Preparing for the madness

Okay, the title is a little bit of an exaggeration, but in less than a week we will regret poor use of free time and underutilization of time together over the summer. That's right, the fall semester begins next week. And not just any semester- our last semester (if anyone has ever been the spouse of a seminary student, you realize that getting through truly is a joint effort - hence the "our"). Along with classes, stacks of books, and assignments that keep Luke up until all hours of the night (which he's getting used to as he's stayed up watching the olympics every night for the past two weeks), the new semester brings new work schedules and other commitments.

Luke just started a new job coaching at a cheerleading gym. Since the kids are in school all day, practices run late afternoon-evening. He won't be getting home quite as late as he did when working at Starbucks, but it still basically kills our opportunity to enjoy dinner together four of the seven days of the week. Not to say I don't have my own changes and commitments on the horizon. Starting next Tuesday, I'll be taking the Perspectives class, a missions-oriented course on the world Christian movement. Additionally, FCA at the local high school should kick in on Thursday nights soon, and a new college semester means additional flyers, newsletters and other pieces will need to be created for Kappa Phi. Between committees, the deacon's board, youth activities and services based on African time, church rounds out our list of activities that will surely leave us longing for the less-intense days of summer.

We did take the opportunity to get a little time together - enjoying God's creation - this past weekend. Canoeing down the Brazos River on Saturday in beautiful 85-degree weather (NOT common in Dallas in August), followed by Chinese takeout and a movie, and a relaxing day together on Sunday ending with grilling out in a nearby park, was a great way to do what we could to try to memorize each other's features so as not to forget what the other looks like when our schedules have us all over the metroplex but never in the same place at the same time.

On another note (I realize this is getting kind of random), we are praying and preparing for a potential trip to Zambia in March with SIM, and are continuing through the steps for full-time missions with the organization.

Which gets to the scary part. We came to Dallas so Luke could attend seminary and we could move to Africa. We had created a 'list' of necessary steps in order to enter into full-time missions. 1. Graduate seminary (coming in December); 2. pay off all debt (done in June); 3. Find an organization and go through the application process (in progress); and 4. Get assignment and raise support.

All of a sudden this Africa thing is becoming real!!!

Once a distant thought, it is now a plan-evoking reality. So not only are we starting another semester... it's our last semester... meaning it is only a matter of time before our lives turn from our daily commitments and routines to fundraising, packing, and preparing for God's great adventure for us halfway around the world...