Schmemers

When I had been working for about a month I heard that we were getting another new faculty member. She was described to me as "young, from Chicago, and really great." I remember meeting Dr. Emily Frank on a not-so-cold day in November 2017. She was sharing an office with a different faculty member a few doors down. Y'all, you know when you meet those kinds of people that just radiate goodness from them? Emily is that person. She had just moved to Texas from Northern California, she had practiced at USC, she was young. And she was smart. And she was amazing.

Over the past 2.5 years, I've been privileged to call her friend. She has been through more than her fair share of my emotional meltdowns. She bolstered me up when I was prepping to defend my OTD. She was one of the first people to help hold me up when we found out about PKIT 5.0. She was the first one to buy HIM (she was adamant it was a boy) something. She has seen me through some pretty dark ass times. She's dropped all of the balls she juggles to come to watch kids. She has taught me a ton about humility. About accepting others where they are at. About taking time to think about the different perspectives. She has taught me a lot about myself and the world. I'm eternally changed and grateful for her presence.

Emily is funny. She is kind. She laughs with her entire being and it makes those around her feel her love for them, for life, and for sharing this experience we call life together. She has discipline and strength that motivates others, myself included to do better and be better. She is also one of the most intelligent people I've ever met in my life. I am positive we will see great things from her. She's just getting started!

Em, I can't think about my life would be like without you. You are an amazing being. Thanks for being you. You are amazing.

P.S. I'm still a badass. Who now drives a van.

4 months in...a lifetime to go...well at least the rest of mine.

Today the PKIT 5.0 turns 4 months old. How did we exist before he came along? For the first time, I can say I clearly remember the time before him. The only other kid I can say that about is PKIT 1.0. The others, to be frank, were a blur. Even 4.0 and 5.0, with 2 years between them, they just sort of fell in line. PKIT 5.0 is different. Perhaps it was his entrance, the time in our lives which he was born, or the fact that now (thanks to modern medicine and a responsible person, you know who you are!?!?!) there will never ever be any others? Who knows. Probably the answer is yes, all those things and a million other reasons.

Things I know: he is loved and beloved by most everyone he meets. He always wakes up happy and ready to go. He never has a shortage of baby giggles and even when things are crazy chaotic (which happens on the daily), he and his sister's love can make the time stop. Like fully stop. They teach me a lot about forgiveness and love. They all have the grace for me that I hope I have for others. I'm pretty sure children are the ideal humans. They consistently find joy and are quick to move from one emotion to the next. And their hugs man, they are amazing.

Each day I've been granted to watch over and shepherd these teeny humans, I think that maybe God might be slightly overconfident in my abilities but also, how much must They love me to entrust me with such wonderful beings? Just as I hope they always know how much their Dad and I love them, how there is nothing they could do to change our love for them, I can understand they mystery of parental love that God must have for me. It's pretty awesome.

2 days before Lent begins, I gotta go drink my Coke and enjoy these Pringles. Happy 4 months to the little monster who has captured our hearts and to his sisters for being awesome! Love you hooligans.

90 days/12 Mondays

When we left for our great Texas seminary adventure I was less than thrilled. In fact, I was all the things opposite of thrilled. I was angry. I was hurting. I was worried. I was sad. I let those feelings flow freely. I remember our last Sunday at church in Sparks, NV. A dear friend and parishioner took my hands, looked me straight in the eye and told me when things got scary or I was angry, count the Mondays. She convinced me that there wasn't anything I couldn't tolerate for a certain number of Mondays. I was a teary snotty mess but something deep inside me knew that was true and right. And many times over the past 952 days I've had to settle my heart and count the Mondays. Sometimes it was till the next visitor/visit, to the end of the month, to the end of a term, till the next season, to the next Sunday...it's been a whole lot of Mondays y'all.

Now we are left with just a handful. Seriously, 12. 3 months from today the VIT will graduate with a Master's of Divinity. He continues to pursue positions. We continue on with school and work and do our best to support his ministry and him in this time of great transition. We wake each day hoping that it will be an easy day and we pray each night that this whole journey and what lies next will continue to be blessed and guided by powers greater than us. We know this is one of the hard parts. The unknown, man, it's not easy. But our record of making it through hard stuff, 100%.

So today, we will work. We will go to school. We will pray for another day tomorrow. It's what we can do. Thank you and so much gratitude to all those who have prayed, laughed, cried, and sat with us in the process. We cannot repay you for that but know that we give thanks for you daily.

90 days!!