Welcome to California

We've now been here more than one month, and in some ways this time seems longer, sometimes shorter than that. We miss being on the East Coast in a lot of ways. We miss our friends there. We have however adjusted to the splendid weather out here. No shoes required. We can take walks to the park down the street at any time and not have to bundle up. Josh keeps busy finishing his dissertation at the Starbucks down the street - recording brilliant thoughts about epistemology. We've settled into a routine.

I'm still pregnant and awaiting the arrival of baby boy #2. Name undecided - we continue to pray for divine inspiration for that. Suggestions welcome.

Closing our NJ chapter

Josh got a job as a professor at Whitworth University. We are overwhelmed at this gift from God and eager to embark on this next chapter of our lives. Josh begins teaching this fall and we will move to Spokane sometime in the late summer. But before we do, we'll have a little intermission in California, to be near family and have the baby.

We head to California in one month. We can't believe we're leaving New Jersey! Lamenting the close of our NJ chapter, we're running all over to kiss our favorite people and places goodbye. Here we are at our favorite gelateria in Philadelphia, after hitting Jim's Steaks and walking up and down South St.

Micah is so much fun right now. Everyday holds new discoveries. He's eager to repeat sounds of words. We're working hard at "please." He loves saying horse and says it to anything resembling one: giraffe, camel, donkey, zebra. We went to the Bronx Zoo last weekend and it was funny trying to discern when to tell him what he was calling a horse wasn't really a horse. How do you explain it's an antelope? Or a yak? We have the same problem with "tractor." Anything big or yellow is a tractor to him.

Winter/nesting/packing - all in full swing

This is the season of full swing. Here are pics from our trip to California. Now that we are back in NJ, we feel winter in full swing: we bundle up to leave the house. I walked with Micah to the post office and library yesterday and felt so very accomplished after those chores were checked off. My pregnancy is in full swing: I'm absolutely showing, am well into my 2nd trimester, we are preparing for our second little boy. I'm nesting in full swing: we're preparing for a move, probably to California for a few months then off to Josh's professor post. All of these details are working together to create a chaotic household state. My goal in life of late is to downsize because it means living more simply, and transporting less bulk cross-country, and really enjoying what we have. So everyday while Micah naps I scurry to the basement to sort and clean. I'm trying to refocus these efforts on giving to those who need them rather than having the selfish motivation to carry less around.

St. Basil wrote: "The bread you store up belongs to the hungry; the cloak that lies in your chest belongs to the naked; the gold that you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor. If everyone would take only according to his needs and would leave the surplus to the needy, no one would be rich, no one poor, no one in misery."

Wonderful Christmas

Yesterday Micah woke up late, so we received the good fortune of sleeping in until 7:30 on Christmas morning and then we made a big breakfast together. Micah likes to help cook - so he stirred empty bowls and taste-tested his creations while we flipped pancakes. You see Micah here in his pajamas; I just love the way those make him look like a baby super hero! If it weren't for social expectations, I would fill his closet with all baby super hero pajamas.

After present-opening, we enjoyed our unusually lovely weather (which melted every trace of snow) and went for a walk. Good friends of ours invited us to their place in the afternoon and they shared food and family and basketball with us.

Gearing up for Christmas

We set up the Christmas tree last week. The nostalgic smell of pine fills the air and makes me smile when I pass by. Micah was old enough to get involved this year, so we enlisted his help to hang (well, it turned out he liked more to remove) the ornaments and watch the lights sparkle. This Christmas we'll be carving our own traditions here in New Jersey.

Signs of Winter's Coming

Since winter is well on her way, and outdoor playtime is limited to however long we can stand the cold (and my tolerance in particularly low), my friend Ruth and I take our kids to the malls in our area to walk around and let them play where we can all be warm. Santa was there last week and we tried to encourage them to visit with him, but none of them were thrilled about it. In fact, Micah was downright depressed about it. On another mall excursion, these silly kids sprawled out on the floor and tumbled over each other. Micah loves Isaiah and Leorah.

Thanksgiving Joy

On Thanksgiving morning we woke up, and brushed our teeth, and made cinnamon rolls together. Micah makes us laugh, here he looks like a little old man with that toothbrush hanging out of his mouth! We're undecided about who he looks like, but Josh says he looks like his dad in this pic.

These other photos are taken after Thanksgiving dinner at our good friends' house. We're so thankful to have our NJ friends!