Weekend Wackiness

There are times when life gets a little wacky. This weekend is one of those for us. Suzanne is working this morning at the cafeteria at the college. Alyssa has a birthday party at one of the parks today for a classmate early afternoon. This evening the PM families have been invited over to a local families farm for a hayride, hotdog roast, etc. Tomorrow morning I am attending a Beachy Amish church for my class Anabaptist History and Thought. We are eating lunch with them, and then Suzanne goes back to work for the evening within 2 hours of me arriving home. Sometimes the schedule is not real pretty, but you need to make the best use of the time that you do have with each other. That is what I am going to do, see you later.

Fast weeks

The weeks seem to go by quicker this semester than they did last semester.  I even have 2 less credit hours.  I had my first Bible Study with 5 guys last night.  They are all freshman except for 1.  We are studying the book of James.  I am really looking forward to this time of learning from them, and learning from God.

Last Friday it rained alot.  I believe Witchita had over 7 inches in less than 24 hours and lots of flooding.  The ditch behind our house was atleast 20 feet across and the height was to the bottom of the bridges which is about 5 feet.  Now the sun is back, wall-to-wall and a nice breeze.  We are enjoying time together as a family outside.  I heard that Ohio got a lot of wind with power outages and branches/trees down.  Hope everybody and their things are okay.

Dad

Hopefully you are reading this from home today.  I wish you a speedy recovering.

(Now everybody who didn't know is going to be wondering what happened to you.  How fun!)

Slight adjustment to overwhelmed

I am not overwhelmed, but I am not underwhelmed either.  Just a slight downgrade.  I am enjoying my classes and reading.  So many concepts to ponder and consider, spiritual disciplines to practice, and discussions to have.  It is some times hard to explain when someone from Ohio asks how it is going.  Good, great, wonderful, etc.  Do you have a year to spend with us here? I could explain it much better if you experienced it.  It is made up of so many experiences and slight tweaks, and cyclical loopty-loes...

And the girls continue to grow up into new things.  They tell funny stories, do crazy things, and act profound, and surprise you when you least expect it.  Suffice it to say that we are enjoying it here.

Overwhelmed

Okay, so I am feeling a little bit overwhelmed. The last couple days especially. Can I have moment to complain? Thanks. Between 8am and 8pm, I have roughly 18 hours a week to read and write papers. Factor in 3 hours of Bible Study leadership and 4 hours of Supervised Ministry and that leaves me with 11. Informal conversations with teachers and other PM students probably accounts for a couple hours a week too. I do like to spend time with my family. Each of the girls need individual time, Suzanne needs my time, and we all as the five of us need time together too.
So this is an opportunity to learn how to balance my time and to say "No." I have said no to 2 fun things just this week, and I will have to say "not so much" to something else. This is the reality that people face when they work and minister in places that they feel called. My hat is off to those who are in ministry making these hard choices daily. God bless you!

I want to get back in the groove of writing this

Yesterday I talked with my mother-in-law, Sandy Lehman, who said that she reads our blog before she does bank stuff. I appreciated her making us a priority ahead of banking, but I also realize there is some technical reasons for it as well. We'll take the priority reason:)

She reminded me that I hadn't updated this since Monday, of last week. It's not because we haven't had anything happen, but probably because so much has happened. It has been a busy first week of classes for me, lots of reading. Suzanne is working on Mondays and Fridays, so between classes and Suzanne working (while I have the girls) I am busy from about 8am till 7pm. I really appreciate Suzanne and her loving care for me and the girls.

This week we went to a couple girls and guys soccer games here at hesston college. It is a good time to mix with the traditional and PM students. I am enjoying both types of friendships. I desire to keep a balance of family life, studying, and friendships while here at Hesston College. Why? Because that is what life and ministry are all about. They are a balance of family life, learning, ministry, friendships, and just living.

New Semester

I have had a good start to the first day of classes. This is my Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule:
8am-9am Jesus and the Gospels
9am-10am Anabaptist History and Thought
11am-11:30am Chapel
3pm-4pm Faith and Discipleship

Here is my Tuesday, Thursday schedule:
8am-10am Pastoral Care and Leadership

We have Formation on Tuesdays from 6:30pm till 8:30pm.
Thursday at 5:30pm is our PM supper.
Wednesday Suzanne is helping with Shine (Children's ministry at Hesston Mennonite Church) at 6:30pm

Suzanne is still teaching at the Wellness Center and will be helping with food prep 2 days a week and 1 weekend a month at the College. Our schedules are picking up, but we are looking forward to the fun.

I will be doing my Supervised Ministry at Hesston Mennonite Church, with the great John Murray. I am also serving as a Ministry Assistant on campus which involves being a pastoral presence to a group of guys and leading a Bible Study once a week.

Here we go, full speed ahead. Pray us well.

Last Friday before classes

It has been fun getting to know the new PMers and hearing each others stories. We are all different in what we have done and what has brought us here. But yet we are all very similar in hearing a call and making choices to end up at Hesston.
Yesterday was registration, so I am all ready to go. I will be spending most of today helping students move into the dorms as a "Shaker and Mover". I get to wear a tie-dye shirt, which reminded me of an old friend that came out to visit me in Hesston about a month ago. I miss you Dan Blackford. If you know Dan Blackford, than you will understand.

Suzanne works, I play

For one week Suzanne is working at the college for nearly every breakfast, lunch, and supper. This week the Resident Assistants, Soccer players, Volleyball players, and a Singing group are on campus. I get to be with Emberlynn and Courtney all day. We are playing on the computer in our PJ's.
Alyssa started first grade on last Tuesday and has been really enjoying it. Her teacher is Mrs. Lehman who was a kindergarten teacher last year. Alyssa really likes her. Some of her friends are in the class too. She is starting to make some new friends as well.
This week begins stuff at the college for the PM program too. Tuesday and Wednesday evening are orientation times for PM'ers. On Thursday evening I have a meeting for helping move students into the dorm. We are called Movers and Shakers. Insert jokes here. Friday morning I will help students move in and the evening brings an opening convocation and ice cream social. Saturday will give us some volleyball and soccer games to watch. Sunday throws us the always entertaining Mod Olympics, and Monday is the first day of classes. I can't wait!

Long time coming

I hope to get back to updating this on a more regular basis again. Here's the latest run down:
-CPE ended on Friday, but it doesn't really end does it? It has been a great experience, tough, challenging, painful, but growing, stretching, and more. Hopefully I will find time to write more on this.
-Suzanne's Sister Christa and husband Robert, and their children Emily, Sarah, Micah, and Justin Hershberger arrived on Friday morning around 6:45am and just left on Monday afternoon. We all had a wonderful time catching up and enjoying one another's presence. They are on their way home now.
-Alyssa's first day of school is today. I took her to school on our bikes and now I am hanging out at Lincoln Perk sipping a Caramel Latte blender and catching up on email and some reading for college. Orientation is next Tuesday, 19th. Classes start on Monday, 25th.
-Suzanne is still teaching classes at the wellness center and enjoying the mature participants.
-Courtney will be starting preschool on Sept. 3, and she is excited.
-Emberlynn is excited about going to college this year. She will be spending 2 days a week with me in the Library for an hour or so. She is such a big girl now.