You're probably asking yourself, "Where is Jessica? Why don't she BLOG?" You can rest easy, folks. Here I am.

So I didn't update on the Mama visit yesterday because I wrote such a long blog about my journeys. But we had a great time. We ate out at restaurants, and we ate at my house. Pretty much, we just took it easy and visited. It was great... we were all so glad to see her and we had a lot of fun. I also got her hooked on the IHOP webstream, which I should advertise to all y'all.
So here's the whatsit. You can get the webstream, which is like a continuous internet video, of the happenings of the house of prayer here in Kansas City. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I live 6 minutes from the International House of Prayer. They have prayer and worship 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And for $10 a month, you can have the house of prayer in your house.
We didn't do it at first... we are wary of new bills... but after a few weeks of me wondering what the heck I was doing here, we subscribed. I now have it playing most of the time. It's amazing how the atmosphere changes with continual prayer and worship, even in the background. The boys fight less, and I don't get stressed as much. Well worth the 10 bucks. Plus, if Richy gets to lead worship up there someday, I'll be able to watch him. So there's your ad. Check it out. theprayerroom.tv.

I have to clean this house. I just don't wannnnnaaaa... but Richy's small group is coming over here tomorrow night. And miles to go before I sleep.

So, what's the point of blogging at this late of an hour? Well, if for no other reason, to entertain Nate, who is bored out of his mind at the rodeo. He's working there, y'all. Normal attendees would not be bored, and neither would bullriders. But Nate is neither of those. So here you go.

I began this morning by- well, Richy began by dropping himself off at his class, and then I took the wheel. Much like Jesus in the proverbial song. I then missed the freeway entrance and drove 30 minutes in the wrong direction before the ol' light came on. The brain light, that is... waaaaaaiiiittt.... this not 71 to airport... this 470 to Wichita... what I do now??? ...........

Call to the MOG, exit, u-turn... drive for one forever to the airport. Successfully drop Mama off and find the correct freeway, and spend the next 20 minutes on course. Then, I took a detour to some large water industry district in Kansas. Good times.
Another call to the MOG who had by this point spent a lot of class time out of class. He hung up to map my coordinates, and before he called me back I randomly chose the proper direction and found the correct road. Made it home, folks. HOURS later.

But we only had time to catch an episode of Barney and then we had to pick up Daddy and head to the DMV. Say it slow, because that is appropriate. Deee.........emmmmmmm.....veeeeee.....
We eventually got Missouri drivers licenses, and simultaneously got poorer. Highway robbery.

Then we went to the office of the party of the first part to get our van registered. And waited. Did I mention we have three children? And did I mention that Toby is TWO? He got our tax dollars worth of climbing chairs, over, under, around... meeting passersby and frightening strangers with a smile... anyway. We were number 7. I heard them call out 6, and then moments later, 8. Being a pretty Smart Egg, I reasoned something was amiss. I of the floating freeways, had been skipped. I rose and cried out for justice, and I was heard. Eventually. So the party of the first part said I needed documentation of such and such and wrote things down and sent me over to the party of the second part, who directed me to the back of the line. You won't believe this, but we were all getting a little tired of the ol DMV by this point. To cut a long, long story, shorter.... they couldn't make the computer work, the supervisor wasn't around, blah blah handwritten document, back to the P of the 1st P, who almost registered the van, but sent me out empty handed and said come back with a current Missouri inspection tag.

We did some other stuff. Now I'm home for one hour before my home group. If you want to talk to me, fill out these fourteen forms in triplicate and fax them to the Ukraine. I'll be right with you.

mama has landed safely and boy are her arms tired...

Today the MOG had to be a parking attendant for the Passion for Jesus conference. In a blizzard. Well, it was snowing, anyway. He is part of the IHOP slave labor force that are interns, and he does what he is told. :) I'm not too disappointed I did not make the cut. Well, the pintos are a'simmerin and in one hour or so, we feast. I know you're jealous.

And back by lack of popular demand : Ms. Smartypants!!

Submit your lonely heart or non-confrontational political or social etiquette question! I might answer it on Monday! Or not! Also, ask grammar questions! Because I'm obviously an expert!!

Today, we will pick up my mom from the airport and she will be here till Monday! Wahoo!

Now, off to kill the fatted calf and rinse the pintos.

Today, as I was driving home from the airport (the MOG is going to lead worship at this), Mama called me.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
I assured her that I was fine, figuring out everything as well as trying to drive home from the airport, which is pretty tricky in the land of 1000 freeways.
"Some of your existensial statements are alarming the family..." she says. MUAHAHAHA

Hey! Can't a girl be deep sometimes? I mean day in and day out, I'm cold, went to the library, Toby was bad... is that interesting reading?

Seriously, though. I'm good. I'm growing. I think I'll try some things I've never tried... like navigating an unfamilar city, or working out... or making friends by my own initiative. I think I'll develop a prayer life, and start writing beyond this blog. I want to be MORE. Existensial... deep, whatever. I'll still write a lot of fluff, because I enjoy writing fluff. But on a dark day, if I write that I am alone and afraid, hey! It's all good. I'm just talking about what's always been there.

In other news, it's just me and the wee folk this weekend... doubt we're going anywhere. Because it's cold and Toby is adventurous, vocal and persistent.

Well, here we are. 5 of us alone -several states away from friends and family. I have been dreading this, but you know, it's okay.
So begins the Clark family adventure.

The Call KC was beautiful. R2 didn't go at all, we just took the babies and traded them back and forth between me and the MOG. They actually did very well, although we did have Toby on a wrist leash. Sorry if you think that's cruel.... 25,000+ people and a runner... he gets a leash.
It felt very true to the spirit of the original Calls we attended, less praise and worship, more prayer. It was intense all day long. Me and the munchkins left after 7 hours, but I watched the stream on God TV, which you can watch for free on your computer anytime... and they will be replaying the Call, so keep an eye out.

Radiant did not play, we just attended and prayed. And actually, that may be why I enjoyed it so much. Being behind the scenes sometimes, you miss the flavor of what's happening on the floor. So that was refreshing and awesome.

Richy woke me up at 11:55 where I had fallen asleep watching the stream on my laptop, and we had a nice quiet Happy New Year listening to the neighbors fireworks and him eating his chili dog.

This morning I said goodbye to my mom for the longest separation we will ever have, at least a few months, maybe longer. I didn't cry... but I feel the gap already. Then I said goodbye to the team and my sister and Nate. And now we're on our own.

This is going to be fun.