No bags please

Third snow day two weeks but this time, I actually stayed home in bed watching the snow fall outside my window, sipping coffee and thanking God for this opportunity to relax.

We're five weeks into my crazy sixteen week semester with two weeks of class break for spring and Holy Week ahead. I haven't gotten sick at all this winter which is rare but for which I'm grateful for. I'm hoping by the time the wedding comes, I don't have bags under my eyes from these short nights.

Working as a hospital chaplain

Last night was my first night on-call as a hospital chaplain. I can't say I had a flawless performance, but I didn't run away from my fears and I think that in this type of environment, that's commendable. Eric was a dear (that sounds strange but articulates my appreciation) and stayed in the CPE apartment giving me, not only a Ho-Ho chocolate surprise, but also a sense of normalcy in the midst of my nervous imagination. It seems like I fall in love with him all over again every day as I get to see him respond to different situations.

Let it snow

97 days until our wedding! I'm so excited!

Here's a photo of the snowperson we made two weeks ago. Eric's already looking forward to playing with our kids out in the snow. Guess we're not moving to Florida!

Happy lady here with a new computer.

Eric...

Seriously, this needs to stop. I'm getting tired of calling Eric every day after he gets out of work to tell him I've broken something else. He's presently on his way over to check out his computer which froze under my care and won't even power off...

In better news, we can't decide where to eat dinner so our plan is to drive west for three miles and eat at the first restaurant we see. How's that for problem solving?

Broken

My computer had a melt-down and my car's a pididle.

But we're on it. Actually, Eric's on it. He's researching new laptops and we went looking for a headlight this afternoon. Over dinner we joked that I'm breaking everything and he's fixing it.

I didn't have any of my three classes this week so I've been working overtime at the hospital in order to take time off the day after my first overnight as chaplain and the day before the youth group sleepover (in the same week!).

Eric and I built a 7ft tall snowman yesterday afternoon while NJ announced its state of emergency.

This morning even though classes at Drew were delayed until 1pm, I was on the train headed to the city by 6:40am after waking up at 6:17(!). Didn't have time to make coffee or breakfast, nor pack a lunch or even a water bottle, so I was a little hungry today with the 1.6 mile walk to and from the Church Center in Manhattan.

Honestly, I'm enjoying everything I'm doing. I'm emotionally spent working in the hospital as a chaplain and I'm tired working long days but I'm happy with life. Eric continues to impress me daily with wise words and gentle reminders to play. I'm glad I get to spend my life with him! It's amazing to hear another person suggest dreams for the future and know that I get to be part of it. :-)

Not me

It's kind of difficult to describe life right now. I'm so caught up in other people's commitment to missions and family concerns to feel like my daily life is worth a word. Tomorrow Kenny's moving to Asia for three years to live in the slums. Jessi and Jake just had their first child in South Africa and are hoping to return to their chosen homeland Zambia asap. Sherri's preparing to give birth to twins in the next two months. Various people are grieving and celebrating and I try to keep them in my prayers.