My computer is sick. It needs to go away to rehab and get better. We think it's the hard drive, plus some annoying flickering features of the screen. I hope this will be resolved soon. I'm not ignoring you on purpose.
Love,
Veronique
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Reprise
My dear friends and fellow bloggers,
Please accept my most profound apologies. I have disappeared for months. An event of which was not planned; life has simply run away from me and I have not been able to keep up. For whomever thinks that pastor's lives calm down in the summer, we have quickly learned that this is not the case. One might assume that, given the fact that a church "year" mimics that of a school "year", summers would be that time of quite and recuperation. I, a now "seasoned" (of two years) pastor's wife, can tell you without any hesitation that it is not, nor ever will be.
I wrote the above MORE than a month ago. Oh dear....
Now that the end of crazy summer has come and gone. Then came the start of the "new" year at church. This involved a lot of things for us this year. Not only was it just getting a special lunch planned for the first Sunday after labor day, but Joseph started going to "school" the week before, I spent full days worth of hours at the church doing all sorts of stuff. And now we're still just getting into our new fall schedules.
This is also going to be compounded by the fact that I am starting not one, but 2 new part time jobs this week.
Yes, I know...crazy! But it actually all works out PERFECTLY.
So, since I've been bad and haven't written and desperately want to get back into it. I'm going to have to accept the fact that I have to give you all readers digest versions of what's happened and what's going on. Don't be surprised though if you see a more "full length version" of an event that happened months ago appearing in the next few weeks of blogging.
Summer included:
A short road trip vacation to Maryland to see one of my best friends from High School get married on the beach just before sunset. Jon and I drove down, stayed two nights in a room with a 180 degrees of ocean view. Hammered crab out of its shell for dinner and drank a lot of Yeungling. And drove home. My mom stayed with Joseph.
A MAJOR makeover to the church's library. Which included real cleaning, a lot of painting and reorganizing books. Add in the new outlets and throw pillows and it looks fabulous! Thanks to lots of help from my dear friend Flavia!
Speaking of Flavia...she is a real estate lawyer who has been working for herself for several years. She has a 4 year old (Marco) and a 2 year old (Matteo). She was hired for a temporary job to work on a case due to her skills in being fluent in Portuguese. She asked me if I would be able/willing to watch her youngest a couple days a week while she took this job, as she couldn't get him in any more days at the boy's daycare. I said "Yes!" She paid me and it was great! Matteo and Joseph get along so well as they are very close in age. And the little extra money felt like a burden was lifted. I didn't have to talk myself out of getting something from the grocery store until "payday". It was great! This was for 3 weeks in July. About 2 weeks later, she interviewed for another "temporary" job at a different firm, much closer to home. This was a 30 day contract while the firm decided who they wanted to bring on permanently full time to replace a lawyer that left. She was hired for the 30 days, again I watched Matteo 2 days a week, and at the end she was offered exactly what she was going to ask for as a full time lawyer. She works 4 days and I will be watching her boy(s) 2-3 times a week (we're still figuring out if taking both boys will work well, or if it's better to just have Matteo).
In amidst all of that, I found a job posting at the library. I had an interview, almost a month later, finally got a call back. At this point I had already decided to watch Falvia's boy(s), so my "proposed schedule" for the library job was shot. When I finally did talk with the director, she said "I think this might work better for you. It's not much of a job, but it would be a 3 hour shift once a week and then other shifts sortof on-call." If they need help, they'll offer me when they need help and I"ll be free to accept or decline. This is exactly what I was hoping to convince them to give me. It's perfect!!!!!! I went in this afternoon (yes, I wrote some of this blog earlier today) for an hour of training in the children's room.
I know that sounds like not so much for 4 months of silence...but trust me, it was crazy.
Consider this my return to blogging. If I'm bad again, feel free to yell at me.
Please accept my most profound apologies. I have disappeared for months. An event of which was not planned; life has simply run away from me and I have not been able to keep up. For whomever thinks that pastor's lives calm down in the summer, we have quickly learned that this is not the case. One might assume that, given the fact that a church "year" mimics that of a school "year", summers would be that time of quite and recuperation. I, a now "seasoned" (of two years) pastor's wife, can tell you without any hesitation that it is not, nor ever will be.
I wrote the above MORE than a month ago. Oh dear....
Now that the end of crazy summer has come and gone. Then came the start of the "new" year at church. This involved a lot of things for us this year. Not only was it just getting a special lunch planned for the first Sunday after labor day, but Joseph started going to "school" the week before, I spent full days worth of hours at the church doing all sorts of stuff. And now we're still just getting into our new fall schedules.
This is also going to be compounded by the fact that I am starting not one, but 2 new part time jobs this week.
Yes, I know...crazy! But it actually all works out PERFECTLY.
So, since I've been bad and haven't written and desperately want to get back into it. I'm going to have to accept the fact that I have to give you all readers digest versions of what's happened and what's going on. Don't be surprised though if you see a more "full length version" of an event that happened months ago appearing in the next few weeks of blogging.
Summer included:
A short road trip vacation to Maryland to see one of my best friends from High School get married on the beach just before sunset. Jon and I drove down, stayed two nights in a room with a 180 degrees of ocean view. Hammered crab out of its shell for dinner and drank a lot of Yeungling. And drove home. My mom stayed with Joseph.
A MAJOR makeover to the church's library. Which included real cleaning, a lot of painting and reorganizing books. Add in the new outlets and throw pillows and it looks fabulous! Thanks to lots of help from my dear friend Flavia!
Speaking of Flavia...she is a real estate lawyer who has been working for herself for several years. She has a 4 year old (Marco) and a 2 year old (Matteo). She was hired for a temporary job to work on a case due to her skills in being fluent in Portuguese. She asked me if I would be able/willing to watch her youngest a couple days a week while she took this job, as she couldn't get him in any more days at the boy's daycare. I said "Yes!" She paid me and it was great! Matteo and Joseph get along so well as they are very close in age. And the little extra money felt like a burden was lifted. I didn't have to talk myself out of getting something from the grocery store until "payday". It was great! This was for 3 weeks in July. About 2 weeks later, she interviewed for another "temporary" job at a different firm, much closer to home. This was a 30 day contract while the firm decided who they wanted to bring on permanently full time to replace a lawyer that left. She was hired for the 30 days, again I watched Matteo 2 days a week, and at the end she was offered exactly what she was going to ask for as a full time lawyer. She works 4 days and I will be watching her boy(s) 2-3 times a week (we're still figuring out if taking both boys will work well, or if it's better to just have Matteo).
In amidst all of that, I found a job posting at the library. I had an interview, almost a month later, finally got a call back. At this point I had already decided to watch Falvia's boy(s), so my "proposed schedule" for the library job was shot. When I finally did talk with the director, she said "I think this might work better for you. It's not much of a job, but it would be a 3 hour shift once a week and then other shifts sortof on-call." If they need help, they'll offer me when they need help and I"ll be free to accept or decline. This is exactly what I was hoping to convince them to give me. It's perfect!!!!!! I went in this afternoon (yes, I wrote some of this blog earlier today) for an hour of training in the children's room.
I know that sounds like not so much for 4 months of silence...but trust me, it was crazy.
Consider this my return to blogging. If I'm bad again, feel free to yell at me.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Public singing
For the past several months, I have attended our church's choir practice for the purpose of getting the order of lyrics for new songs (new to our congregation) into powerpoint slides correctly so everyone will be on the same page, come Sunday. I've also sung a long a bit, especially with these "new" praise songs to help the others with the tune and following the music. Last w eek, the choir was learning one of my favorite songs, Still. I asked our choir director, Inga, if I would be messing it up by singing along. My singing isn't that bad, I just didn't want the choir to get used to having me sing, and then when Sunday came, me not sing with them. She was quick to say "NOO! Sing!" She's told Jonathan that she wants me in the choir, and I would love to. I used to sing solos all the time when I was younger in school plays, but as I grew up, I've never been sure how well I could sing. We have a couple of things to work out (someone else to run the power point and improved babysitting situation) before I can formerly join and sing with the choir every week.
So, last night was choir practice. I went to do another set of slides, but when I got there, Inga asked if I could sing the anthem with the choir this Sunday. I practiced it with them last week too and I sang soprano with the one other person that sings soprano. I consented. Then I proceeded to find a "babysitter" for Joseph so I can get up front for 5 min and sing. My dear friend, Cari, whom Joseph LOVES very willingly accepted my plea! I'm excited about it but a little nervous. There is one VERY high "G" in this song and in practice last night, I did hit it, but it's not easy.
So, last night was choir practice. I went to do another set of slides, but when I got there, Inga asked if I could sing the anthem with the choir this Sunday. I practiced it with them last week too and I sang soprano with the one other person that sings soprano. I consented. Then I proceeded to find a "babysitter" for Joseph so I can get up front for 5 min and sing. My dear friend, Cari, whom Joseph LOVES very willingly accepted my plea! I'm excited about it but a little nervous. There is one VERY high "G" in this song and in practice last night, I did hit it, but it's not easy.
Friday, May 7, 2010
To miss
You don't miss those you don't enjoy being around. Some people may think it's strange, but I say it's the mark of a good relationship; when you miss someone. I think that those you are closer with, you can genuinly miss after not a long period of time. If you were with someone you love dearly literally 24/7 for a week and then they were gone for 2 days, it would feel so much longer, because of the amount of time you became accustomed to spending with each other.
While my husband and I hardly spend 24/7 together, we see each other during the day and talk and e-mail most days when we are not physically in the same space. (In full disclosure, we sometimes e-mail when we are physically in the same space)
Jon stayed home this morning and worked until he had to leave at noon to go to our denomination's annual gathering in western MA. Pittsfield, MA. I've been there. It's basically as far west in MA as you can get. It took him about 3 and a half hours to get there. The event is from 4-9pm tonight. This means he will leave Pittsfield probably closer to 9:30 (hopefully) and then drive home. To bute, it is prom night throughout MA, so he is expecting to have to go through random check points on his trek home. I'm expecting he will arrive home in the vicinity of 1 am. THIS means, I am the only parent and I will be going to bed alone. There is nothing I hate more than going to bed alone. I think the anticipation of what is to come combined with his absence already today is making me miss him that much more.
I'm also not feeling that great today. Allergies especially are dragging me down. It's a beautiful day and I've gotten out a couple times, but all I really wanted to do was curl up on the couch and watch a movie I borrowed from the library. I tried to get Joseph to take a nap, but it's not working.
Time to be the responsible parent all while missing the other.
While my husband and I hardly spend 24/7 together, we see each other during the day and talk and e-mail most days when we are not physically in the same space. (In full disclosure, we sometimes e-mail when we are physically in the same space)
Jon stayed home this morning and worked until he had to leave at noon to go to our denomination's annual gathering in western MA. Pittsfield, MA. I've been there. It's basically as far west in MA as you can get. It took him about 3 and a half hours to get there. The event is from 4-9pm tonight. This means he will leave Pittsfield probably closer to 9:30 (hopefully) and then drive home. To bute, it is prom night throughout MA, so he is expecting to have to go through random check points on his trek home. I'm expecting he will arrive home in the vicinity of 1 am. THIS means, I am the only parent and I will be going to bed alone. There is nothing I hate more than going to bed alone. I think the anticipation of what is to come combined with his absence already today is making me miss him that much more.
I'm also not feeling that great today. Allergies especially are dragging me down. It's a beautiful day and I've gotten out a couple times, but all I really wanted to do was curl up on the couch and watch a movie I borrowed from the library. I tried to get Joseph to take a nap, but it's not working.
Time to be the responsible parent all while missing the other.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Unintentially accepted
So...today I was accepted to Kaplan University. Didn't mean to apply, but managed to and to get accepted.
Oh the weeks I've had, let's give you a quick list...
Basement flooded about 17-18 inches (this time...last time it was only about 15...only.)
Oreo got sick, blocked uterine track...had to stay in the hospital for 5 days including a slew of tests and x-rays...$1000
Joseph threw up, like grown up threw up, at 10:45pm night before Easter. About 10 min later I learned that we yet again had no hot water. Got sick again the next day, nothing but toast and cheerios and good free mommy milk for 2 days.
Car wouldn't start. Got towed to shop, nothing to be found wrong. Drove home. Next morning, Car wouldn't start. Got towed AGAIN to shop, after 5 days in the "hospital" finally figured out what was wrong and came home...$400
Jon got yelled at by an individual last week from the church then the whole diaconate...only to come home to find that we owe an extra $1000 in taxes and our estimated is going to be $600 more per quarter than last year. If we assume that it will be an extra $1000 next year and divy the additional expense, that comes out to taking out an $302 out per month. That's what we spend on most of our food per month. Most of our money left after bills is spent on money because that's all we can afford.
Life in ministry: priceless.
No really...my love, my best friend, my shoulder, my listener, my confidant, my husband: priceless. My son: priceless. (well...$5,000 was what it cost to have him, but..you know what I mean..which he will finally be paid off this September. 2 min to pull him out of me and 2 years to pay him off)
Oh the weeks I've had, let's give you a quick list...
Basement flooded about 17-18 inches (this time...last time it was only about 15...only.)
Oreo got sick, blocked uterine track...had to stay in the hospital for 5 days including a slew of tests and x-rays...$1000
Joseph threw up, like grown up threw up, at 10:45pm night before Easter. About 10 min later I learned that we yet again had no hot water. Got sick again the next day, nothing but toast and cheerios and good free mommy milk for 2 days.
Car wouldn't start. Got towed to shop, nothing to be found wrong. Drove home. Next morning, Car wouldn't start. Got towed AGAIN to shop, after 5 days in the "hospital" finally figured out what was wrong and came home...$400
Jon got yelled at by an individual last week from the church then the whole diaconate...only to come home to find that we owe an extra $1000 in taxes and our estimated is going to be $600 more per quarter than last year. If we assume that it will be an extra $1000 next year and divy the additional expense, that comes out to taking out an $302 out per month. That's what we spend on most of our food per month. Most of our money left after bills is spent on money because that's all we can afford.
Life in ministry: priceless.
No really...my love, my best friend, my shoulder, my listener, my confidant, my husband: priceless. My son: priceless. (well...$5,000 was what it cost to have him, but..you know what I mean..which he will finally be paid off this September. 2 min to pull him out of me and 2 years to pay him off)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)