What's new since Feb 1?

What isn't new? I'm getting married to Blake -- takes "goin' steady for good" to a whole new level! He's reviving his vocation to be a full-time minister. That means I'm gonna be a pastor's wife. That means we have a wedding to plan: vows, music, food, rings, wills, venues, all that. It also means that he's resigning his jobs as a musician and seeking, and recently taking, a ministerial call. That means we're moving to a small town in southern Illinois. That means we're combining our 2-of-everything, selling our houses, and looking for a dream home there. That means we're de-junking and cleaning up our houses, having garage sales, and making house-hunting trips to Steeleville. That means I'm seeing more of Martha and Dad. Blake's in northern Iowa enjoying his last year at Lutheran Summer Music. That means we're making lots of plans together via long distance. It also means I have his cat as well as mine. That means there are yalpings and gallopings in the middle of the night. Meanwhile, Mom has moved into Ridgewood in Seward, and Dad will be moving to a neighboring abode in a few weeks. That means we're all grateful, weepy, and emotionally spent. Is that all? I don't know: I'm weepy and emotionally spent. Meanwhile, I went to Oregon to attend Gretchen's confirmation and realize that she's growing up so beautifully. That means I'm grateful, weepy, and emotionally spent. I also had a great time sistering around with Margy and looking for wedding dresses. Meanwhile, Michael went to China, Jessica went to Spain, Katy & Beth went to Ireland, Sarah D. got a BA and decided to go to New Zealand, Josh & Amy decided to move back with their darling peapod to St. Louis, John & Sarah witnessed Ben turning one, Stephen finished freshman year... and that's just that generation. That means I'm grateful, weepy, and emotionally spent.

I was planning on posting some photos of a house we're considering in Steeleville, but this catalog has left me grateful, weepy, and emotionally spent. I'll go have a bowl of oatmeal instead.

Freedom!

hello, everyone!
yesterday was my last day of work. I'm a retiree as of 1February2009. sighs and yawns take turns washing over me... ahh! so many things I want to do, they keep popping into my head. so many languages, so little time! musical instruments to dust off, a cabinet stuffed with fabric to sew, a collection of cookbooks, habitat houses to build, heirloom tomatoes to grow, apple tree logs to whittle, pottery, quilting, lolling in the hammock eating bonbons, watercolor, upholstery, the early church, machu picchu, the homes of all my friends and family. that's the list that comes to mind as I sit here now. we'll see how it shapes up as I step into this new frontier!