Monday, September 14, 2009

What a difference.......

Addison and Parker (and Maggy) on the first day of school.

What a difference a week makes!! Last Wednesday, school began for everyone. Brad left for his day and Addison, Parker, and I left for their school. Drop off……..whoa!!! Things are different here! We walked to school to be met by mass confusion. Parker was to be dropped of in the cafeteria and Addison in the Big Yard (on the playground outside). We had yet to meet their teachers. Parents were everywhere! We dropped off Addison with a teacher who helped her find her way. Parker and I ventured into the cafeteria where you could barely breathe! It was packed! We finally found his class and met his teacher. YEAH!! We did it. It was completely different than driving up to the school, kissing the kids before they got out of the car, and saying “Hope you have a great day! See you this afternoon!” Needles to say, I went for a hard run after I dropped the children off just to relieve some of the stress.

Thursday was spent getting the “routine” of school and homework down. Friday brought on a whole new animal to tackle. RAIN!!! The walk to school was drizzly and wet. But we managed to get there pretty dry. It was the pick up that drenched us!! Right when school was letting out, the bottom let out. Umbrellas are great when the wind isn’t trying to make them a tool used for lifting you off the ground. By the time we made it home, half of our pant legs were soaked and our feet were in the first stages of becoming water logged. Thank goodness we were in for the night. After this experience, rain boots were ordered (via Target) and are on the way. Hopefully, our feet and pants will be drier the next go around. I just am having a hard time imagining this process happening while it is snowing!!!

After a great weekend (which included soccer games for both Addison and Parker), the week ended with the family Eucharist last night. This is a service where the children are the acolytes. It is less formal. Every time I have attended this service I have about lost it half way through it. It is a beautiful thing to see the children (ages three and older) serve during the service. Their faces just say so much. They carry the cross, torches, and gospel in the processional. They assist the celebrating priest with setting the table for communion. The music is more “camp” like music (which I love) and the atmosphere is very forgiving. During the sermon, the children sit on the steps leading to the alter and listen as well as participate. Matt (who did the sermon last night) did an excellent job with involving the kids as a part of the sermon…..as well as entertaining the adults. Then we all gather around the alter for communion.

Addison and Parker were across the circle from us last night as communion started. It was so awesome to watch them during this. Parker was standing by Joseph (a person in Brad’s class). Every time Joseph bowed his head in reverence, so did Parker. It made me think of how much we (meaning the community as a whole) are role models for these young developing minds. I am so thankful that this week ended like this. I once again realized that Addison and Parker are going to be exposed to SO much here. I can’t begin to wrap my mind around it. But I am so thankful for the people (both seminarians and significant others) for embracing the children of the seminary as they do. It is a wonderful thing to watch and feel. I feel fortunate to be a part of this community. GJ

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Everything must change...

On our “stay-cation”, we have been busy……painting, unpacking, exploring, connecting with friends, meeting new people,…..just figuring this place out. We learned a lot about parts of the city but realize that there is SO much left to discover. With the rolling in of September, changes began to roll in too.

Brad began orientation this past Monday. He was up and out every morning for Morning Prayer at 8:00. His days have been spent signing up for classes, meeting with advisors, learning about his new “duties” as a first year seminarian, meeting with the financial aid office and business office, etc.

With him beginning school, the children and I attended the children’s orientation. There are around 12 children here at the seminary ranging from 10 months to 13 years old. They are a great mix of children. And so far, they seem to get along fine. The older ones look out for the younger ones. They seem to give and take appropriately. In the orientation, we had a lunch that ended with a water balloon toss. There was a scavenger hunt that ended with the busting of a piñata. We went to the water park where bucket after bucket of water was thrown on each other.

My personal favorite was going into the chapel with the chief sacristan. The kids were able to ask whatever they wanted to about the chapel. It was great!!! It was fun to see how Joe (the chief sacristan) answered the questions with a humorous reverence that was on the kids’ level. He showed them Jesus in a “disco” move in one of the stained glass windows. They were introduced to the idea of acolyting…..which Addison and Parker are so excited about doing. They were shown the “behind the scenes” of the chapel….where the robes are and where the bell is rung from. They climbed into the pulpit and went behind the alter. They even learned the secret of the floating Mary……this is a small “statue” (about 3-4 inches tall) of Mother Mary that is always in the chapel but never in the same place.

So September brought the “winds of change”. The weather is cooler. Brad is beginning his schooling. The kids are anticipating the start of school next Wednesday. And I am beginning to look for employment. The reality of life is settling in on us. Our “stay-cation” is slowly coming to an end while our school life is beginning.

But as I look at what has happened in these last three weeks, I think we are ready for this change. Change always brings the unknown into focus……but who says the unknown is so bad. It may be a challenge, but don’t we grow from the challenges we face? GJ

Life Lines

This morning at Morning Prayer, I heard a great sermon . It was from my Old Testiment teacher. He was explaining that with every beginning there has to be an end. He described it as the ropes on a tent. Some ropes are just cut loose for this new beginning to happen. Other ropes are pulled up leaving the stake still attached to the end. The ropes with the stakes are the ones that could be used to help set up the tent in a different location.

This really made me think about these last couple of months. During these last few months, I have used both ways to make this move. It has been hard for me to communicate how I have made it to this point. Sometimes it was just the fear of misunderstanding or of non-approval of my decision. In this situation, it seemed easier to pick up and go. This sounds really self centered (which it is) and not the best way to handle the situation. But at the time, it was the most uncomplicated way. For those of you that feel that this is what happened, I would like to ask for your forgiveness.

We feel like we have pulled up the stake in many other places. It has been exciting as well as intimidating. Just the unknown of what is before us is a bit unsettling. However, what I have found is that we are really adjusting well. This I believe is because we have taken our experiences and friendships (like the rope with the stake) an applied them to our daily life here. For those of you who are our stakes I thank you. We would not have made it this far with without you and your support. BJ