the beginning of a routine?

This past weekend was a physical as well as emotional journey a little over 200 miles south, to Salem. Christy was visiting her mom for Chinese new year and gave us a ride down to grab some more household supplies for our new apartment. There is a possibility, after all, that if we remain jobless by the end of our six-month lease, for us to leave Seattle. No need to buy more things that we'll have to part with again.

I visited my mom's house, passed by Chemeketa Community College where I attempted to take Spanish night classes after a summer interning at the Capitol during daytime. (That gave me a new respect for people who achieved the impossible-to-me task of working full-time and going to school), passed by so many old and new businesses, and visited my grandparents' church (with all its memories, most of them....hm.)

And now we're back. Declan's developing a little cough, which worries me. But life seems to have more of a rhythm. Everything's pretty much the same up-in-the-air, applying to jobs and waiting to hear back, but I feel settled enough to start cooking with care again. Despite the sad existing separation between me and my beloved Art of Simple Food cookbook by Alice Waters.

Mondays/Wednesdays: lesson planning, catch the bus, teach children, return (picking up groceries at Safeway), cook, after-dinner stroll with family to Trader Joe's, read to Declan, read/edit thing for Daniel after Declan goes to bed.

Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays: grade homework, prepare for PhD application (study GRE, etc), spend time with Declan (go to the library, etc), cook, read to Declan, read/clean after Declan goes to bed.

Weekends: we're really trying to live real Sabbaths on Saturdays. Sundays are for hanging out with people. Hopefully, friends.

And we are all the while, waiting, waiting, studying and praying. What will happen next?