A Little Time Off

I just realized something.  This week is the first time I've taken leave without Emily being on vacation with me since I became a chaplain.  I'm hoping to get a little bit of solitude at some point.  Part of the week will be spent in Rome, with a group of British chaplains.  We're actually getting to stay in the Vatican.  I couldn't really pass on that opportunity when it was offered.  I'm hoping that during the evenings, I'll have a chance to read and pray some.  Uninterupted time alone is becoming pretty rare.  It's actually been a while since I've reached the point of needed a break this bad.  Deployment actually allowed me more of an opportunity to withdraw for time alone with God.  Part of that is probably that we now have two kids and a house that is much smaller than what we had in Texas.  Part of it is just this particular season of ministry.

Since I know most of the people who read this are far more interested in the kids than they are in my rambling, I'll give you the outline of what's going on with them.

• Isaac and I are watching "Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin" for the 12th time this week.
• Claire's hair is now getting long enough to put a bow on her head without using a headband.  (Yes, she's about to turn 1 and her hair is just now that long).
• Isaac's French has now passed mine.  He knows more than 5 words.  (No one is surprised that this has only taken a month).

Otherwise, things are still pretty routine.  I'll try to put some pictures from September in my web albums this afternoon.