The Vicarage

 In just a little under 2 weeks the VIT won’t be a VIT anymore. As we prepare for his ordination to the priesthood we are called to reflect on what has helped pave the road to this point and sit in prayerful anticipation for what lies ahead. The journey, you realize, is never really over. 

The last couple of years have provided so much growth. For us. For our family. For our shared faith. For our vocations. We’ve all come a long way. But as the saying goes, although much is asked of you, more shall be asked. We are here for it. To see my partner and best friend living into this vocation, it fills my heart with immense pride and joyous thanksgiving. He is truly doing what God has intended for him. 

Although his ordination will not be as numerous in attendance as we had hoped we are so fortunate that we will be able to attend as will his parents. Our dear friend from seminary will preach. We will be celebrating virtually with our friends across the miles. We couldn’t ask for more during a global pandemic. 

So as we wait in hopeful anticipation we ask for your prayers as we begin this transition. Much big love from deep in the heart of Texas. 

I miss the world

I miss so much about pre-Corona time. I miss dinner out. I miss the kids rushing in after school, red-faced and breathless from running home to tell me about their day and what they learned. I miss having a place to go to work at and coming home. I miss days and nights feeling like individual times. I miss not having an office next to my bed. I miss coffee while looking out the huge picture windows in my work kitchen. I miss our office pods. I miss walking across our campus and seeing students. I miss going to church and seeing friendly faces and giving hugs. I miss going to Target and not worrying if I have a clean mask in the car when I'm halfway there. I miss wishing my students well as they go out on their clinical rotations. I miss getting recommendation requests as they look for their first jobs. I miss seeing their updates on social media. 

I miss seeing life march on. Yes, there are really crappy things that happened and continue to happen but there was a lot of good too. I miss that my kids will be in a weird place this next year cause they are starting (and let's be honest we don't know if they will go back this academic year) online. I miss not having access to my Texas people. Yes, we can all meet online but it's not the same. 

In spite of all this sadness, I am also beyond grateful that I am seeing all of PKIT 5.0's firsts. Crawling, mama/dada, sitting up, and starting to pull up. He's the first kid I've not missed many of those first things. I am so grateful that my days are filled with giggles and laughter. Some tears but also my kids have had the opportunity to spread their wings and have some independence (sometimes out of necessity to maintain mommy's sanity). I am glad I got to help get us settled and in some sort of routine here. I'm glad I've been able to forge new relationships with people who I previously didn't know. I have watched my kids climb trees, take care of their plants, and learn how to make their own lunches. Life is good. Even when it is so hard. 

As we continue to roll with this Rona Tide, I know the world will continue to march forward. We will continue to adjust the sails and respond as we know we must. I will continue to find things to be grateful for. I will learn how to connect in different ways. I will embrace this time cause prayerfully we won't see it again soon. When the days get long I remember, "my yoke is even, my burden is light." 

Continue to be awesome to each other and MOST IMPORTANTLY to yourselves. Big love <3