So sorry, I've been overwhelmed.

Wow, a week without a post and so much to post about. First, an update on my brother: Lucas is doing well and in high spirits. His surgery on Wednesday went well. I'm not sure exactly what they did, but it involved plates, rods, and screws being put either in his back or his left foot. They sat him up in bed today (the first time he has been able to sit up in a week) so I think that made him feel better mentally. They hope to re-introduce solid foods tomorrow. Pray that he doesn't have the same reaction he did last time (he couldn't keep anything down in the beginning). Depending on how the next couple of days go, he may be out of the hospital by mid-week next week and could possibly be home the first week in July. Thank you again for all of your prayers.

On the homefront it has been a really stressful couple of weeks on a variety of levels. My body chemistry is slowly returning to normal after having Jack (can you believe he is 7 1/2 weeks old). This means that I am having longer stretches where I can be gentle and tolerant with Katherine. Although, I think having an extremely active, intelligent toddler can be trying for even the best of mothers (at least I like to think that).

It doesn't help that James' job has been taking him out of town so much these last couple of weeks. You've got to love the end-of-quarter heroics that must be performed to make stock holders happy. So, I have basically been a single mom (without the brief reprieve of work outside the home) for the better part of two weeks.

I pray more during times like this, but often feel farther from Him when I lose my cool and become a mother I don't like very much. I think God tries to give me moments of respite or reflection via a new smile from Jack, a thoughtful gesture from Katherine, a beautiful bird landing outside my kitchen window, a ray of sunshine that filters beautifully through the canopy of leaves on the tree in my front yard, reading a blog post that really resonates with me and makes me realize I'm not the only one who struggles as a wife, mother, or believer...

Thankfully He has put us in a place where we are surrounded by friends and neighbors who, although not biological family, have become our chosen family. We are blessed by these people in large ways and small on a daily basis. Whether it is my neighbor Jae bringing our garbage cans in from the curb when I've been too overwhelmed to even notice they are still there, his wife Trish offering to have Katherine over for a play-date so that I can get something done with only one child, Balaz ans Suzanne walking our dog Hunter (or even hanging out with Katherine for a while), or Lisa inviting us down the street to join them for dinner so I don't have to make an entire meal for myself and a 2 1/2 year old...these people have become like family and I thank God for them.

We are truly blessed.