Fall Update

Hey folks – Long time, not talk, I know. I’m just not feeling it when it comes to blogging lately. Hopefully you’ve been getting along fine without my regular updates. :)

So let’s get on to the updates, shall we???

First off, some good news – our family did not implode during our 3 months apart thanks to skype and Nick’s 2 week visit to MN. Apart from missing my husband, our time in MN was divine. It was one endless loop of Caribou mochas, garage-saling, cabin time, cousin playdates and hotdish eating. Nia even got to go to Grandma’s preschool each day from 9-3, which opened me up to work and see friends. Our time there left me refreshed and keenly aware of what makes MN so special. Thanks to my parents for hosting us for so long. We love hanging out with you!

We arrived back in DC in late August. I decided to pull back from work this fall and only enrolled Nia in a morning preschool program (she was in full-time care last year). We initially enrolled her in a 3 morning a week program, but then I worried that we might have taken it too far in the other direction and added a Monday, Friday program. So now she goes every morning from 9:30 – 12:30 and we do playdates, shopping and outings in the afternoons. She couldn’t be happier.

Bidding season is officially underway, with all its endless opportunities and underlying anxiety. Here’s the timeline:

• Aug 7th – The official list of countries/positions available was released.
• Oct 16th – Bids are due. We must bid a minimum of 6 in two different regions. Interviewing happens once all the bids are in.
• Week of Nov 9th – We find out if we got an assignment.

If you’re the praying type, I wouldn’t mind a little prayer or two that we get one of our desired postings. We are very keen on getting back overseas.

Speaking of praying, I started back up at the hospital this month doing my chaplaincy work. I struggled last spring with whether or not I wanted to come back this fall, but realized over the summer that it wasn’t the fit that was the problem, but my dislike of being a beginner at something again (and all the discomfort that comes with making mistakes). I decided that was a stupid reason to quit, so I’m back at it and already feeling like I’m finding my groove. Amazing what letting go of self-imposed expectations can do for a person!

Staying on the GOD theme, I managed to score a ticket to see Pope Francis while he’s in town this week. Amy Klobuchar is a friend of my alma mater, the College of Saint Benedict, and she donated 14 tickets to see the address to congress being viewed on jumbotrons on the capital lawn. After his address, the Pope is expected to come out on the balcony and address the crowd. I’ll be hanging with 22,000 of my new friends hoping that the Pope makes good on his promise to come out. And yes, you can expect a blog write-up following that event on Thursday.

So there you have it folks. Lots of good stuff happening. Life is good (and hopefully about to get even better when we receive our next assignment).

Hugs to you all,

Sarah