Chapalebrity

It usually only happens in the South, but it happened up here, yesterday. As we were seating ourselves at church (we visited a new one yesterday) I heard a whisper behind me "ssxxss Chapman's sister."

It turned out to be a heavily pierced girl named Rachel, who knows Juli from Boston. She was here visiting friends.

And then it turns out, further, that Laura McKee is now married and her husband is on staff at the church. She has four year old twins and is in the process of adopting two more children from Ethiopia.

We're still looking for our "church home." There was a lot I liked about this one, but the commute (walk 5 blocks, 5 stops on the train, walk 5 more blocks) is long for the summer and would be brutal in bad weather, the music was whiny folk rock, and there is no air conditioning. Todd identified the location as a school cafeteria; I don't know if there is no air conditioning at all, or if the church just doesn't pay to run it. It was 85 outside and much hotter inside. I sat in front of one of the fans, which was definitely more than tolerable. Walking around afterward was rough. If I had known in advance, I would have dressed differently.

We happened to pass a restaurant named Nono. For North of New Orleans. And since we were both hungry, we decided to eat there. Todd had banana cakes, which were pretty delicious, and I had a cup of gumbo, a cup of collard greens, and a cup of cheese grits. They served cornbread, too. I wanted some of the coffee, but I was a good girl and didn't order any.

I had a hard time getting motivated to do much after the sauna/worship experience. But Todd wired our house so that the things in the bedroom can connect with the things in the living room, and we now have speakers in the bathroom, living room and bedroom. The kitchen is not large enough to have its own speakers. We're wired. I'm amazed at his ability to just do this stuff.

We've been invited to a barbecue this afternoon. It isn't really a barbecue when they call it that up here, it is some people grilling out. I'm going to be (Lord willing) productive before time to go. Please pray that I am! Lots to do here!

Love you all! Glad Dad made it home safely. It sounds rough.