My husband went to work today for the first time since our wedding...

and I'm getting a taste of what life will be like soon...

Ok, so Marc works. But we definitely have a unique lifestyle-living and working in community together. I love it. We've barely spent a day apart for the first 9 months of marriage. We see each other day and night. I think it's a good thing for a couple who only "dated" for 2 weeks and were engaged for 2 months. We're still dating each other, really.

But today Marc went to work for our friend, Scott, who's doing a roofing job about 45 miles from here. Sure, we're still on vacation, but why not try to make a buck or two (or maybe 50) when the opportunity arises? So this morning Marc packed up a lunch and took off for the worksite while I remained in Tahoe, lounging in the sun with the fam.

I think there's something I've been missing in the experience of being a stay-at-home wife and mom and I just realized that I've been looking forward to this for a long time, like, all my life. Don't get me wrong, i have absolutely loved my roles at Prodigal Project and Emmaus Ministries. They've been very fulfilling and I'm so thankful that God has used me to show His love to the poor and outcasts of society. But now that I'm on the brink of motherhood, I'm ready to jump into this entirely new role.

I'm sure some of you moms out there will warn me that it's not all I'm imagining it to be, but I can't wait to have our own home to cook in, clean, and organize. I can't wait to have my very own kitchen to prepare healthy, delicious meals for my family. I can't wait to decorate, to get together with my old girlfriends from Chicago who've just had their first babies, and to have my parents over for dinner.

I don't want to start living a conventional suburban life, untouched by poverty, suffering, and the gritty life of the city. I still want to choose to love those who are hard to love and to lay my life down in ways that are uncomfortable. But I am confident that our Dad has a nitch for us back in Chicago, even if we don't know what it is yet. I'm excited and really ready for this adventure in motherhood to begin...in more ways than one!

Crawdaddy fishin'

Last night's dinner catches tonight's dinner. Who knew Crawdad's liked chicken and salami? I guess anyone who's fished for them...



Sandwiched between my beautiful twin sisters-in-law (and looking like a whale next to them...gotta love the last weeks of pregnancy!)

Would you push your mother into Lake Tahoe for $50?

Let me set the scene...

Our nephew Jackson is enjoying a peaceful boatride with his daddy, so Louise decides to wade in for the perfect photo. Meanwhile, the rest of the family is lounging on the beach when Steve offers $50 to anyone who will go push Louise into the lake. Stacey ups the ante by asking $100 when Marc decides $50 is enough for him. He darts into the lake to sneak up on his poor unsuspecting mother. One minute she's getting this shot...


and the next moment Marc's snatching her camera and dunking her...


Mom Brackley, beware. I did not know Marc had it in him...Then again, I can't see him turning on his mother-in-law for $50. Too big a risk.

$100...maybe.

No time for creativity...

but at least I'll write a quick update on our first week of vacation. My mom was just here for a week, which was spectacular. We did a whirlwind tour of the Bay Area including staying at the lovely Chaminade Hotel in Santa Cruz, Steve and Louise's house, the Holiday Inn at Half Moon Bay, and the Hilton at Oakland Airport. (Thanks for making it all possible, Priceline.com!) We did a lot of relaxing things like picnic at the beach, sit and watch surfers, putz around seaside towns, and shop (of course).

Last weekend my incredible Mother-in-law and Aunt-in-law(?) threw me the biggest and nicest shower I've ever attended. There were about 27 guests (half of whom I met that day) and they literally showered us with gifts! After a few returns and exchanges we now have every imaginable item necessary for bringing a baby into this world (including about 300 diapers). Our munchie has the most extensive wardrobe of any infant I know and WILL be cute even if she is one of those alien-like newborns, thanks to baby Gap's adorable jeans.

We've done lots of running around, but i'm happy to announce that we are officially ready for the birth of our baby (6 more weeks and counting). Marc even installed the car seat tonight.

So, the Subaru is packed up and ready for the second half of our vacation adventure: the Hall family vacation in Tahoe. Departure is at 12:00 noon tomorrow and we are ready to roll. I'll wrap it up for now. It's definitely time for some R&R at the end of this errand-filled day...