The moment he saw the game, he assumed "the stance" - the hunched-over, readied position the players take prior to the serve. (Video coming someday) And he continued to do so with each serve. During the volleys, he ran around the living room as if he were chasing down the ball. And when the whistle blew, he'd stop, clap his hands and shout, "C'mon guys!" in his loudest coach voice. When the play was clearly bad, he'd pace back and forth in the living room, shaking his head! Once, when a player dove for the ball, he bent over as if he were going to touch his toes and then, in a flash, he was down - hands outstretched in front of himself, flat on his belly to reach the imaginary ball coming to him! It was precious!

Matt started school today. He has an ambitious schedule for this junior year of high school: Biology I, Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus, Band, College Chemistry, Spanish 3, Consumer Ed/Gov't and English 3. He is already knee-deep in Cross Country, and his knee is bothering him again this year. We are praying that he will stay healthy, work hard and excel in all of his endeavors this year!

Other than doing the usual fun Mom jobs, I have somehow found myself preparing to play keyboard for our church's new southern campus that we are starting here in Dover on September 7th! I guess all those years of piano lessons are going to be put to use, finally! I am terrified and thrilled about it all at the same time. I always enjoyed playing, but my only public performances consisted of two-a-year recitals, playing songs I had been practicing for months and had down so well that no thought was required when I took my seat, and still I was a nervous wreck.

I offered to play if they didn't have anyone else, simply because I knew we would need someone. It is one of those still-small-voice promptings where you say, "Okay God, I'll just offer because You told me to, but I KNOW that You know that there is no way You really want me for this job, and You're just testing me to see if I'll obey, so I will. But I KNOW You'll find someone better equipped because You want to be glorified in worship, and I'm not used to playing from chord charts, and I couldn't possibly be good enough." It was one of those things where I expected to be like Abraham and have the sacrificial goat walk up at the last minute, so I didn't have to follow through. Instead, I am like Moses, whom God equipped for the task in spite of his shortcomings. Interestingly, I like being Moses instead of Abraham. This is new territory for me, and I'm excited to see how God will use it to His glory (but I'm still scared to death!).

Well, back to the other kind of keyboard for some practice....