bbbbb

b is for baby. We're having a baby. The baby's due date is September 17th. It's too early to know whether it's a boy or girl, but yes, we're going to find out. As E said tonight, "Can you believe J's pregnant?" (my cousin had dinner with us)

E is getting used to the idea. I'm amazed at how everything worked out (the same week I found out I was pregnant I found out my teaching job wouldn't be renewed for the fall). I'm really looking forward to this last "summer of freedom." We've started to think about how we're going to change our 1-BR apartment around.

It was neat to see the first ultrasound and to see the heartbeat on the first visit, to hear it on the second. Sometimes I still think it's all a figment of my imagination.

Mom is excited to be grandma. Dad sent me a post-it note with the fruit of the spirit to post on my computer. One sister (in Stockholm) has promised to start knitting and the other (in New York) to be a regular babysitter. Having a child really isn't just about you.

I was thinking about that even before we got pregnant...what it means to have your family be a ministry, for a family to glorify God.

I think it was helpful for E to return from his East Asia trip and see families there with kids and the work they were doing.

I don't know what my ministry will be post-kid, what kind of work I might do though I'm thinking part-time, perhaps paid, perhaps volunteer.

Lots to think about. One day at a time.

Making the most of that free time now....eating out, going to far regions of the island, going on our big vacation.

In other news...working on questions for a survey of graduate students in the sciences and engineering; our first faculty development event, a workshop on tenure, is this Friday; recommend Ministries of Mercy by Tim Keller which we had to read for our Mercy Team training; don't recommend Trust the Man, a dvd I borrowed from the library.