It's Been a Long time...

I have not posted a blog for a while.  In part, because I have been busy.  There have been a few changes around here.

First, I have a new job, which I really enjoy.  It has been a learning curve, but I think that things are coming together well.

The girls are done with their first semester of school.  Little One is in Kindergarten and LOVES to read.  I can't believe how quickly she picks things up.  Teen is in 8th grade.  She tolerates it because it means she gets to see her friends.

Little One just started piano lessons this week.  She wants to practice 2 times a day - how long can I get this to last?

Teen has had several months of clarinet lessons and is doing well, despite her reluctance to follow through.  She'd quit in a minute, but we're trying to develop perseverance here.

On the agenda for the next year is to wrap up seminary - graduation is on June 1st.  And I'm trying to work on my eating habits and exercise.  I think I'm going to sign up for another half marathon, probably one of the disney ones.  Hopefully that will motivate me (although it did not last time)!

Wrapping Up Another Quarter

I'm just about done with another seminary quarter.  This quarter featured the diverse classes of Genesis through Ruth and a class on Self in Community. 

By adding two foster care kids this quarter, I feel like this has lasted for a year, not just a few months.  To say I am looking forward to a few weeks break from classes is an understatement.  I need to find a new routine with the kiddos and find some time to clean up a few projects (like say, train for a 1/2 marathon, actually write an in-depth blog post, sleep).  I also have a few old things starting like children's ministries and choir.

But I know that I soon will be looking forward to a new set of classes, even though I am also longing to complete this degree.

Foster Parenting: A New Challenge

I've been visiting with a couple foster kids that the state is considering placing at my house.  So far, it has been interesting to get to know kids that I know nothing about.

I've discovered that figuring out what to eat or where and when to run errands takes on a whole new set of questions and issues.  Additionally, the kids are working to figure out the boundaries I have, so we've had a few "testing" episodes.

The benefit is watching them learn to relax and enjoy life.  Their excitement at having a room and toys to play with combined with the idea of a new adventure.  Since school starts soon, everyone is hoping to have the kids moved in within the next couple weeks.  I'm sure a set schedule will help both me and the kids settle into a routine.

Meanwhile, I've been busy wrapping up my seminary quarter, which ends after the time the kids move in, and trying to figure out what to buy for meals.  Arranging day care, school, transportation, and school supplies is taking a lot of time right now; but once done will be done for quite a while.

Today I finally got my foster car license in the mail.  It's funny to think that I will soon have kids in the home!

Counting the Cost

When I started seminary two years ago, I recognized that it would radically change my life.  Nearly all my vacation time would have to go towards attending the on campus intensives twice a year. (In fact, I'm not sure that I will have enough vacation toward the end, but I'll worry about that later).

I also knew that I would have much less free time than I used to have in order to read, blog, watch TV, surf the web, and to spend with family.

All of that has been true.  What I wasn't quite prepared for was the fact that much of it I don't miss.  TV is one thing I don't miss very much, although I do still watch my fair share of it.  My attendance at racing events has plummeted - I used to attend a race per week, now I'm lucky to get to one per season.

This weekend is my favorite weekend at Knoxville - Hall of Fame Inductions.  I've met scads of neat people, some famous, some not famous at all.  But listening to the old drivers set around and tell stories on one another is an unbelievable experience.  I've gotten to know several of the people who return each year.

But, I think I'm going to have to miss this weekend.  I have too many other things that must be completed (like a couple papers), and I have tons of projects that I keep having to put off due to homework or lack of time.  While it isn't a firm decision yet, it is one that I think I will have to make this year.

Teetering on the Edge

Since mid-April, I have been extremely busy, even for me.  I have had events and projects each weekend and a massive amount of homework due.  I've been teetering on the edge of exhaustion and too much to do!

Fortunately, homework over the past two weeks has been light, but I still had two books to read and write about.  I had a sermon to rework for church, a busy time at work, and more progress to be made on the adoption/foster parenting front.  I had my last SEEL retreat on Saturday, and while it was bittersweet, it is nice to have all of my Saturdays back - maybe the lawn will actually get mowed soon!

My choir rehearsals have increased to two per week for the concert scheduled Saturday. After this week, my schedule gets much lighter, which is good as I have to write a couple big papers for the end of semester.  So, if I can make it through next Sunday, life will be good.

The classes this quarter have been heavy reading and writing classes.  The one on multiculturalism is a nearly identical repeat of the class I had last summer (I'm still not impressed with it), and I really don't understand why there are two classes on the topic.  My other class, on the lifecycle, has been interesting and I've learned a few things. The combination of the two is a bit much.  For some reason, the distance courses seem to give the professors the license to require a book per week to be read and reported about while also posting two or three times per week and watching video'ed lectures.  This is one area that needs to be reevaluated by the university!

Knocking God Off His Throne?

I confess I am a planner.  I have owned more schedule books, palm pilots, and calendars than I'd care to admit.  I have dreams about vacations and plans for where to spend next weekend. When everything goes according to plan, I feel amazing and powerful. But, if I'm running late or things don't go quite the way I want them to, then I'm frustrated and frazzled.

For my preaching class, I taught on James 4:13-17, where James takes us to task for planning without God.  He calls those who plan without God arrogant.   James also reminds that God views planning without his input as boasting, and God hates boasting.

I find this convicting every time I reflect on my schedule.  Am I really doing what God wants me to do?  Or am I doing my own thing, hoping that God approves after the fact?

Nurturing Through the Lifecycle

That's the title of one of my classes this quarter.  I wasn't super-excited to take the course, but since I needed a spiritual formation credit, this was my option.

The class has actually been very interesting.  The readings have dealt with human development, family formation and other issues that speak to my current plans.  I am surprised how well the topics dovetail with my foster care classes and my readings on international adoption.

One issue I read about today was the place of singles in churches.  The author noted that churches are composed of "traditional" families or people who used to be part of traditional families (ie empty-nesters or widow/ers), thus the church is not addressing the needs or  desires of  non-traditional families including singles, single parents, couples w/o kids etc.

There is little question in my mind that this problem exists.  The question is how should the church address it while still affirming families?

Style: Sermons

This week I had a class on preaching.  I find it fascinating that there are so many styles out there that work.  In fact, if you read any book on preaching, they have a few "don't do this" listed.  Interestingly, you can find a well known preacher who does this exact thing - and is successful.

We watched several different preachers in class (amazing what is online these days).  Despite the variety in different styles, the message is the same.

What one person likes, another hates.  We saw sermons that lasted over an hour, one around 20 minutes and most at 30-40 minutes.  I cannot imagine listening to an hour sermon each week, but I suppose if the preacher was engaging, it may be easier than I think.

What style of preacher do you like?  How long is too long?

Leap of Faith

Instead of a New Year's Resolution, I try to find a new thing to try or learn each year.  I've taken classes on creating pottery from clay, simple plumbing and electrical fix-it classes,  guitar lessons, and Spanish lessons (to refresh my high school learnings).  I've gone on vacations by myself across the country (thereby learning to be independent, read maps and entertain myself).  My "new things" over the years have included writing novels in 30 days as a challenge and walking a 5K race.  On my list of things yet to do are learn to scuba dive, complete at least a 10K or a half-marathon, and learn to drive a motorcycle.

One thing I had always wanted to do is to learn to read Greek and Hebrew, specifically the Greek and Hebrew in the Bible.  A weird dream, but something that had been in the back of my mind for a long time.  So a couple years ago, I decided to investigate learning both ancient languages.

After looking into classes at the college level, I realized what I really needed or wanted to learn was available primarily through seminaries.  I had not considered going and did not want to go to seminary.  So, I decided to spend some time (a year) to decide whether this was something God wanted me to do or if this was just a whim that would pass with time.  

After the year, I had determined my real objections to going to seminary were the cost and the time it would take.  I knew that the sacrifice of my personal time would be high and that I would likely have to give up a lot of the activities and events I enjoyed doing.

But, after a year, I also was certain that this was something God was calling me to accomplish.  So, taking a leap of faith, I enrolled in seminary, and have spent the past year and a half taking classes online through Bethel Seminary in St. Paul.

The question I am asked most often when people find out I'm taking seminary classes is "What do you plan to do with it?"  The answer: I have no idea.  It has not been revealed to me, and I don't have plans to change careers.

But, the benefits to taking the classes have been enormous: new friends, a closer relationship with God, a firmer understanding of our faith, a clarification of ideas, and learning Hebrew.  While there have been costs as well, such as all of my vacations spent at school or lack of time to do things other than homework, the benefits clearly outweigh the costs.   I am certain that God wants me there, if for no other reason than to broaden my perspective.  Although, I suspect there is much more to it than that.



For more on this topic, click through the Women of Faith blog hop.