we are loud

I feel like so much has happened in such a short period of time.

• We moved
• I stopped breastfeeding
• Nomes started crawling
• Nomes started pulling up
• We need a new roof
  • subsequently I’m looking for new clients or going back to work

On the gainful employment end, it is the holiday season and I could get a seasonal position in retail.  That would be an easy way to bring in a few extra dollars.  It would also be an easy way to contract any of those nasty viruses that are flying about this time of year.  While I am not overly concerned over the flu, including H1N1, I do want to be cautious.  The numbers on H1N1 are minimal.  2009 has less than 6,000 death cases world-wide (appx 1,200 in the US).  While 500,000+ have contracted the virus that leaves a very small percent who have not survived.  In the US alone, seasonal flu causes an average of 36,000 deaths each year (according to the CDC).  I understand that we are just entering the flu season and the number of deaths are going to increase… I just have a hard time accepting that we are all going to die this year.  Especially since people are taking strong precautions.  I would love to see the numbers decrease in H1N1 and the seasonal flu this year.  That would be fantastic… and I believe it to be possible.  Just be smart people.

Alright, off my soap box.  So we’ll see how it all works out.  In the meantime I need to start sending out my resume and see what bites and then make a decision from there.

In other news, the house is coming along.  While still a bit of a OCD/clean-freak’s bad dream (no longer a nightmare) it doesn’t make me crazy anymore.  I don’t mind having people over now.  Well, at least close friends.  I wouldn’t throw a party yet. Ha!  We’ll get there.  The furniture has found their final resting place, things are finding their way onto the walls.  It’s coming along.  Nomes will have a bedroom again in a few weeks, which means we can pull her things out of boxes and clear out space in the garage.

Relationally, this move has been great for my marriage.  Mark has turned into a totally different person since we’ve been here.  He is motivated to turn a house into a home.  He is stretching his comfort zone in Husbandhood, Fatherhood.  As a team we are challenging our spirituality and faith.  We are pulling off the heavy blankets and putting on our swim wear… because its time to dive in again.

It seems as though we have found a new church.  I need to write about that… but not now.  The wind is kicking up and I need to watch the trees dance for a while.  Because if love’s like a hurricane, I am a tree.  Bending under Your wind and mercy.

 

Well, today was rather productive.  I made some headway in getting the books sorted and/or stored.  There’s a couple more boxes that came out of my trunk… other than that, I’m finished!  Wohoo!  I entered everything that’s in storage into a spreadsheet so we can easily locate them.  Next I need to enter the “active” books which will give us a full overview of what we have on hand.  Next is to find homes for the HUGE stack that we’re getting rid of.  I’m hoping the school will take most of the tech books.

One of my clients has been a good source of residual work.  I have enjoyed working with them, overall.  One of the frustrations of a company in their particular position is to identify the corporate look that is going to be pursued.  So there was a lot of back and forth and a lot of changes as too many “cooks” inputted their vision.  I was concerned about the cost of all these changes, but they understood the hows and whys.  With economic concerns they are now looking for ways to cut back cost, and I’m it!  Ah well, thus is life.  Turns out a friend of the family is a designer on the side and offered them a 30% cut over my rates.  He’s local to them as well.  It’s been wonderful working with the to date and I hope everything works out well with the new guy.

Freecycle is wonderful.  If you haven’t heard of it or don’t use it – you should google it and start using it.  It’s a great way to keep items out of landfils, and find items that you need/want/are looking for.

 

joy of air

Bit of wisdom from Ghost In the Shell:  Zen is like clearing your cache.

Indeed.

Gosh, its been a while since I’ve cleared my head here.  So much has happened in the past few weeks that I haven’t got down on “paper”.  Where to start?  Should I even try?

While I was in Portland, I had a God-experience.  It was neat.  Attending a Sunday service at a nearby church and copped an attitude over the way communion was served to me.  The Holy Spirit corrected me and told me to accept it in the spirit in which it was given.  Next thing I know, it’s greater than toast and I am worshiping with a heart busting.  It was incredible.  He’s incredible.

Portland is still a move-to option.  With recent events, I’m not sure how that’s going to work out… if moving will work out at all.  I’m ok with that.  I know that He’s leading us and that’s going to be – it.

So Mom’s moving in with us for a while.  I’m happy to have her here and it’s compounded by the fact that it will be good for her.   The latter makes me – happy.  I’m glad that we’re able to have a house big enough.  I’m glad we’re making use of all the space.  It’s been poorly used for so long.

In the meantime, I have a busy week ahead of me.  I need to clear out a space for Mom.  The back room would be best for now, but the door needs to be trimmed and hung.  Shouldn’t be too difficult to find someone to do it.   I also need to clear a space in the workshop for her stuff that isn’t going into storage.  She’ll be staying here a few days at the end of this week and then move, I’m guessing, in the next couple of weeks.

The Lord is good, and His love endures forever.

I finally feel like i’m getting a handle on the house.  There’s still a lot to do, but people are welcome to come by.  I love this feeling.  It’s like breathing after you’ve been under water for too long.  Coughing, burning, pain.. then the joy of air.