33 and a Mother-To-Be!

"Old age is always 15 years older than I am." -- Bernard Baruch

Sorry it has been silence from the Millers. We are successfully at our new residence (where we are house-sitting for Wayne and Sally, close family friends). We are still sitting in a sea of boxes, wondering when we'll be able to find that lost pair of socks or paper we're looking for... ah, the joys of a transient life!

All in all, though, we are so very grateful to be here in a real home for the next period of our lives (until after the baby is born and we depart again for Asia, probably late November). Sally is an expert cook (thus the dozens of bottles in the fridge that I will catalog for use) and gardener. The highlight of my day today was picking her lucious blackberries on the outside fence. It will be a hefty challenge to fill her shoes! We're looking forward to hosting friends and family in this house, so consider yourself invited.

Amidst a flurry of packing and cleaning, on Wednesday I marked another year's passage of time. The double 3 doesn't feel quite as momentous as the big 3-0, maybe because I'm in such a happy season of life, married to Mr. Wonderful and awaiting the arrival of the energetic little being inside my belly. (Baby "papaya" is quite the kicker these days).

Mark, in his usual form, made it a day of surprises, treating me first to a nice breakfast of chorizo egg and potato burritos from our favorite Mexican restaurant down the street. Later in the day amongst my packing I came across a cute little blue fuzzy dog, with the tag "Happy Birthday"... a baby gift for our little one that I get to squeeze in the meantime (squeezing the dog, not the baby... I think you're following). Unbeknownst to me, Mark slipped away later in the afternoon to head downtown Dallas to the Cheesecake Factory. That night at home group (after our joint meal) he surprised us all by bringing out a to-die-for low sugar classic cheesecake. Mark knows my weak spots! We had a great celebration and fellowship with our cell group friends. Thanks, honey, for the special day!