There is so much to do in the next two weeks that I'm nearly paralyzed trying to sort it out and PRIORITIZE! The house is almost ready to be rented out, except that in this case almost means we have two more rooms to paint, a back deck to finish, a sprinkler system zone to complete and there are boxes and boxes everywhere... like I said, almost.
At least the Sewanee side of the deal is set:
accepted into seminary - check
house rented - check
financial aid recieved - check (thank you God!)
move in party planned - check
Now if we can only get the extra car sold, finish packing, finish swim team, finish VBS, finish my job, finish the house, then we're set!
These are good problems to have, I hope I don't sound too much like a baby. We're really thrilled, it is a real adventure, nothing boring here!
breathe
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Being overwhelmed - a constant feature of theological education!
I received a very nice form letter from the Dean of the School of Theology at Sewanee the other day. In the letter he welcomed my family to Sewanee and tried to introduce us to the idea of being constantly overwhelmed... anyone who has visited our house lately would know that we are no strangers to this state of mind! We started packing two weeks ago and everything is in a state of flux. We have packaged almost all of our fragile items such as picture frames, figurines, etc in bubble wrap and cardboard. We've peeled wallpaper jungle scenes from the kids' bedroom walls, we have tried to empty out the shed and the garage (although they are more full than ever) and so on... all while keeping everyone fed and clothed, including our infant son Joshua.
All in all it has been fun and exciting and yet we're nowhere near ready to go, but go we will. The rental van is rented, so there's no backing out now.
On the plus side, it is nice to see that we're all getting along with each other pretty well. We're spending lots of time with old friends, silently acknowledging how much we're going to miss each other (a lot, a whole lot!) and wishing we could take everyone with us to Sewanee.
God has definitely been the central figure in this whole process and I pray that we'll keep saying "yes" each time he says "go now".
Jon
All in all it has been fun and exciting and yet we're nowhere near ready to go, but go we will. The rental van is rented, so there's no backing out now.
On the plus side, it is nice to see that we're all getting along with each other pretty well. We're spending lots of time with old friends, silently acknowledging how much we're going to miss each other (a lot, a whole lot!) and wishing we could take everyone with us to Sewanee.
God has definitely been the central figure in this whole process and I pray that we'll keep saying "yes" each time he says "go now".
Jon
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Environmental Stewardship
Leave it to me to make a big deal out of something and then take off for the mountains! Over the last few weeks I've been sharing about environmental stewardship at St. Andrew's. The first session was on what we could do as individuals and the next section was about how churches could participate in improving the physical world we live in.
It is certainly true that most people alive today would not even recognize the world that our Christian ancestors inhabited. I would give just about anything to see the vast forests that once covered our land with 250 foot tall pines and oak trees that were 30 feet in diameter. I would love to visit an unspoiled Florida, with no tract housing, no air conditioners humming through the night and fireflies lighting up every bit of swampy ground.
I suppose this is not to be... so what can we do? A lot, really! It begins with reducing our environmental footprint, by being efficient, recycling and re-using. Next we can take active steps to become more sustainable in the products we purchase and the way that we grow our food and use the land. If we can focus on the environment as a blessing, as a true gift from God and seek to better understand his will for us, then we might have a chance. I pray for the renewed health and well being of all my neighbors, especially the ones on the wing, in the water and running about on four legs.
It is certainly true that most people alive today would not even recognize the world that our Christian ancestors inhabited. I would give just about anything to see the vast forests that once covered our land with 250 foot tall pines and oak trees that were 30 feet in diameter. I would love to visit an unspoiled Florida, with no tract housing, no air conditioners humming through the night and fireflies lighting up every bit of swampy ground.
I suppose this is not to be... so what can we do? A lot, really! It begins with reducing our environmental footprint, by being efficient, recycling and re-using. Next we can take active steps to become more sustainable in the products we purchase and the way that we grow our food and use the land. If we can focus on the environment as a blessing, as a true gift from God and seek to better understand his will for us, then we might have a chance. I pray for the renewed health and well being of all my neighbors, especially the ones on the wing, in the water and running about on four legs.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Short timer
We're six weeks from moving and it is getting really exciting! We got our housing assignment last week and what a blessing, it's bigger than the house we live in now (how will we ever survive with less than 2,000 sq ft again?) Marti is thrilled and so am I. Also the house has a guest bedroom which will have a double bed, for whenever anyone from Jacksonville wants to visit. We have reserved the moving van and are starting to line up volunteers for the move. We also have help at the Sewanee end, which is totally great.
I got turned down for one of the scholarships I applied for, but it was a long shot. The rest we'll know when I hear from Sewanee's financial aid office around the 15th of June. The St. Andrew's vestry and finance committees both approved a very generous "aid" package for our family. Thanks to all and to Father Mark for their generosity! This last piece of the puzzle would be enough to stress anyone out, but I feel completely at peace...
The kids are getting excited too. It is starting to sink in that they won't be able to see all of their lifelong friends whenever they want. It adds a certain sense of appreciation that only moving away can provide. My dad was in the Navy, so I am well acquainted with relocating, but Marti and the kids are not.
St. Andrew's is planning a big party for us in July and I am really looking forward to it. I hope that we can find ways to express our love for our wonderful home parish and to thank them for bringing us into the family of God.
yours in Christ,
Jon
I got turned down for one of the scholarships I applied for, but it was a long shot. The rest we'll know when I hear from Sewanee's financial aid office around the 15th of June. The St. Andrew's vestry and finance committees both approved a very generous "aid" package for our family. Thanks to all and to Father Mark for their generosity! This last piece of the puzzle would be enough to stress anyone out, but I feel completely at peace...
The kids are getting excited too. It is starting to sink in that they won't be able to see all of their lifelong friends whenever they want. It adds a certain sense of appreciation that only moving away can provide. My dad was in the Navy, so I am well acquainted with relocating, but Marti and the kids are not.
St. Andrew's is planning a big party for us in July and I am really looking forward to it. I hope that we can find ways to express our love for our wonderful home parish and to thank them for bringing us into the family of God.
yours in Christ,
Jon
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