A New Year...

Sometimes it seems that things change behind your back.

You've been busy working on some other project in some separate corner of your life, and when you return, nothing looks the same.

In many ways, that is the value of a blog. It lets you sit down and think to yourself, "hmmm...what has happened since the last time that I wrote?" It forces you to notice the changes, to become aware of the things that so quickly become routine.

Since we last posted (I use the royal we, since I - Cami - haven't posted in probably over a year) school has started, Oscar has moved out, and the baby room is beginning to take shape.

School is always a handful. As much as we plan and prepare beforehand, it seems that the game is always changing seconds before kickoff. This year, we changed the schedule to make it possible for 3 teachers to teach 12 classes and constantly supervise 35 kids. Then, after a week of classes, one of the teachers decides that he doesn't want to work with unmotivated kids anymore, and quits....via text message...15 minutes before the beginning of school. I'm not sure what your momma taught you, but if she didn't teach you how to quit properly, call her up and ask her how it's done. You should know. Really...

So now we get to figure out how 2 teachers, with some administrators helping out, can handle the school. That will be interesting.

Oscar left. We made an agreement that he wanted to be treated like an adult and pay rent, $50/month, to live here. He hasn't paid in 3 months, moreover, he decided that he wasn't interested in paying or working something out for it. It seems that he had gotten tired of trying to become a new man. He stopped coming to church, stopped visiting his baby momma, and baby, and would drive down to South Central to hang out rather than look for work.

Since leaving about a week ago, we did see Oscar at church this Sunday. He seems to be doing okay, and seems less hardened than he was a week earlier. The Lord doesn't give up on His kids. That's one of the ways I really want to be more like Him. Never giving up. Being just, being merciful, being strict, being gracious. I feel like I can't hold on to all of those. Like I'm trying to juggle them and can only hold on to 2 while I'm throwing the other 4 around. Ah, how unsearchable His wisdom, how far my thoughts and ways are from His.

Baby room. This is Deidre's new passion. She is the definition of a pregnant nest-er. We have been to IKEA twice in the last 2 days. We've put up curtains, assembled bookcases, arranged stuffed animals, and organized parts of the house that I haven't seen in months. I didn't know that the nesting carried over into other areas of the house as well; found that out the hard way. I'll have to bring my "A" game to all my household chores for the next couple of months :)

The baby room is starting to look like a room, which is a big first step for us, seeing as how it used to be part of the dining room. We'll have to put up some pictures when we get a chance. I'm sure that all the die-hard fans that have read this far are going to be interested in seeing what we've got. I must say that Ro inspired the dividers, which look good (lil' shout out to the homey Ro). The dividers are ceiling to floor length curtains, which are definitely Lily's favorite part of the house right now. She's taken to curling up on them.

On a separate, ending note. Deidre and I were thinking about applying for WIC. I'm not sure if I'm a fan of WIC or not. Government welfare vs. going it on our own. We definitely qualify financially for it. Just not sure if we qualify morally. Free money? Responsibility? Anyway, we'd love some feedback and advice if you've got any.

Cheers
C & D