Settling in

We've been at Sewanee for 10 days now and we're starting to settle into a routine. Our neighborhood is very hilly, so Brennan and Aidan spend a lot of time riding bikes and scooters up and down the long sidewalks (probably reaching speeds of 15-20 mph, really!) We walk just about everywhere on campus, including the library, chapel and bookstore. I go mountain biking for a few hours every other day and we spend other time meeting with our fellow seminarians and helping others to move into their homes, as we were helped when we arrived.

The house is really a blessing, it is a 4 bed, 2 bath unit that was originally built in the 50's or 60's for a then-popular athletic director. It's probably one of the nicest seminary houses (we were assigned a bigger house due to having a bigger family, but many thanks to Father Mark and Father Reed for encouraging me to turn in my paperwork early!) Each morning the same family of white tailed deer can be found eating our front lawn and running through our back yard, which is completely woods. We'll be posting some pictures soon.

Tonight we attended our second weekly bbq, which is done at the cookout area of the seminary housing area known as the "Woodlands". We're about 3/4 mile away from the Woodlands, but it is all hills, so we drive when we take the baby over there. Everyone is excited about the new term starting in a few weeks. We all have our different ideas about what ordained life will be like, but even the middlers and seniors (2nd and 3rd year students) really have no idea. All any of us really know so far is what it feels like to be at seminary, and I don't even know that much yet. The silliest thing so far is how little I've heard about Jesus since I arrived. We talk a lot about church, but it's mostly shoptalk, about home parishes, dioceses and bishops, just like you would find at any other job... I hope this changes when class starts.

I wish words could say how blessed we feel to be here in this wonderful place. Sewanee is one of the most beautiful places that I've ever been. We want all of our friends in Jacksonville to come and visit... we have a guest room waiting for you and we really hope you'll come!

Yours in Christ,

Jon