Monday, November 8, 2010
A New Life
Sorry for the long silence. We have been wrapped up in the business of moving out of our Watertown house and getting settled into our new home here in Ithaca!
I have recently commented to some friends that there is no "normal" for us these days. One can always expect that type of upheaval when moving, especially when moving to a new city, but I think this new life goes beyond the norm. For the last 6+ years, I have been completely immersed in church life--working full-time in the office during the week, plus all the evening and weekend activities, meetings, trips, and other things that make up an associate (youth) pastor's schedule. Not only that, but my own hobbies, Daniel's hobbies, our kids, and their activities, took up a large amount of time and energy. We were really lucky if we sat down to a REAL home-cooked meal once or twice a week!
In the last month I can recall saying many times that my life was about to drastically change, and look nothing like it has all those years in Watertown. I was more right than I could have realized. I literally have no schedule right now. I am reminding myself to relish the chance to slow down, spend more time being home with my babies, cook dinner most nights, and get involved with people and places in the community in ways I've never had time for before. Soon enough, church business will pick up, and I will have meetings to lead, sermons and Bible studies to write, and administration to attend to. For now, I'm trying to take advantage of the time to read, study, write, and enjoy being home with my family as we get to know people in the community! I want to savor this experience. It's a well-known fact that we Americans are over-scheduled and over-stressed. Not many of us get the chance (or take the chance) to completely change that. It requires tough choices, and it requires saying no to some of the many things that demand our time, money, and attention. Let's remember that being busy, even in the church, does not equal being godly.
Moving update: we are almost at the end of the mountain of boxes, and then our next task is to paint and remove wallpaper. In a few more weeks, this house will truly look and feel like our home!
Prayer Needs:
- Praise God! Daniel got a job working at The Outdoor Store, right in the middle of downtown on the Commons. He has worked 2 days so far and really likes it.
- I am headed to Boston tomorrow & Thursday to get my Zumba certification (and see my good friend Meghan Troxler!). I haven't had much of a chance to check out other Zumba classes here yet, so pray that I will find a place to start teaching.
- My parents and Daniel's parents are all headed here this weekend for a visit and to help with some house stuff! Pray for safe travel and a good time together.
- We want to meet people! So far this seems like a really friendly city--so many people talk to you in the store, at the mall, etc., which is new (and sort of strange) for me. But it's good for opening doors.
- Ethan's preschool--he is on a very short waitlist for a couple of Christian preschools.
- The sale of our house in Watertown
Thanks friends! Please feel free to share our blog with others who might be interested in our journey!
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4 comments:
Our continued prayers are with you... once you have your zumba certification the local YMCA might be a good start to see if they want to offer classes... Also gyms in high schools or college gyms might be another good place to see if they want to offer zumba classes...
thanks for keeping us up to date, we miss you!!!
Have a great time in Boston and enjoy the time with your family!
I was always taught to ask myself this in ministry, "Is the rate at which I am doing God's work destroying God's work in me?" You are right on to recognize the unique place you are in. You guys are great!
It was great to see you guys on Sunday! "Make our church your home".
so excited to see you today! :)
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