wild wednesday

Started the morning out with paperwork. While Jon is away, I am trying to plow through as much of the missionary related paperwork as I possibly can. I have also been in touch with two of the area Nazarene churches in the hopes of finding one that we can attend while we are in the area.
Sam has just about perfected his living room cartwheels. Adrian is just about finished with a novel she picked up at the library the other day (yes, we have library cards :)). Michal just got up....at 12:30.
Jon phoned, but we had a bad connection. We are still waiting on one more piece of information before we can make a final decision on Dakota. Jon has secured the girls' school records and has gotten more sorting done. It looks like our share of the shipment could be as much as $$5000. Thankfully, we can take it out of deputation.
Michal is in need of a hair cut. If she is motivated enough this afternoon, I might try to get her one. Until then...
I have more paperwork to get to.....

Living in Limbo

Jon arrived safely in Nairobi, and hit the ground running yesterday. By the time he went to bed last night, he had secured two of the three quotes necessary for our shipment, sorted out the payment of said shipment, purchased his return flight tickets, ironed out more details about Dakota, made a plan for today and sorted most of the house. He isn't doing this alone-apparently, the entire office staff is helping as much as they can. Edith is particularly upset. I don't blame her-we have been her family's sole source of income for the last two years.
The kids and I have been hanging out...well, the kids have been hanging out. I spent yesterday working on the housing hunt-came up with a few possibilities for Jon to consider. Today has been mostly following up on some small details, and tomorrow will be necessary paperwork. Yuck.
Jon is due to arrive this Sunday afternoon--and we will hopefully be able to finish off the housing/schooling work.
Now to find a job.

birthdays

Last night we had THREE birthday cakes. One for Michal whose birthday is Friday, once for Adrian who keeps threatening to have a birthday, but we want her to stay 12, and one for Sam-just because. It was good to be with family and to share some good times. It was also a little weird since we didn't have the pressure of needing to pack things up or the nagging feeling that this party would have to last two years. We'll be separated by about 7 hours after this week-but hey-that is a lot shorter than what it has been.

CAR

We have a car. For free.

normal people

It occurred to me last night that as of midnight, we are no longer missionaries. We stayed up to watch Letterman (something we don't usually do-and of course I slept through most of it), and as I went to bed I knew that we were fully released. I woke up this morning thinking-hey, I am a normal person once again. After nine years of being "ON"-I can go to Meijer this morning with my hair messed up, I don't have to feel like I have to smile at everyone--and best of all--I can finally get my nose pierced. (mom-offer still stands to get the buttons done)