This evening the we're on the road again -- starting the first step in our trip back to Alberta. I have never moved with two children before; and I had NO idea that we had accumulated that much stuff!
So, after work today I'll pick up the Uhaul, then we'll load everything and bid goodbye to the apartment that's been our home for the past two years. Then, off to Rosetown for a night on the road before pressing on to Calgary in the morning.
Whither thou goest....
Wish us luck, and that the drive may be boring, as all good long drives are.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
goin' home
In four -- count 'em, four -- days I will be back home.
Home, to me, is southwestern Alberta, where to the west the blue mountains form a wall that seem sometimes to mark the very edge of the world, but when to the east the prairies go on forever.
When the wind comes off the mountains, it makes the grass and crops in the fields ebb and flow like waves on the ocean. I don't much care for the ocean, but I love the prairies -- it's like living in a sea of wind.
When I'm stressed or sick, I dream of being back home with my friends and family. The biggest thing I miss is sitting in a pew at worship with Diana, then talking with friends and a big Sunday dinner.
Calgary may not be heaven. But it's in Alberta, and that's close enough for me!
Home, to me, is southwestern Alberta, where to the west the blue mountains form a wall that seem sometimes to mark the very edge of the world, but when to the east the prairies go on forever.
When the wind comes off the mountains, it makes the grass and crops in the fields ebb and flow like waves on the ocean. I don't much care for the ocean, but I love the prairies -- it's like living in a sea of wind.
When I'm stressed or sick, I dream of being back home with my friends and family. The biggest thing I miss is sitting in a pew at worship with Diana, then talking with friends and a big Sunday dinner.
Calgary may not be heaven. But it's in Alberta, and that's close enough for me!
thanks
As a friend recently blogged that her internship began this past Wednesday, and it got me thinking. My own starts next Saturday.
It's not secret that I've become a lot more cynical since I've begun the Seminary journey, and although my opinion of the process of this education has declined, my faith and admiration in those who teach and guide me on this path remain quite, well, devout.
So I'm beginning to think that at the end of the whole Seminary experience I'll not be a good pastor because I filled my head with all the right dreck in the concrete mausoleum of LTS, but because that building is filled with some of the best pastors I've ever had the privilege to study with.
For that matter, I think that all people at the Seminary can point to at least one pastor in particular who, to them, modeled his or her ordination vows in an inspiring way.
I don't think it's the stuff that I stuff my head with that will help me be a good pastor. Possibly in spite of all that book learning I'll be a good pastor -- because of the people who take the time along the journey to teach -- colleagues, classmates, professors, and pastors. And because I get to serve the greatest people in creation.
thanks.
It's not secret that I've become a lot more cynical since I've begun the Seminary journey, and although my opinion of the process of this education has declined, my faith and admiration in those who teach and guide me on this path remain quite, well, devout.
So I'm beginning to think that at the end of the whole Seminary experience I'll not be a good pastor because I filled my head with all the right dreck in the concrete mausoleum of LTS, but because that building is filled with some of the best pastors I've ever had the privilege to study with.
For that matter, I think that all people at the Seminary can point to at least one pastor in particular who, to them, modeled his or her ordination vows in an inspiring way.
I don't think it's the stuff that I stuff my head with that will help me be a good pastor. Possibly in spite of all that book learning I'll be a good pastor -- because of the people who take the time along the journey to teach -- colleagues, classmates, professors, and pastors. And because I get to serve the greatest people in creation.
thanks.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday to me!
I turned 27 today. I am married to THE most wonderful woman on the planet, and have the two most adorable boys, ever. Connect the first statement to the second, and you will likely, and correctly, surmise that said boys will keep being produced at regular intervals.
Hell, somebody has to build the church. And a man should have a hobby.
But seriously, I never would have thought, when I started my undergrad degree at the tender age of 20, that I would have a family of my own while I was still south of 30. Let alone a family old enough that my eldest will turn 5 shortly after I turn 30.
I married the only woman I've ever fallen in love with (or for that matter, ever will!). I have had the opportunity to dedicate my life to the service of Church which I love for the God to whom I owe my very being. I strive to be the absolute best father in the world, because my children damn well deserve it.
I could bring in more money doing other things but I just don't care to. I think it's more important to do what I love, love what I do, and let my family share in the love of vocation and place.
I live an incredibly blessed life; and the biggest blessing of all is being able to share that life with people all over the country.
So to all of you, from all of us -- may God's deepest, richest, kindest blessings and peace be upon your souls.
Verbum dominum manet in aeternum.
I turned 27 today. I am married to THE most wonderful woman on the planet, and have the two most adorable boys, ever. Connect the first statement to the second, and you will likely, and correctly, surmise that said boys will keep being produced at regular intervals.
Hell, somebody has to build the church. And a man should have a hobby.
But seriously, I never would have thought, when I started my undergrad degree at the tender age of 20, that I would have a family of my own while I was still south of 30. Let alone a family old enough that my eldest will turn 5 shortly after I turn 30.
I married the only woman I've ever fallen in love with (or for that matter, ever will!). I have had the opportunity to dedicate my life to the service of Church which I love for the God to whom I owe my very being. I strive to be the absolute best father in the world, because my children damn well deserve it.
I could bring in more money doing other things but I just don't care to. I think it's more important to do what I love, love what I do, and let my family share in the love of vocation and place.
I live an incredibly blessed life; and the biggest blessing of all is being able to share that life with people all over the country.
So to all of you, from all of us -- may God's deepest, richest, kindest blessings and peace be upon your souls.
Verbum dominum manet in aeternum.
on the blog front
Through a series of bizzare coincidences yesterday, I stumbled upon a new blog.
Gunfighter: A Modern Warrior's Life is the blog of a fellow Lutheran (ELCA) from the Virginia area. He's a devout Christian, a Democrat (go Obama!) and gets to use guns frequently and blow shit up.
He also runs Real Dads, a place for dads to celebrate Fatherhood.
Boy, I'm movin' south of the border. A few people have told me that working my way through my undergrad as a nightclub bouncer gave me some solid skills for church committee meetings. Think of how much better prepared if (like Gunfighter) I'd joined the Marines first....
Check him out -- well worth the trip. Leave a comment, and let him know where you're from and how you found his site.
Keep the faith.
Oh yeah, and as long as it seems like everyone else has a cool blog name, I'm thinking of renaming mine "The Zen of Kicking Ass: From Bouncer to Pastor in Nine Easy Years".
or: "The Alien Word: How to Kick Ass and Save Souls at the Same Time." (little Lutheran joke there.)
or even something edgier: "Mastication and Regurgitation: Life in the Family Trenches"
Thoughts?
Gunfighter: A Modern Warrior's Life is the blog of a fellow Lutheran (ELCA) from the Virginia area. He's a devout Christian, a Democrat (go Obama!) and gets to use guns frequently and blow shit up.
He also runs Real Dads, a place for dads to celebrate Fatherhood.
Boy, I'm movin' south of the border. A few people have told me that working my way through my undergrad as a nightclub bouncer gave me some solid skills for church committee meetings. Think of how much better prepared if (like Gunfighter) I'd joined the Marines first....
Check him out -- well worth the trip. Leave a comment, and let him know where you're from and how you found his site.
Keep the faith.
Oh yeah, and as long as it seems like everyone else has a cool blog name, I'm thinking of renaming mine "The Zen of Kicking Ass: From Bouncer to Pastor in Nine Easy Years".
or: "The Alien Word: How to Kick Ass and Save Souls at the Same Time." (little Lutheran joke there.)
or even something edgier: "Mastication and Regurgitation: Life in the Family Trenches"
Thoughts?
Friday, August 1, 2008
kids
For those of you who want kids but don't, as of yet, have them, be aware.
They are an incredible blessing. They are wonderful, incredible little human beings.
They also wake you up at 4:48 in the morning to get them a cup of juice.
It starts when your Boy gently pokes your eyeball, to see if it's open. Then, because he's unfortunately smart, he realizes that daddy can't actually see anything unless daddy's wearing his glasses.
So you get those, and then poke daddy in the eye with them. Satisfaction! Daddy groans, and rolls over.
But then goes back to sleep. So you sit on the edge of the bed and snuggle daddy for a little bit. Just in case there's hard feelings from the night before last. When you came unexpectedly into the bedroom.
And found him and mommy in the midst of a vicious wrestling match.
without (ahem!) pants.
and you grabbed daddy's big toe to save mommy, and screamed, and cried, and were generally inconsolable that your daddy would be so heinous as to attack mommy! So you've slept in their bedroom the last couple of nights, just to prevent further violence and out of concern for mommy's welfare.
But after a few snuggles you realize that daddy may just need pants. So you grab the first pair you find. and give them to daddy, but because you know that daddy's not wearing his glasses, you need to put them close to daddy's face.
So you throw daddy's ugly, stinking work pants (that daddy, because he is a dumbass, did not put in the hamper upon changing) on his head.
That achieves your preferred goal. You get your juice.
And then climb back onto the bed beside mommy, being careful to take up all the room, because you just can't really trust daddy around mommy. Then you fall back asleep.
And daddy mutters something about taking 'holy orders' and goes out to the couch for a few extra minutes sleep.
They are an incredible blessing. They are wonderful, incredible little human beings.
They also wake you up at 4:48 in the morning to get them a cup of juice.
It starts when your Boy gently pokes your eyeball, to see if it's open. Then, because he's unfortunately smart, he realizes that daddy can't actually see anything unless daddy's wearing his glasses.
So you get those, and then poke daddy in the eye with them. Satisfaction! Daddy groans, and rolls over.
But then goes back to sleep. So you sit on the edge of the bed and snuggle daddy for a little bit. Just in case there's hard feelings from the night before last. When you came unexpectedly into the bedroom.
And found him and mommy in the midst of a vicious wrestling match.
without (ahem!) pants.
and you grabbed daddy's big toe to save mommy, and screamed, and cried, and were generally inconsolable that your daddy would be so heinous as to attack mommy! So you've slept in their bedroom the last couple of nights, just to prevent further violence and out of concern for mommy's welfare.
But after a few snuggles you realize that daddy may just need pants. So you grab the first pair you find. and give them to daddy, but because you know that daddy's not wearing his glasses, you need to put them close to daddy's face.
So you throw daddy's ugly, stinking work pants (that daddy, because he is a dumbass, did not put in the hamper upon changing) on his head.
That achieves your preferred goal. You get your juice.
And then climb back onto the bed beside mommy, being careful to take up all the room, because you just can't really trust daddy around mommy. Then you fall back asleep.
And daddy mutters something about taking 'holy orders' and goes out to the couch for a few extra minutes sleep.
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