I am in my office getting ready to head home for a little bit to check on Stacey and Isaiah. Isaiah is home sick with a little bug in his stomach. I think that he will be good in a day or so after some rest and eating crackers and sipping on Ginger Ale.
Stacey is not 100%, so we are going to go up to the Cleveland clinic tomorrow morning/afternoon. We should know alot more tomorrow.
My mom and family are about 4 1/2 hours away at my Uncle Mike's funeral, so I am thinking of them as the day goes on.
There is just a lot of stuff going on with the family.
The thoughts and writings on this blog are the thoughts of Jeff and do not necessarily represent the views of Grace First Parish of Russell and/or Lutheran Campus Ministry of Southwest Minnesota State University.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Back to School ??
I am exploring the possibility of going back to school. No, I would not be leaving Zion. I will continue working FT at Zion. The school is only a hop, skip and a jump away and I think that the degree and process will be very beneficial for me.
I sent them my transcripts and they have replied favorably to them. I will need to take a few ( some would say quite a few ) to begin the degree that I want but they all should be very manageable.
The class(es) will be on Monday. I can give one day a week to go to school and instead of veggin' on the bed and watching 'pointless' tv at night after the kids are asleep, I will watch certain shows with Stacey, read in bed and make the trek to the kitchen table with a cup of coffee when writing needs to take place.
When I hear more definite news, I will let everyone know.
Also, please be in prayer for my mom as one of her brothers passed away yesterday afternoon. It looks like the visitation will be on Sunday evening and the funeral will be on Monday. I am not sure if I am going to make it or not ....
I sent them my transcripts and they have replied favorably to them. I will need to take a few ( some would say quite a few ) to begin the degree that I want but they all should be very manageable.
The class(es) will be on Monday. I can give one day a week to go to school and instead of veggin' on the bed and watching 'pointless' tv at night after the kids are asleep, I will watch certain shows with Stacey, read in bed and make the trek to the kitchen table with a cup of coffee when writing needs to take place.
When I hear more definite news, I will let everyone know.
Also, please be in prayer for my mom as one of her brothers passed away yesterday afternoon. It looks like the visitation will be on Sunday evening and the funeral will be on Monday. I am not sure if I am going to make it or not ....
Monday, October 19, 2009
During the Captive Free concert, I snapped this photo. I love this photo for a number of reasons. Here it is:
Yes, I love the photo because it shows my daughter worshiping.
Yes, I love the photo because she is in a Steelers cap.
Yes, I love the photo because she has it on backwards.
Yes, I love the photo because she got the Steeler cap off of daddy's head.
She is a great gal and I just loved the fact that this is Bee being Bee. As a dad, I am extremely happy to see her praising God and what is a better way to do it then doing it in a backawards Steelers cap :)
Yes, I love the photo because it shows my daughter worshiping.
Yes, I love the photo because she is in a Steelers cap.
Yes, I love the photo because she has it on backwards.
Yes, I love the photo because she got the Steeler cap off of daddy's head.
She is a great gal and I just loved the fact that this is Bee being Bee. As a dad, I am extremely happy to see her praising God and what is a better way to do it then doing it in a backawards Steelers cap :)
Captive Free @ SNL
Yesterday, we had Captive Free at Sunday Night Live. Overall, it was a very good evening. There were a few children that were a little disappointed that we were not on our normal night. But, overall, the kids enjoyed the silly songs, the puppets and the story times that they provided. Here is a pic of them:
They have been together for a month and will remain together for a 11 more traveling the east lakes region. One of them is staying with us and Bethany was right next to her talking her ear off. They have the "day off" so they are staying in Woo today and staying with us and then departing in the morning (Tues). The others are in host homes as well - in groups - the 2 boys and the 2 girls. Hopefully all is well with them.
Tonight is council meeting and I am not sure if I am looking forward to it. I guess the one thing about meetings are that they come - no matter if you are ready or not - or if you are looking forward to them or not .....
Maybe I will share a little more about that but I am not sure how much that I can. I may need to be a little cautious, as I try to stay positive.
They have been together for a month and will remain together for a 11 more traveling the east lakes region. One of them is staying with us and Bethany was right next to her talking her ear off. They have the "day off" so they are staying in Woo today and staying with us and then departing in the morning (Tues). The others are in host homes as well - in groups - the 2 boys and the 2 girls. Hopefully all is well with them.Tonight is council meeting and I am not sure if I am looking forward to it. I guess the one thing about meetings are that they come - no matter if you are ready or not - or if you are looking forward to them or not .....
Maybe I will share a little more about that but I am not sure how much that I can. I may need to be a little cautious, as I try to stay positive.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
On this Saturday ....
This morning, we woke up and did our normal Saturday morning routine. For those of you who do not know, we do donuts on Saturday morning. I think that we have been doing this for about 8 years now. We get up, I go and grab donuts. Isaiah and me have coffee and the rest of the family has milk.
After we had donuts, Bethany and me played a game: I spy.
Over the next 6 hours, we are going to rest a little and pick up a little for our guest tomorrow night. We are having Captive Free come to the church and we are hosting one of them. I will also be watching some football --- not sure which game I will watch.
Later on in the evening, we will head up to the soccer complex to watch Isaiah play his last soccer game of the season. I cannot believe that it is already over - time just absolutely flies. Then after the soccer game, we are headed over to the Park and Rec building for the "haunted hayride". The temperature will be in the high 30's. Hopefully, the participation will hold off because ---- that will be a cold rain.
More tomorrow ...... trying to get back in the routine, we will see.
After we had donuts, Bethany and me played a game: I spy.
Over the next 6 hours, we are going to rest a little and pick up a little for our guest tomorrow night. We are having Captive Free come to the church and we are hosting one of them. I will also be watching some football --- not sure which game I will watch.
Later on in the evening, we will head up to the soccer complex to watch Isaiah play his last soccer game of the season. I cannot believe that it is already over - time just absolutely flies. Then after the soccer game, we are headed over to the Park and Rec building for the "haunted hayride". The temperature will be in the high 30's. Hopefully, the participation will hold off because ---- that will be a cold rain.
More tomorrow ...... trying to get back in the routine, we will see.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Scripture Verse & More
This morning, I put the following quote up on my facebook status:
Whether it is the best of times or the worst of times, it is only time we have
Minutes later, I open up my verse and voice of the day email and here was the scripture:
I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.- Joshua 1:9
There are a lot of things going on and there is uncertainty in the air and I am really not sure what to do. Thus, I needed this reminder to be strong and courageous.
Thus, as I take my steps this morning, I am going to try not to be dismayed. I am going to keep focused and I am going to try to remain positive.
Whether it is the best of times or the worst of times, it is only time we have
Minutes later, I open up my verse and voice of the day email and here was the scripture:
I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.- Joshua 1:9
There are a lot of things going on and there is uncertainty in the air and I am really not sure what to do. Thus, I needed this reminder to be strong and courageous.
Thus, as I take my steps this morning, I am going to try not to be dismayed. I am going to keep focused and I am going to try to remain positive.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Time ....
Time seems to be going by at a very quick pace. Between family activities, church events and the continual tweaking of Sunday Night Live ..... there is not much time.
This past weekend was a rough one for me. A church friend passed away. I was in the church office on Saturday morning doing some final prep for ministry on Sunday when the phone rang. Normally with it being Saturday, I would have let it go through but I picked it up. It was the ER nurse at our local hospital.
She was looking for Pastor because a family had requested his presence. At first, I thought it might be a "chaplain" call because he is one of the chaplains there but with a question or two, I found it was a church family. I asked her if she could ask the family to release the name, they did and when she said Bill Ports, I almost fell out of my chair.
Bill Ports was a loving and compassionate man that supported me and the youth ministry through verbal and financial support. He was also one of those men who was around the church 2-3 times a week. I am going to miss him greatly.
One of the reasons that I am still in shock is that less than 24 hours before his death, he was in my office talking about ministry. He was sharing with me ideas about a "toy drive" for Christmas and who the drive would benefit (our local community kids). We were going to meet this week to put more meat to the bones ......
Talking about time, I need to get in the bath. We are headed up to the Cleveland Clinic today for an appointment for Isaiah and Bethany. Then, my to-do-list to get the things accomplished is extensive and the in-laws are coming in late tonight. We will see if I get everything done.
BTW, Sunday Night Live, week 2 went very well.
This past weekend was a rough one for me. A church friend passed away. I was in the church office on Saturday morning doing some final prep for ministry on Sunday when the phone rang. Normally with it being Saturday, I would have let it go through but I picked it up. It was the ER nurse at our local hospital.
She was looking for Pastor because a family had requested his presence. At first, I thought it might be a "chaplain" call because he is one of the chaplains there but with a question or two, I found it was a church family. I asked her if she could ask the family to release the name, they did and when she said Bill Ports, I almost fell out of my chair.
Bill Ports was a loving and compassionate man that supported me and the youth ministry through verbal and financial support. He was also one of those men who was around the church 2-3 times a week. I am going to miss him greatly.
One of the reasons that I am still in shock is that less than 24 hours before his death, he was in my office talking about ministry. He was sharing with me ideas about a "toy drive" for Christmas and who the drive would benefit (our local community kids). We were going to meet this week to put more meat to the bones ......
Talking about time, I need to get in the bath. We are headed up to the Cleveland Clinic today for an appointment for Isaiah and Bethany. Then, my to-do-list to get the things accomplished is extensive and the in-laws are coming in late tonight. We will see if I get everything done.
BTW, Sunday Night Live, week 2 went very well.
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