Just Catching Up

Looking back over the past couple posts and I realized that I had all kinds of insights into life, but nothing about all the changes happening here, so today's post is just to catch you up on life.

Lots of changes (no, we still have not sold the house) and new beginnings around here.  How about just a family roll call...

• Alex - started middle school on Wednesday.  How did my baby get big enough to go to middle school?  He loves it (of course, he loves all of life).  The school he attends has SMOD (standard mode of dress - similar to uniform, but not quite that strict) and he looked so grown up heading out the door to school.  Scott is taking him this year (another first in quite a few years) and he is riding the bus home (he has only ridden the bus about 10 times in his entire life).   He is going to play the trombone in band and we are all praying that this goes well - as in the 5th grade he learned to play the recorder with his nose.  He also made the U12 challenge soccer team this year so his days are full.
• Hannah - is a junior in high school and is once again choosing to be home schooled.  She has her driver's license and we have found a lot of freedom in this.  Her relationship status changed last week after having "dated" the same guy for nearly two years.  It is fun watching her grow up and seeing how all the things we have taught her are coming to fruition.  We begin looking at colleges in September - I know, a little early - but it will be hard to do college visits from Spain.
• Zach - moved back home.  Now we are all trying to figure out how to co-exist in a different sort of relationship than before - he is 20, no longer a child.  Any suggestions on this point would be appreciated.  He is taking classes at GTCC (local technical college) and started flying again yesterday.   He also got a job at a tree cutting service but is looking for something else.  He had a great summer at Camp Don Lee and looks great.  He did grow a "grizzly adams" look, but we are getting used to it. 
• Scott  - decided to wait until October to take his next seminary class.  The class he took in May and June occupied so much time that he had very little time to commit to partnership development (although he did make an A - continues to have a 4.0 GPA in seminary - yeah!).  In looking at our long term plans, we decided that it is essential that together we invest many more hours into sharing our story (haven't heard it or want to know how to become a partner, just let me know).  He has also been involved in a men's Bible study at church and will be helping to establish a new cell group in the coming weeks.
• And me -  I am preparing to leave the country for my last short term mission trip at Cornerstone.  I leave next Friday for Ukraine where, along with two other women, I will be leading several conferences on Learning Styles.   It is a subject very dear to my heart - God made each of us as unique individuals and understanding these differences makes a difference in how we share Jesus, teach, and even discipline.  I am excited about the trip, but a few tears over the fact that this piece of ministry is coming to a close.  Keep on an eye on the blog - I'll write throughout the trip.

And in other news...

• The house is still for sale - real estate has slowed way down in our area, but we continue to ask God to move mightily.  We are having some repair work done on the hardwood floors in hopes of this helping it to sell.
• My car is for sale - anyone want a 2006 Honda Pilot EXL - leather seats and sun roof and all.  No, we are not becoming a one car family.. just eliminating a car payment and preparing for a move to Spain.  We will replace my car with something small and cheap that could be left here for Hannah when we leave.

Guess that is a long enough post for today... thanks for continuing to read and follow our journey.  I pray that something in the midst of these words may encourage you to keep taking steps on whatever journey God is leading you on.