Model Jonathan Returns

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I'm Sensing a Trend?

Not long ago, on a Saturday morning walk down the Hudson, I looked up from my iPod playlist and saw this:

















Then, about two weeks ago, the kids and I happened upon this:






















Upholstery theft is on the rise, I hear. It's senseless. But soft.

church

Oh, and Hey

Here are a few pics that I took last night. Our apartment is across the (large, 4 lane) street from the World Trade Center site. I stepped outside to walk for a while and noticed that the two lights seemed to be coming from our building. (Apologies for the quality; the iPhone is good but not necessarily a professional quality night vision camera).

Head Above Water. Now Breathe.

This morning Jonathan woke me up at 4:45. Which is really of no relevance to this post but deserves a mention, because it's a Saturday, for Pete's sake.

Anysleepdeprivation,
I've been absent from Blogsville for a long time. Longer than I would like, because I so enjoy sitting on my Blogsville front porch and sharing my silly little stories with you and hearing (reading) all about you and how your jobs and kids and cars and political views are. There are 68 unread items on my Google Reader, and I'm writing before I read them, which makes me think I've got it backwards and am seeking first to be understood and then to understand, and Mr. Stephen Covey himself would give me a good talking-to... but I fear that if I don't write now, it'll be another week before I sit down in front of the computer for longer than 30 seconds.

So, I've been away on business, as is usually the case when I don't blog for a while. The Friday prior to Labor Day, I very unexpectedly and happily stepped into the job that I left in the spring. It's a long story... a story full of lessons learned and values examined and God's provision and redemption... so it's a good story, and if you're ever in the area, let's grab a drink and I'll tell you all about it... but in the end, I'm thrilled to be back in a job that 1.) doesn't bore me, and B.) allows me to work with some of my best friends, and 3.) gives me the opportunity to wave to the kiddos on their way through the school hallways. All that being said, September is to a school office administrator as tax season is to an H&R Block accountant, and I've been insanely busy. Experience tells me that it will all even out in a couple of weeks, but still, working full time again is an adjustment, and for now, both my blog and the cleanliness of our apartment are suffering. Just this morning, Chloe said to me, "Mom, you know what I don't like? When I walk around the apartment and little crumbs stick to the bottom of my feet."

Me either.

Big things are happening with the church, too, which means Steve is also insanely busy, and there apparently is not a sane adult left in our household (good thing Chloe is 7 going on 37. She'll keep us on task). First, we've found a perfect, so good, can't-believe-how-good-it-is spot in Greenwich Village for our Sunday morning worship. Secondly, we've changed our name. City Fellowship Church has become City Grace. Hey, we'd love for you to join us. Really.

2 Conversations

Chloe started it.

Mom, my tummy feels like I ate too many sweet tarts. It's like all jumbly and mixed up and excited and nervous.
Oh, honey, is it because of school tomorrow?
Yeah... it's kinda like I can't wait to go but I'm still nervous.
What exactly are you excited about?
Seeing my friends.
What are you nervous about?
Oh, just... it's just because I just don't know exactly what's going to happen.

Jonathan piped in.
Mama? We need to talk.
Yes, babe, do you need to talk about school, too?
No. We need to talk about glow in the dark vampire teeth.