Good Shepherd Update in Brief

A Silent Movie

Monday Morning

I was going to blog, really I was, and write up my IHip and Quarterly Report, but someone unexpectedly came to take all four children until 3 o'clock this afternoon, and so we are flinging ourselves in the car and going to ALL the places its a hassle and challenge to take four small children. How far to New York City? Just kidding, we'll stay in town, but it would be a sin to waste this opportunity. I'm thinking coffee out, lunch out, something else to be determined, and then arriving home just at the same time as the children.

In Memorium

In keeping with my current Announcement Only Blogging Life, I just wanted to mark and honor the passing of my Glorious Cat into the presence of her Maker.

She had been sick for some time (I think I twittered, I can't even remember) and got to be much worse while I was in Kenya. Matt and the Cat Doctor determined that they couldn't prolong the inevitable any longer, and helped her gently out of this world last Tuesday while I was flying home.

I rescued this kitty almost exactly ten years ago from a dumpster on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene where she had been cast by some benighted individual who thought that they wanted a kitten and then decided they didn't. I reluctantly gave her away so that I could go to seminary, but when I married Matt, part of his present to me (besides a lovely desk) was reclaiming this beautiful cat.

This, I think, is really how Christ loves the church. Matt doesn't like cats, and neither does his dog, Maggie. But over the past 8 years, Matt has tended to this cat, and now two others, not only in the matter of kitty litter, and feeding, but finally in caring for her in her final days. I am told she slept next to him on our bed, food and water right there on a blanket, was carried down to be with him during the day and to sit in the sun, was carried down to the kitty box, was given medicine, and taken to the vet.

I am also very grateful to a very wonderful member of the Lady's Bible Study and Romulus's particularly important person for taking her to the vet several times and generally being there to comfort and sustain her.

I miss her very much and hope that God is taking jolly good care of her until I get there to be sure. In light of my present grief, I have two requests. First, I am not in any shape to acquire another cat at this time. Second, I would be most grateful to Clumber and Father Christian for refraining, if at all possible, from criticizing and mocking me, my cat or Matt in this matter.

All I'm doing is posting News

I have SO MUCH to say about our trip to Kenya, but it would be totally irresponsible of me to stop ordering my house and blog. There's just too much to do. So, you'll have to content yourself with snippets of news until the time is right.

That news being that this new baby looks very much like a girl. Couldn't be 100% sure, but through all the haze and stubbornness, it looks like we're probably in for a third baby girl and..............

What Are We Going to Call Her??!!!!!!

I'm not kidding.
I only have 19 more weeks to panic about this. The time is ticking away. Some of you should stop watching the ACNA Assembly Meeting and pray about it. On that note, I'm unashamedly delighted that Matt is not there and that he got to come to the ultrasound this morning and that later I'm going to bake tiny little beef pies and that he'll be here to eat them.

Just to wish Many Happy Returns of the Day

to my mother who will probably not read this message as she is laid up in bed with the flu. We've all had it over the weekend, she worst of all, which is why I haven't been blogging. However, we will celebrate when she's all better with a cake and maybe a balloon. In the meantime, blogging will continue light until I can get a grip on the laundry.

Home again, Home again...

Elphine is dropping off in the middle of her Bible Story. Romulus is talking loudly and squeezing drops of water out of a bottle onto his tummy. Alouicious is wiggling. Gladys is climbing on and off my lap. She's been throwing up all afternoon. In other words, we're all back in one place cozily together and SO GRATEFUL

1. That we traveled safely and that all the airplanes were sound and secure.
2. That we got to go and be with my mom at such a moment.
3. That so many of you took such lovely care of Matt and the boys (meals, a spotless house, many fun outings for the boys).
4. That we got to have a first hand encounter with the Anglican Church in Kenya and meet so many people who have prayed so much for us.
5. That my parents are this moment in the air and coming to be with us and that my mom is able to take a full breath through her own artery, 40 percent open.

Here comes the baby. This post will have to continue at a later moment.