This week

This has been a busy week - maybe one of the busiest Jamie has had since we've been married. For some reason every evening was filled with one-time meetings or events. It was all great stuff - but too much. Most nights he didn't get home until 9 or 10 pm. I know that's semi-normal for some No VA couples, but I'm glad its not the norm for us! It was especially yucky on such a strange and heavy week. The VA Tech shootings definitely seemed to define the week (and probably much longer for most people) and the weather seemed to reflect the sadness and chaotic feeling of the moment.

It was so good to have Friday off together (especially with the nicer weather!). We got to rest, spend the day together, and have friends over for dinner. We laughed till we cried playing a board game called "Loaded Questions". I highly recommend it - especially with friends that you know pretty well!

Saturday was back to the grind - at least for Jamie. It was a long day, although in the end the big CANA ordination service was good. I think we were both struck by the powerful image of probably 10 priests/ministers crowded around each ordinand praying with laying of hands. We loved that each man's wife was included in the prayers and got to put his stole over him. And that Angela (the bishop's wife) blessed each of the wives with the words, "Be an evangelist. Love your husband through the power of the Holy Spirit." I think most pastor's wives struggle at some point with the fact that, even though their husband is the one employed by the church, they are expected to be a huge part of their husband's ministry. (I think both Truro and TFC are good at not expecting this as much.) But either way, ministry is a pretty life-encompassing job. Of all jobs, it has to be one of the hardest to "leave at work", partly because if you're in ministry, it doesn't feel like its just a job: it is a part of who you are. I loved that at this ordination service (not sure if it is the same at every ordination service), they took that role of the spouse seriously. It may not be a paid position, but it can be a full time job to be a pastor's wife.

Today was good, but busy too. TFC is a good place to be for both of us. Its taking a while for me (Catherine) to feel at home there, I think mostly because I felt SO at home at Truro, but the people are wonderful, friendly, and definitely reach out. I'm starting to make some good friends there. Today after the 11 am service, something fun happened that made me feel more at home! Jamie and I were standing talking to a friend and I felt a little body crash into my leg. The 2 yr old son of another friend is a sturdy little guy who loves wrestling and other such physical activity. I guess he had decided to make me the target of what I can only call one of his "love crashes". I'd seen him do it to others, but I felt very privileged to be the recipient of it myself! (Oh the little things in life!)

After church and lunch we headed over to Truro for the program they put on for Martyn's last Sunday there. The program was fun and it was great to see so many Truro people. We ended up staying for about 2 hours after the program ended just talking to people, etc. We saw our pregnant friend Meghan and our friend Molly's new baby. (I don't think we even saw Molly pregnant this time.) And tons of youth group kids and parents. We felt loved! One thing I said to Jamie as we left is that I love the way Truro is the kind of church that kids grow up at. Ricky and Nik brought out a chair for Martyn during the program and it struck me that before them it was Peter and Jake and after them it will probably be Ethan and Anthony. There are always those kids/teens who have been at Truro forever and step in to help out with stuff, as well as new students who are grafted in to the community. Anyway, it was good to see everyone there.

Well, it was a weekend full of church, and tomorrow its back to work! But tonight we're spending the evening vegging: watching tv, blogging, etc. And its good to get to be in it together.