Wondering where I've been? On Friday of last week we left our company conference to go to another weekend conference held 2 hours away by our denomination. We were blessed to have a neighbor agree to watch our herd so that we could both go; actually, the original plan was for me to represent us while DH (dear husband, for those who keep asking me about these abbreviations) was in Bulgaria. He didn't go to Bulgaria, and he could have stayed home, but by then the kids were so excited about the sleep-over it would have been cruel to cancel it. So, off we went.
The conference reminded us of the importance of living "incarnationally" which the people among whom we minister. That means that we should treat Muslims, Hindus, secular post-Christians, etc. as Jesus treated, say, the Samaritan woman. This is especially true for Muslims, because in today's world we see a polarization of Western Christian vs. Middle East Muslim. But Jesus went to this woman who society said he should hate and avoid, and he showed her love and truth. We were reminded that we ought to live this way in the world.
The combination of these conferences, back to back as they were, wore us introverts out! We simply weren't constructed to meet that many people in such a short time; many of them people who wanted to hear our story and develop relationships with us. We left the second gathering a little early on Saturday and went home exhausted to reclaim our kids and put them to bed.
Sunday was spent at church, then buying a car and packing. I'd show you a picture of the car, but in the hubbub, I can't find the camera. It's a red Ford Escort wagon, 1991 with 80,000 miles and bald tires. On Monday, after our company sent us out with prayers and lunch, I drove the "new" car home to NY, with DD10 and a whole lotta stuff! DH had our truck with the rest of the kids and a trailer full of more stuff! We arrived in time to go to a potluck dinner at church, even though I drove like a granny most of the way through PA after discovering that the car gets the shimmies at 65mph. Our kids had to give thank-you reports at the dinner to the ladies who gave them scholarships for summer camp. They did a good job! Todd had both vehicles unloaded by the time we all got home.
But it was not yet time to rest, as Dd10 and I had to go to the dentist Tuesday morning. No cavities! But, the dentist wants her to see both an oral surgeon and an orthodontist, soon! I thought we had plenty of time before crossing this bridge, as all of our kids seem to teethe late. Dd only has 9 adult teeth. But under one molar there was a dark spot on the x-ray, which may be a cyst. When I asked, the dentist said the tooth might recede, the cyst might impact a nerve bundle, and it could even fracture her jaw! So we will be making some phone calls about that. Once that's taken care of, we will have to address a crossbite and narrow palate which apparently are causing the teeth on one side to grow too close together and preventing them from growing at all in places. Fun stuff. And I thought we were just getting cleanings!!
And now, down to the real reason we're here this week: my parents' 40th wedding anniversary was last weekend, and there's a party Friday night. So I've spent most of today, and will spend all day tomorrow, with my sister tricking out the Gansevoort Fire House Pavillion for the event. Tomorrow I am the master ziti chef. The party's at 6:00.
If I survive that, we're going back to PA on the weekend for a wedding and birthday party. We'll come back Sunday night towing the camper and the remainder of our worldly goods in it. Then I am going to take a good long nap.
But don't worry, I have not forgotten my promise to post pics of the light hut. Believe it or not we did school this week, too. It was a fairly light week, thank goodness. So that is where I have been and will be for a while. Next week I'll show off our new school room (God is Good!) and accommodations. Thanks for reading.
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