Where Has It Gone?

August, September, October, November, December… Where has this year gone? In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, the second half of 2007 has flown by as we have been busy with life.

School started up for us in August, and it is has been a very busy school year thus far. That’s not a bad thing. Barb’s class is a nice size this year, but it has its challenges, as each class does. She learned of a Pilgrim project in early November and put it in place in time for Thanksgiving. It was quite an adventure as the students embarked on their own crossing in their own Mayflowers with their family and friends as their co-travelers. It was an exciting time, but consumed a great deal of time in preparation (this was the first year for it) and in executing it in the classroom. It was a great breathing break when Thanksgiving came around.

I was privileged with teaching a class at the East Peoria church during this fall as well. I had approached the shepherds about teaching on Wednesday nights from time to time, and they took me up right away. Then they handed me the base material – it was to be a study of the times between the Testaments. It was also a topic that I had never taught in more than twenty-five years of full-time preaching and teaching. The opportunity had simply never come up. So, the adventure began, and what an adventure it was! It is said that the teacher of a class gets more out of it than the students, and in this case, that was certainly true. There were many hours of preparation each week for the mid-week adult class.

There was another blessing in it for me as well. In my work with the school children, I am able to introduce them to and help them use various Microsoft Office programs, including PowerPoint. This class allowed me to use some of the theory what I had been teaching my school students in a real world setting. If those in the mid-week class were candid, they may acknowledge that the accompanying PowerPoints improved over the three month teaching period. Though I am not able to use it with my Sunday sermons, I am thankful for the opportunity to have been able to use it in my teaching.

During these past few months we have also been making plans for a great adventure. In July, I surprised Barb with tickets to Uganda. In just a few short days, Christmas break will be upon us at school, and we will be flying to Uganda to spend the holidays with Betsy, Desarae, and their friends. The last few weeks have been filled with getting everything together for that adventure. We have filled a couple of tubs with food and gifts for them. I know they will be eager to open the tubs and see what family and friends are sending to them, but even more, I look forward to that first hug and Mom and Daughter share when we arrive in Entebbe on Christmas Eve. Thank you, God, for blessing your children.

There have been family changes this year as well. Some of our children have moved around this vast nation. Betsy, of course, moved to Uganda (but only for a year – this time). Sean and his family moved from western Iowa to Morristown, Tennessee. Stacy and her family moved from Maryland to San Antonio, Texas. They also added new grandson Caleb in the process. Grandma got to spend a week with them. Ben’s girlfriend successfully defended her doctoral dissertation and has taken a position in Evansville, IN. (The highways will be much better because of the additional gas taxes he will be contributing.) And Jeremy and Kendall moved from Arkansas to the Houston, Texas area for her graduate work. God blessed Jeremy with a full-time position with the Clear Lake church primarily working with the young people. Laura and Jeremy are still around here, but Jeremy did change his teaching position, and in February, their family size will change as well when Ansley makes her debut.

It’s been a full year. It’s been a taxing year. But, behind it all, is the God who loves us and carries us through all the challenges living presents. To Him be the glory this day and each day.