Thanks and Praises and Prayer Requests

You probably noticed the blog's been a bit quieter than usual. That's because life's been a little louder than usual, and blogging couldn't be a priority.

Jon left for DC on Sunday afternoon. Although he's with us for a day or so now, when he's not in Roanoke at a conference, he'll be leaving again Sunday for 3 more weeks.

The daycare situation is going smoothly as far as the kids being safely brought there every day. But they're not coping all that well. Adele is particularly affected. It probably doesn't help we've been getting to bed later than usual. All the evening routines are bumped forward since I'm on my own. But we're getting through. I have some ideas to make next week smoother. We'll make it.

This is the first day I've had even a moment to think about blogging. So enjoy some pictures of two weeks ago! We woke up to this on April the 9th:

God thinks he's funny.

Anyway, it didn't throw off our groove! Robert Randolph and the Family Band still played their long-anticipated show at 8, and our babysitter was on time.

That show rejuvenated us so much. Jon & I used to go to Robert Randolph shows in college and before kids, so this was an excellent way to celebrate 10 years of marriage. I might have danced on stage... I might have danced myself shaky for hours...

Hope you like pictures of gorgeous musicians!!

His theatrics were unreal. Anyway, it was a much-needed night of pure good feelings. It felt more like church than most church. Thanks be to God.

Speaking of church, though, I do love the Eastertide banners in the Children's Chapel:

In other news, I spent about a week in a sling! After returning to work on Monday the 11 I noticed tingling and pain shooting down my arm, and centered (apparently) in my shoulder. The next day I could barely use my left arm, which made captioning... difficult.

I survived. Did you know there's an osteopathic doctor's office on VT's campus? He looked me over and proclaimed "cervical radiculitis" to be the matter and sent me home to apply warm compresses and with a PT guide and exercise strap.

I'm in waaaay better shape this week, again, thanks be to God!

Last Friday was Bring Your Child to Graduate School Day! Miles prefers to go to first grade than to be a tagalong with me, but Adele was all for a day on campus.  

She even rode the bus in with me.

There was a parade, a picnic, and speeches by people at the university who are working to increase affordable childcare options for graduate student families.

here she's decorating campus with her mere presence <3 td="">

She loved feeling like a big shot, meeting Mummy's professors and hanging out in the office. I loved being able to spend more time with my baby. She revealed her most current career aspiration to me: she wants to "fix light-bulbs." That's right, I'm the parent of a future electrician! We've got it made!

After a day of quality time with my daughter, I got to get some in with my son that evening. It was boys' night out at the elementary school!

The DJ-ed event had dancing, carnival games, a bounce house, and his favorite teachers to hug. I love having a kid who hugs his teachers and wants me at his school dance. 

I watched him whip and nae nae, I watched him boogie to Uptown Funk, and he and I led off on the cha-cha slide, real smooth.

He can go ahead and take his time growing up. I like six!

Last Saturday was the 3.2 for 32, the 5K to commemorate the 32 students and faculty lost to violence in 2007. This is my third year doing it, and my last as a townie, so it was really meaningful I got to run it. The entire family came:

Miles had a sweet encounter with the Hokie Bird

Unfortunately for Jon, who was going to walk with the kids, Miles kind of freaked out at the starting line and they ended up just walking around on the drillfield until I made it to the final stretch. These kids need to get some training in before we attempt a 5K again!

I had a great time, despite that my list running excursion of more than .5 miles was last year's race. But I came armed with a Beyonce workout playlist on spotify, which was more than enough to keep me running the whole time, and even helped me gradually pick up my pace until the kids met me for the final sprint.

The weather was gorgeous, and the band was playing, and it was an all around great day to be a Hokie. 

Sunday, we spent a couple of hours at the International Fair. I think this is our third year in a row at that festival (I'm kind of a creature of tradition and ritual).

Adele got henna-ed at the Muslim Students Association table.

We had Turkish and Saudi food and played dreidel and got the kids' names written in Arabic and played with Chinese dance fans.

As usual, it was a feast for the senses.

This week. It's been a predominantly successful campaign, with a few... bumps.

I had a disastrous trip to Kroger when we ran out of bread. I was late a couple of times to pick up the kids due to parking mishaps and traffic. I missed garbage day. I got a parking ticket the one day I forgot to use my daily pass.

But, the kids were fed, and they slept, and they got to school on time every day, and I came to work (at the pre-established time) every day, and I laughed at the kids' jokes (sometimes) and I read to them and never once left the stove top on. Victories, all.

I have really enjoyed taking Adele to preschool, more than I expected to. We get there early and soak up some sunshine...

And I've met the class hamster and seen the class tadpoles. There have been gifts to this solo-parenting season. 

Pray for us, friends. We are in mortgage purgatory. There was a miscalculation, and a mistake, and a misunderstanding, and the result is we have to go about applying for a mortgage in a different way if we want this house. Which we do. We've had it inspected and it's OUR HOUSE now, as far as I'm concerned. So pray for us. This semester brought every curve ball it could carry and we're getting tired.