Maryland Update

I rarely get online these days since we are not connected to the internet at home. The younger children take a gym class on Monday afternoons that gives me about an hour "off". If Pop is not using the computer or counseling in the office he lets me use the computer there. As I check everyone else's blog and read the Baylyblog the time slips away.

Tonight after Evening Prayer I again have free time in the office while Pop is in a meeting and the children are still in their classes to post a quick update.

We have located a house we like and have begun the process of purchasing it. It has four bedrooms with space in the (finished) basement that can easily be walled off to make a fifth. In addition, it has a small den that I will be able to use as my own study! There is a living room, dining room, kitchen, one bedroom, a full bath and the den on the first floor. The second floor has three more bedrooms and a full bath. The basement has a family room, half bath, open room for a fifth bedroom, and a large laundry room with storage. It is about a five minute drive down the main street of Catonsville to the church and convenient to the Beltway (695), too. Financing it will be the biggest challenge, but Pop is working hard on all those details and, thankfully, leaving me out of it! If all goes well we expect to close at the end of April and could be moved in at the beginning of May. The home is beautiful and needs no work that we can see (the home inspection is scheduled for tomorrow) and has a very nice yard, too. Not big, but in a nice, established neighborhood.

I have interviewed for a teaching position at St. Stephen's Classical School in Eldersburg, MD, about a 40 minute drive. I had hoped to be considered for a logic or rhetoric level humanities position, but those have been filled. Instead, the open position is for a 4th or 5th grade class. I have not been offered the job (yet), but I did have a very productive interview last Friday and will be teaching a class this Friday on the art history of the American Revolutionary War era--primarily miniatures and other portrait work. If I am offered the position it would allow the four youngest children to attend the school for free. This is the education philosophy I most admire but have been unable to sustainably teach at home. The first year would be particularly difficult for them since the curriculum would be more rigorous than they are accustomed to, and a lot of work for me as well, so I appreciate your prayers as I consider this huge step.

We are looking forward to having company during Spring Break next week. Matt and Thomas will arrive early on Monday (after stopping in Pittsburgh to watch a Penguins vs. Flyers game). We expect Ben and Michal later in the week. I haven't heard if Jon is coming. He recently began a new job that he loves, but I don't know if he's free to take the time off.