I've been away from the blog for a while, but, at the request of a few near and dear, I figured I'd revisit it.
SEEING:
The University of Dallas campus is in full bloom these days. The weather has been up and down - very inconsistent - but seems to have settled in the mid 70s with sunshine for now. It's beautiful.
DOING:
Mom and Dad came for a visit the last 2 weeks of February. They spent a week with us then drove down to Corpus Christi with some friends, then back up to Dallas for a weekend and finally drove home to WI. There was lots of chatting, eating, drinking of various brewed beverages and some nice walks. We took them to see the local wildlife and the imported wildlife and visited a few of our favorite restaurants. I think I can safely say it was a very enjoyable and refreshing for all parties.
The weekend after they left Chris and I flew into St. Louis to visit (best man) Andy Wegrzyn and his fiance Amanda. Also a very enjoyable and refreshing trip. It is hard to accurately describe the feeling of gradually leaving the city behind and slowly entering the peace of the country unless you've actually done it yourself - carefully noting the thinning of suburbia, the increase in groves of trees, larger and larger open fields, the flitting by of little country towns and finally settling in at a farmhouse, nestled in the hollow of a pasture. The air was cool and clean and fresh, the sun was warm (except for the few hours on Sunday when a tornado blew through) and the company most excellent. Needless to say, it was very rejuvenating simply to be there. We went on a tour of the Crane farm, which included a visit to the "shop" where the mammoth tractors and combines resided and a drive through 2000+ acres of corn and soybeans, with a stop by Amanda's Great Grandparents first farmstead. We also got to go shooting! Shot guns and clay pigeons followed by target practice with handguns. It was surprisingly very fun! as well as little amusing and delightful to see Chris shooting - perhaps because shooting is such a "country" thing to do, and Chris is not exactly "country". But, regardless of being country or not, he done me proud, knocking down 2 pigeons in one pull! He was certainly a better shot than I.
Home now for 3 weeks and then off again for back-to-back wedding weekends - Up to MSP for Jared and Trish's wedding and then a weekend road trip to Omaha NE for a "Hillsdale" wedding.
Also doing:
The Taxes - which I secretly enjoy!
Frisbee in the afternoon with Chris
Dinner with friends
The card game Golf - also with Chris
Mass at 5:00 every evening during the week
Needless to say, work from 6am to 3pm M-F
Watching some basketball and listening to some Cubs spring training games - mostly on the weekends.
and a few nice walks
READING:
Just finished David Copperfield. I joined a Dickens book club about 1 1/2 months ago. David Copperfield was the first book and now we are taking a little break over lent. Not sure what I'm going to start next. I've been picking and choosing my way through "God in the Dock" by Lewis to hold me over until I get going on something new.
I've also been reading 3 books on raising sheep - though only on Sundays because I gave it up for Lent ("why" you might ask did I give it up for Lent? A just question, answered below).
LISTENING:
The 2 Disc set Essential Bach, Vivaldi and, when called for, Michael Buble (Again, one may ask "when is Buble called for?" Answer = 9:30 pm doing a stack of dishes - Note 9:30 is my bed time)
OFFERING FOR LENT:
Tea. Every morning I come into work, sit down at my desk and want a warm cup of tea. And every morning I say no to this little pleasure in the practice of submitting my desire. Practice, because in daily life, with more significant things, we are asked to submit our will, to the good and perfect will of God.
Farm books. I have a stack of library books on various farming issues (mostly sheep at this point) sitting next to the couch which I am only reading as a treat on Sundays. The reason I've given them up for Lent is to practice patients and trust. My natural tendency is to forage ahead down the path of whatever has taken my fancy, making plans and counting on it coming about. But, becoming farmers is not my choice alone and I need to practice both patients - to give Chris the space and time he needs to process and make a decision - and trust - believing that God will direct our future. Before I get us fitted out as shepherds, complete with crook and watch dog, I'd better be certain these other two so intimately connected with my life are headed/leading in the same direction.
ENJOYING:
The warm sun
Little birds in the tree outside our patio door
Being Debt Free! (we paid off the last of our student loans at the end of February and are currently 100% debt free!)
My husbands blog
The flowers on campus
Talking walks during my lunch break
Baking bread and making Pizza with my stone and peel
LOOKING FORWARD TO:
The pool being open
Seeing family at the end of this month
March Madness
Driving across Michigan with Betsy
Opening day of Baseball season
Going to a lecture on Dante tomorrow night
Spending the evening with Chris
Being pregnant
On that last note - yes, we are still waiting. It's something that is constantly on my mind - a day doesn't pass that I don't think about it - some harder than others. It requires a lot of patience too. We saw an Infertility specialist about a month ago and have started a course of action, but it will take some time. Still waiting; still praying; still looking forward to it.
Cheers!
