So with Fall semester done and over, here I am once again in Texas! I had to return here primarily for my candidacy retreat to get my final approval for my Internship next year - which of course, I did receive! So on March 9, 2011 (Ash Wednesday), I will find out where I will be going next year and when I will start my internship next year. I am excited and nervous all at the same time, but I do have on more semester to get through before all that starts!
As I mentioned in the last posting, this semester has been rough in more ways than I care to say on here. Mostly emotional stuff....I think I finally realized that CPE stuff really did "a number" on my emotions and opened up a whole lot more than I wanted. I am learning to adjust and cope with some help, so I will survive it all.
Temperature has been the most significant difference here in Texas since I've been home. It's been nice to NOT have to wear 3 layers of clothes everyday (and STILL be cold!). It's also been nice spending time with a few friends. I have also been working during my Christmas break. I contacted my former employer, FSG, and they are paying me to work this week and next...money needed for my J-Term and next semester expenses....although I would much rather be relaxing and taking it easy for a while. But I do get 2- 3 day weekends off because of the holidays, so I guess I can't complain too much! Because I've been working in Ft. Worth, it just didn't make sense for me to commute everyday an hour to work, so I've stayed this week a few days with Roxanne and a few days with Argelia. I'll be back to Plano this weekend with Julie, Darrell and the kids - but I have to be honest- I'm growing quite tired of lugging my stuff all over the place so next week I am staying put!
I'll be doing my J-Term this year with my friend Jill in Brenham, TX (YES, where Blue Bell ice cream is made!). I wrote a proposal to work in Rural Ministry down there. It didn't get approved for me to receive credit for my Rural Ministry requirement, but I am getting J-Term credit = having to read a book, keep a journal and write a final paper. I'll be working in 3 congregations down there looking at various challenges at each church and also meeting with several agencies that work with the churches in their various ministries. So I am pretty excited about all that.
I almost couldn't register for Spring semester due to my financial situation, but luckily, a few friends pulled some funds together and made another semester possible. I try not to worry about where money will come from in school, but its tough when things get tight. I asked a few people for help (who in the past have said, if I ever needed anything to ask, so I did) and I was overwhelmed with the response I got. I suppose I need to trust God more and remember that my calling is ALL about God and not me. So if it is the will of God, all will be provided.
This past weekend, I had a visitor who came to see me here in Dallas. It was my father. We hadn't spoken in person to each other in over 3 years. It was a healthy talk. It was something we should have done years ago, but I hope now to be able to heal more to be the Pastor that God wants me to be. It was possibly the most difficult thing I have ever done, something that I haven't stopped thinking about yet - but its a good thing.
So with Christmas just a few days away, I have been thinking about all I have accomplished this year and all I will accomplish by this time next year. It's just so exciting to finally feel like the next chapter of my life is so full of expectant hope and waiting, much like this season of Advent. To all reading: May the light of the Christ Child shine bright in your hearts this Christmas and always. Peace and blessings to all.
