The Clock Keeps Ticking

Did September really happen??

After spending Labor Day weekend packing up our shipment for Bangladesh (via Michigan) -21 boxes of which only 5 were personal goods and 16 were medical supplies-, Jason got back to studying for his oral board exams.

We took off a week to go to North Carolina for orientation with Samaritan's Purse. Loooong trip but great folks there. Plus, we got to see special friends, the Pettys and the Mezgers, in Winston-Salem on our way home. Such a wonderful treat! (The extra travel day that Hurricane Ike added in a circuitous manner was not so wonderful.)

After three days at home, Jason headed to the east coast again - Philadelphia - for his oral boards. Three day review course and then three 30 minute oral exams on the fourth day. Intense. (Maybe he'll write about it at some point.) But the best part is he's done and fully board-certified! The "real" end of residency and all the stresses therein. No more "big" tests for 10 years. Hooray J-! We're so proud of you and so grateful for the Lord's provisions through this time.

As soon as Jason returned, we made a trip to Seattle to visit dear friends - the Matthews, the Mitchells, and the Butlers. And met three new little people that we hadn't seen yet. What a joy!

Upon coming home, we commenced with packing. Actually, some packing, lots of things added to the "get rid of"/ garage sale room (not a pile, an entire room plus), and plenty just straight to the trash. It's our fifth move in five years of marriage. You'd think we wouldn't have so much stuff, but it just seems to happen. As we have minimized ourselves, the end result is relief and freedom but the process is a bit painful. We'll be living for the next couple months in the apartment (and most of the downstairs) at Jason's folks. What a wonderful way to downsize now but not be living out of a suitcase. It's such a blessing!

In the middle of moving, we took off last weekend to go to Richland, WA for Uncle Bob and Aunt Roberta's 50th wedding anniversary (Jason's Dad's brother and his wife). We had a delightful time. It was my first trip to the Lattin family's hometown, a town that reminded me in many ways of the town I lived in as a small child. There a few things as joyful to celebrate as a lifelong marriage. Congratulations Uncle Bob and Aunt Roberta!

Now, Jason is on the coast working for a 10 day stretch (the last three days being in Hood River). And the children and I are eager to go visit this next week. But in the meantime, we are continuing to settle in at our new spot and prepare for the new arrival.

We are 36 weeks tomorrow. The Little Miss is very active and thankfully has turned herself head-down. Thank you to those who were praying for us. She's also quite low in the pelvis which has made life a bit uncomfortable for me. Oh, but there could be many worse things.

If you wondered what we've been up to, I hope you feel like you now know. And as you might have guessed, we're still camera-less. So someday we'll be back with pictures. Yet as I sit here, the clock keeps ticking - pictures or not, every minute is precious.