a parade of children

We had a combined community group at our house and this is the procession of the ten children meandering down the road towards the playground at the end of our block. We had stragglers at the back and fast walkers at the front, so it took some work to keep everyone together, but it was good. Before they left and after they returned it was pretty nuts with all of them milling around the house. I wasn't watching Wesley at one point and he reached up on the table and grabbed some chili-lime cashews. They have quite a kick, so one of the other moms grabbed him, but that was after he had already downed a few. He just drank some milk and was okay, but it's probably a little early to be itroducing him to the pleasures of spicy foods. It was fun to have all the people in our home, and it is pushing me to do more thinking about the nature of community groups with families. At what point do we shift how we do things to include the children in the "spiritual" aspects of our meeting?

back and building

So we had a great time in the mid-west visiting supporters and friends in St. Louis and Nashville. We got back on Friday night and are still readjusting. On the way home Wesley was awakw for 9.5hours, which was totally nuts. He's getting back on schedule and both of us are resuming the things we normally do. It is great to get back into a routine.

There were a lot of great things about being away and I'll mention two. First, it was neat to encourage people about what God has been doing in having us here in CT. Second, as various people asked us about our life and what we see God doing, it was a great opporutnity to reflect. There's lots more I could say, but I'll leave it at that.

In addition to builing stuff back up at church, I'm also building a climbing wall in our garage. You can see some of the equipment that just came in the mail. I'm excited It should happen Saturday!

On the road again

We're more than half way through our trip visiting ministry supporters and friends in the mid-west. It is somewhat of a flash back to three years ago when we started this adventure. We have had a lot of coffees and lunches then gave a brief report at our former church in St. Louis. Today we're in Nashville, getting our bearings and then meeting with a group of supporters tomorrow night. It has been a lot of fun to see people and places from different points in life, but it is also wearying. We haven' t had a normal day for since last Tuesday and it is catching up. I'm noticing the meagreness of my patience when I don't get regular time with God and when my schedule is all over the place. As we've been able to reflect on this trip we're continuing to gain perspective on our role in CT and refining our thoughts on how to best connect with supporters. We are glad that we have this opportunity to thank those who have partnered with us in ministry and to encourage them that God is at work in New England.

Time away and then again

We went down to my parents house for a long weekend and got back Sunday night. It was relaxing. Thursday, while Hillary was with college friends and my parents were working I took two naps (one in the morning and one after lunch with my grand pop). It was amazing. I can't remember the last time I've had two naps in one day. Besides the luxury of napping, it was good to have time with my family and they enjoyed having us (especially Wesley) there. He went on wagon rides, played in the pool, ran through the sprinkler, jumped on a trampoline, was pushed in the swing, ate ice cream, and had all sorts of extra attention. Sometimes when I go away it is hard to leave work behind and even when I do, I don't necessarily relax. This time I was able to do both. I worked on a few things, but wasn't preoccupied. The only thing I would have liked to play out differently was more time with God. There were some great lulls in the activity where I could read or pray, but there were many points where I was disconnected from that reality.
This week we're heading to St. Louis and Nashville to follow up with supporters from the past three years. We're looking forward to the trip, but a little apprehensive as we think about Wesley's schedule and how that will be affected by travel and a time zone change. Another aspect that is a little strange is that we'll be missing church for the second Sunday in a row. With so much of our focus directed towards our away it is easy to feel disconnected from life in West Hartford. Teens started school last week and it will be another two weeks till I see many of them and hear how it has gone. I wonder how it is for God who sees all these different places and times happening, yet it is all integrated into one whole. My life can be so disjointed at points yet his is seamless, fully integrated, into one masterful picture. It is hard, as a created being, to think of the ways of creator.