What does a seminarian do when...

What does a seminarian do for laughs when he becomes bored?

You may be asking....WHAT in the world? Here is the real story. Brad's friend Smith called. At some point during the conversation, he made the comment that he and Jay would pay money to see Brad in his music class. Well, one thing lead to another and with the help of Addison, this video was produced. We have laughed and laughed at "off the wall-ness" of this. I hope this gave you a great laugh as well.

Thanks be to God for our parents....

Parents.....what would we do with out them? Well our family would be completely lost. Our parents have been unbelievable! Not only have they supported Brad and our family since the very beginning of this whole process, but they have also been there every step of the way.....eager to take the next step with us.

Both of our parents have filled so many holes emotionally and physically that it is hard to come up with the words of appreciation for everything they have done. Just the other day, Kitty and Bruce were looking in a basement for items that we have misplaced and cannot find. It was a phone conversation about what the box might be marked like and where it might be located in the basement. That same conversation turned into something like this......."and can you go by Smith and Julie's house to get my winter coat I left? If you can bring that up at Thanksgiving that would be wonderful". My mom and dad have renewed a car tag for us that we did not even think about. They have also gone and gotten a replacement birth certificate for me and sent it up (that is one of the items that has been misplaced). Mom has sent up Tony's Creole seasoning and Old El Paso taco seasoning that I have yet to find in the city. These examples do not mention the Barbies that were mailed for Addison and the army men for Parker. But what about the Halloween decorations we received when they learned that we had none? Did I mention the phone calls and the Skype calls that have happened? And to top everything off, both of us have brothers along with their families and aunts and uncles and chosen family and friends who are encouraging us along the way also.

Our family and friends are our cheer leading squad. You all are there for us to lean on when we are down and out. You worry about us. You root for for us. You pray for us. But most of all, you love us even when we may not be the most lovable person. The unconditional love you extend to us is truly awesome! Thanks be to God not only for our parents but also for our family and friends. We miss you all!!

Change in Momentum

What a change in momentum!!! Since the last post, I substituted for a math teacher at a great school called The Brooklyn Friends School for three days. Then, I was called today to see if I could go in. Unfortunately, I had a prior commitment and was unable to go.

After lunch, I received a call from another school on the Upper East Side where I am going for an interview tomorrow!!!! A middle school math teacher is not going to return from maternity leave and the position opens November 2. Things are definitely changing!!! Time does tell all..... we will see what the future holds.

Living by Faith

Today has been a rough day for me……..but let me go back and lay some ground work of one of the reasons why. As many of you know, I am looking for a job. This is something that I was well aware of before we moved up here. AND I have always seemed to find a job somewhere doing something. That is just how it happened. Someone we knew, knew someone, who needed someone……and bam……I had a job.

Well, it is not so simple here in the Big Apple. Seeing that we don’t quite have the connections that we used to AND that the “good ole boy” system of checking into who you are and what is your work ethic…..well….doesn’t exist, finding a job is done through a lot of electronic communication. I send out resumes responding to job post on Craig’s List and Idealist.org or any other job post and wait. I submit resumes to staffing agencies and wait. Job hunting becomes the waiting game. And I have to admit, I have never been that great at the waiting game.

The first lead comes from a math tutor post off of Craig’s List and reads something like this:

“You would be receiving payments drawn on a US Bank. The payment would be made out for the cost of the services you are rendering, for the living expense of my
daughter and the guardian and for the remuneration of the guardian. As regards
this, I hope I can trust you with this payment. All you have to do is deposit
the check at your bank upon receipt. Once it's cleared, deduct your fees which
should be $40 per hour X 8 times a month ($320) and additional $80 for any costs
you might incur for running around and any textbooks/materials you might need.
This amounts to $400, which is what you should deduct from the payment sent.
Whatever the remaining balance is after deducting $400 should be sent via money
gram/western union to the guardian who would be contacting you with further
arrangements and instructions regarding the pickup/drop off of my daughter
to any library/location where you would be teaching her. I hope I can trust
you with my daughters' education. If you are ok with this arrangements, get back
to me with your full contact information (name and mailing address) and mobile
number for correspondence purposes.”

Needless to say, my response was that I was unable to help this POOR child at this time. For some odd reason, I did not think that it would wise for me to get involved in a money laundering scheme while Brad is in seminary.

My next lead was an interview that if it worked would have been teaching young actors and actresses while they were either rehearsing for a production or filming a show or movie. I thought that this would definitely be something out of the ordinary so why not try? When I arrived at the man’s apartment (yes, you just did read apartment) for the interview, I was instructed to “take of my shoes and fill out the paperwork.” I thought to myself, “I am not taking off my shoes!!!” As I began to head for the couch, he said, “Did Jasmine not tell you about the shoes? Take them off by the door.” And on went the interview. This job would be perfect if you were single with absolutely no obligations. Well….seeing that I am not single and I do have some obligations in my life (like two children and a husband who is in school), I am not expecting to hear from this lead any time soon!!

And last but not least, there was the offer from the man at church to be painted. Yes after the service, he approach David (a friend of ours) asking for some contact information….that he was interested in painting me. While talking with my friend Katie about this offer, she did mention that the nude models in her art classes at UGA made good money. I forgot to ask her if that was good money for a college student or good money for a mother of two!!

So, my options so far are money laundering, dealing with the crazy acting world, or posing nude for painters. Welcome to New York City!!!!!

So today, I have to admit, I had a cleansing of the soul. You see, I was at a similar place just two years ago when Brad and I realized that I should go back to work. I can remember fretting over what to do and how to get to what I wanted to do. I thought that I wanted to teach. To get there meant taking test and convincing people that I could teach. It also meant convincing myself that I could in fact teach. I can remember many a tears during this time because of my own lack of confidence and assurance in what I was doing. Thank goodness that there were several people in my life that continuously supported me and encouraged me.

Today, I felt the pouring of tears for a different reason. I now sit in frustration knowing that I can teach. Last year was an amazing learning curve for me that proved to me that among other things, I could teach. I know that teaching is what I enjoy and where I want to be. Once again, I don’t hold the correct papers to be in the classroom. There are more test to take and the possibility of two more years of school before I can get a certification. It is back to square one for me when I know that just last year I had the go ahead and was on my way toward certification.

Today I wrestled with an internal struggle. It seems that my faith struggles with my humanity. My human side is frustrated and a bit mad about having to leave home and start from the beginning again. This side of me is the two year old stomping saying “But I don’t want to do this!!” Then, my faith steps in like a reassuring parent saying, “You knew this was going to part of it. This is just part of the process. This too is going to prepare you for the road ahead. You can do this.”

I do believe that this is part of the journey. Deep within me I believe that it will work out fine. It has in the past and it will again. Embracing the reality that in fact we will make it through this is another chapter in our “Living by Faith” novel. To say the words “living by faith” is different than whole heartedly believing these words and embracing them in our life. Faith did get me through today and will continue to get us through this part of our journey. GJ

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

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