Connections Through a Shoe Lace

Last night Gideon and I headed out to procure a new set of shoes.  The ones he was wearing had fallen apart and didn't fit him anymore.  So after supper we went to Kohl's to get him a new pair.  After telling him that the bright orange pair was a no-go, and the other pair that looked like someone had hurled on them, we, and by that I mean, decided to buy him a pair of black tennis shoes with white bottoms.  He was less than pleased.  Though he did a great job of not whining about it, he told me over and over again how much he didn't like them, didn't want to wear them, and that they were too boring.  

So I came up with an idea.  What if we bought a pair o white shoe laces to brighten them up a bit.  Although still not pleased with his life at the moment, he decided that having white laces was better than the shoes in their current state.  Yet Kohl's doesn't sell shoe laces, so we would have to run to another store to but laces.  

We bought the shoes and headed out.  Still being new, I turned the wrong direction out of Kohl's to get to the Famous Footwear store I remembered seeing months ago.  So as I found a place to turn around, I saw that there was a New Balance shoe store in the strip mall we were turning around in.  Assuming they'd have laces, we parked and went in.  

The guy running the store is a Covenant student.  We have Covenant Theology, Greek, Apologetics, and Spiritual and Ministry Formation together.  He also lives on campus.  He had the laces and gave them them to us.  We talked about some of our finals and how we thought they had gone.  As we were leaving he asked if my family was headed home for Christmas (I had shared during a class presentation how I'd messed up loving my neighbors and that in God's providence my father-in-law still lived in the neighborhood and so I'd be able to show them love during times we were back in Moline).  So I told him our itinerary (Moline, Dubuque, Twin Cities, then back for J-term and Greek 2).  

Here's where the story gets fun.  So I asked him what he was doing for Christmas.  He said he was headed back to California.  I asked where he was from and he shared he was from Sacramento.  On a hunch, I asked if he knew about Valley Springs Presbyterian Church.  He said that's the church he grew up in.  I asked if he knew Brad and Olivia Carpenter and his face lit up.  He shared that his older brother had had them as youth pastors, but that he hadn't because he was too young (he's now 21 years old and that when he was old enough to be in youth group, their church had sent the Carpenter's to Trinity Evangelical Divinity School for Brad's MDiv, so that they could return to Valley Springs and for Brad to get ordained in the PCA).  He had all kinds of great things to say about them, how much they are loved at the church, and how Brad is planting a church in Sacramento but is still a teaching elder at Gulf Springs.  I told him that Brad was the most gifted youth ministry major that I graduated with from Bethel and how much I respect both he and Olivia!    

The reason this is a fun story is that Brad, Olivia, and I were youth ministry majors together at Bethel.  Brad and I were RA's the same year (different dorms), and Brad roomed with my best friend Andy Schurman.  Kathee and Olivia were roommates the year we were engaged.  Actually, Brad and Olivia got married the week after we did in the Keeweenaw Peninsula of Michigan (in the U.P.) and Kathee and I attended their wedding at Camp Kitchegoomie (I had to change into a suit in an outhouse across the road from the camp minutes before their wedding).  After we were all married (the Schurmans, Carpenters (Brad and Olivia), the Kuipers (other good friends of ours), and the Terwilleger's) used to meet for couples Bible study each week.  I remember that they were the first couple to leave town after college, moving to Sacramento to serve as co-youth directors at a Presbyterian church (Valley Springs) out there.  So it was awesome to meet someone who's family had been so greatly impacted by friends of mine.

Who knew that the need of a pair of shoe laces could make a great connection like that?  Such a good happenstance!  

A Video I'm Fond Of Lately

I wanted to post this video as I have a lot of connections in this video.  First, Professors Barrs and Ryan were my Apologetics and Outreach profs this semester.  The classroom video that they show was taken during one of my class periods.  Wade, one of the gentlemen that's interviewed in the video was in three of my classes this semester.  Professor Perry will be my Greek 2 professor in January and my Covenant Theology 2 prof in the spring.  Some of the church video was taken at New City Fellowship- South City.  Although we are currently at NCF- University City, one of my professors has encouraged us to check out South City to see about getting involved there (we did check it out and think we'll find another church to be involved in).

Professor Barrs did an absolute number on my soul this semester.  Spending time with him in class was an absolute privilege.  I've never met a Christian like him in my life.  Absolutely amazing man.  When a former student of mine committed suicide this semester and I needed help in knowing how best to minister and be involved, I went and met with him.  Unbelievable man of God.  I hope you'll enjoy the video, and for those who haven't been to campus yet to visit us, you'll get a glimpse of campus and the fair city of St Louis!

https://vimeo.com/112710056

By the way, I'm not in the program they are promoting (I'm in the MDiv program).

Christmas Card Photo?

Full House!

I meant to take pictures but the pandamonium was just too great.  On Sunday's I have taken to inviting the Cecil's over to watch football.  They are our next door neighbors.  They also don't have a tv.  They also love the Seattle Seahawks.  So whenever the Seahawks are on tv I invite them over to watch.  Today Ken (the dad), Malachi (the 15 year old), Baxter (13), and Jackson (6 months) came over the watch the game.  Liz (the mother) stopped over every so often, but she had their two girls to keep an eye on, so she didn't stay long.  Then Robert (a teenager who lives in the basement in our building wth his family) and Noah (a teenager who lives just below us) came up to watch the game.  These are guys I talk to A LOT when I see them (I play catch football with them in the parking lot and give them garbage when I see them).  Then Kathee's friend Emily brought some food dishes back to us.  She brought her 4 boys with her (all Gideon's age or younger).  Since Charlie (the boy who is Gideon's age) brought his Nerf gun with him, I opened the cupboard over the fridge that houses my Nerf arsenal and it was on!  There were Nerf darts EVERYWHERE.  We all had so much fun (except for Ken, he wanted to sit and watch the game).  Our house was booming!  

And it felt like old times.  When our house would be full of teenagers and adults and people just hanging out.  When the house would be full of noise and laughter.  When things felt normal.  So it was fun having everyone over.  

We ended up feeding everyone but Emily and her kids pizza.  We went through 4 frozen pizzas and a pitcher of Raspberry Ice in no time.  

After everyone was gone Kathee and I remarked at how much fun we had hosting so many people.  It's like we were made for ministry.  How fun!  

What does Homer Simpson have to do with the Westminster Confession of Faith?

This past week in Spiritual and MInistry Formation, Doctor Douglas had a slide with Homer's picture and a quote from the WCF.  I about lost it.  I even asked out loud, "is that even okay to do something like that?"  So though I'm not sure what they have in common, it was a bit unsettling (or disequalibrating- one of our semester's key words in Education Foundations).   

Church Culture Shock

We have been attending New City Fellowship in University City since the week we moved to town.  This church is in the PCA and broke the mold for us in terms of PCA expectations.  It maintains solid theology and has great preaching.  And it's focus is on racial reconciliation.  The church is made up of quite the eclectic mix of people.  Each week we sing in English and various other languages (French, Spanish, Lingala, and a couple other African tribal languages).  Each week, it seems, we sing at least one Negro spiritual (along with many call-and-response songs).  The music is kind of jazz-rock to boot.  The service is well-orchestrated (its the only church I've ever been to where a bulletin isn't needed and you won't get lost in the service).  The preaching is good-to-great.  

Although it is very far outside of our comfort zone and personal preference, we were settling in.  Kathee and I serve in the Firm Foundation Tutoring program.  Kathee serves in the nursery once in a while and attends women's Bible study there weekly.  

As part of my Spiritual and Ministry Formation class, I did a bunch of page paper on my "divine design."  Basically I took like 10 assessments (Myers-Briggs, spiritual gifts inventory, DISC, etc, etc, etc).  Upon completing that and turning it in, I then set up a meeting with Doctor Douglass for Kathee and I to go and get my palm read.  Due to being in ministry for almost 15 years, he didn't need to help me discern my calling to ministry.  But he did say a few things that were a bit unsettling (not bad, just unsettling).  Bear in mind that he's not God and we are not taking everything he said as gospel.  But he is the longest-serving professor at Covenant (28 years) and has meet with first year students, helping them discern what it is they are to be doing in God's flock.    

To start he said that I am uniquely gifted for ministry (something I don't think I've ever heard someone in authority over me say to me/about me before).  

Second, he said he thinks my days in youth ministry are over.  Due to my personality make-up, he said he was very surprised I was in youth ministry at all, and secondly that I thrived in youth ministry.  And he said due to my personality type, my effectiveness in youth ministry will wain once I'm 18-20 years older than the kids I'm serving (he said if I was another personality type it could work).  However, he said he thinks I need to be serving as the pastor at a church of 800-900 people (not because I'm that good, but because a church that size would have the infrastructure--my word-- that will allow me to use my giftings the best).  

His statement about my youth ministry days being over didn't sit all that well with Kathee.  She shared with Doctor Douglas that I have been a fantastic youth pastor and that one of my gifts is that I can be off-the-wall crazy one moment and then the next moment settle the kids down and be talking about deep theology and things of weight.  She said she thinks someone like me is needed in youth ministry as youth pastors (many) are very flighty, immature, not deep, and are too transient.  He listened, was understanding, and held to his guns (so did Kathee).  

But this also led to another unsettling thing.  He suggested we might try a few other churches as the one we attend will not allow me to be an intern there for pastoral ministry (I have already been offered to serve with one of the outreach arms of the church as an intern, but that won't give me church pastoral experience).  So he suggested a couple of churches for us to try.

We attended New City Fellowship in South City a few weeks ago.  This is the other campus than the church we currently attend.  I don't think we'll go back to that location.  The other church he suggested is the church he (and other professors from Covenant) attends.  He even said he'd be willing to call one of the pastors (who oversees interns) and get me in.  I'm a bit gunshy of attending there as many of the profs attend there.  

So today we drove to St Peter, MO, to Grace Presbyterian Church.  A friend of mine at Covenant suggested we try there as it was recommended to him by someone.  And the Polks, who are missionaries in Ethiopia who we support, suggested it, too.  They are home as Liz is due to have their daughter and that's where they attend.  It's also where Jason interned when he was at Covenant.  

There she sits, in farmland, on farm property.  It was comfortable and familiar to us.  But boy was it a shock for me. Today was "Blue Grass Sunday."  Not one song in Lingala or Swahili.  It was much more rural feeling.  Not urban and suburban folks.  The preaching was good Bible storyline, but zero application.  Not a ton a ton a ton of application.  It was much quieter and decently and in order.  

So we'll see what happens.  

This finding a new church thing is very difficult.  And it's hard when we thought we'd be finding a church of our choice but are finding out that finding a church where I can do field education and internships (for school) is needed and determinitive.  

So our being unsettled in St Louis continues.  We continue to hear that it takes a year to feel settled.  This week we were told that it takes two.  So we are right on schedule.  

What I am delighting in is seeing the various ways that worship happens (even within what seems to be to be a very homogeneous denomination).  All are worshipping the Lord, together, as the body of Christ.  All are basing it on solid Bible and theology.  All are contextualizing it those in their midst.  And all is glorious (even the places we go where we don't readily want to return).  Our God is good, He is leading the way, and we are contentedly along for the ride.  

Our adventures continue! 

   

Finals

Well, Monday and Tuesday will be my last day of classes for this first semester at seminary.  Then finals will hit.  And though I'm nervous about them, I am not stressed and freaked (yet).  

The only classic final I have is my Greek final.  It will cover 30 chapters of potential vocabulary (approximately 300+ words), and then 5 pages of filll-in-the-blank paradigms that cover 30 chapters, and then 12 sentences to number (the parts of speech), parse (present, active, imperative, 2 person, plural), and translate.  However, he has already given us the actual test pages for everything but the vocabulary (which I normally do well at).  So though it's A TON to remember, I am excited about the test as I will know the majority of what it on it when I sit down to take it.  

My final for Covenant Theology 1 is an oral final and is with two other students.  The professors have given us the potential questions that will be asked, we just need to be ready to answer all of them individually.  After an individual has been asked the question and answered, then the other two of us can help add things if we are able.  We will each receive the same final grade.  I'm not sure how much time this one will take (either a half an hour or an hour).  

That is the same for my Apologetics and Outreach final.  It's oral, I'm with two other classmates, and this will be the same situation.  This final will only last a half an hour.  

My Education Foundations course didn't have a final as such.  We had to do an end-of-the-semester concept map project that encapsulated the course and would be something that I am supposed to be aable to hand to a minister person as they plan, implement, and evaluate an educational ministry learning event.  I took her up on the option of working with someone on the final project because I think concept maps are dumb (mostly because I think they look unorganized... I think I characterized them in class as "a total mess" and to the guy I was working with as looking like "someone barfed a whole bunch of high-tech words on a whiteboard).  Josh and I worked on it for two and a half hours and I think we should get an A on it.  The best part of working on it with him was that I found out that before he came to seminary he was a corn and soybean farmer, farming north of Champaign, IL.  He's in my Greek class as well.  

Here's our concept map for Education Foundations

My "final" for Spiritual and Ministry Formation was to write a 2500-2700 word paper that culminates my learning from this semester.  It was actually a lot of fun to write the paper.  I wrote on the concept of grace in the believer's life and how the finished work of Christ on the cross brings us into union with Christ and adopts us into God's forever family.  

Finals will begin Thursday of this week and end next Wednesday.  My Covenant Theology final is on Friday at 12:30.  My Apologetics final is on Tuesday at 11:30.  I haven't decided when I'll be taking my Greek final.  I am thinking I'll go in and take it on Wednesday, but I may decide to take it Monday sometime and get it out of the way!  

I am looking forward to being done with finals and having some time to rest a bit before jumping into 2 intensive weeks of Greek 2.  Second semester will begin at the end of January, so that will bring on a whole new level of learning and fun and stress.     

 

Happy Thanksgiving

Tonight was a lot of fun.  We had Han and Soyhee, along with their two daughters (roughly Gideon and Hope's ages, respectively) over for a Thanksgiving meal.  It was kind of cool how the idea came about.  I was sitting in Greek class and for whatever reason, Doctor Yarbrough kind of got off on a tangent about Thanksgiving.  And his point was, if you are around town over Thanksgiving, you should invite an international student or family to join with you for Thanksgiving.  He said that most seminary students, spending a minimum of 3-4 years on campus never celebrate an American holiday in an American home.  I was a bit disappointed that we wouldn't be able to have a family to our place to celebrate (though I was excited to get out of town and celebrate with family).  When I got home from class, Kathee said that she'd spoken with Soyhee and that they'd talked about Thanksgiving and that when we get back from Thanksgiving break that we'd celebrate together.  So tonight was the night!

We had a blast.  Kathee made a turkey (thanks, Karl), mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, deviled eggs, stuffing, and my Grandma T's fruit salad.  For dessert, Kathee made pecan pie!  We ate like kings and queens.  The best part was that Soyhee and the girls had never had any of the food.  Han had had some a few years ago at the pastor of their church's home (though it sounds like it wasn't entirely an American-style and was more Korean-style).

They seemed a bit intrigued watching me cut up the turkey, as in Korea, they said they have no difference between white and dark meat (so I'm not sure how they go about cutting it up...or if they do).

They seemed to enjoy the meal, though I do think the fellowship and discussion was way better.  Han has been taking classes here for 5 years and is also getting his MDiv.  I have nothing but respect for him as he studies (way harder than me due to language issues), having to translate everything he reads.  I wish I could do something for him as he studies languages and all the rest of this thing we call seminary.  But that's for another post.

What a fun evening!  

Jerry Bridges at Covenant

I doubt many of you have heard of a man named Jerry Bridges.  He has worked with the Navigators for like 50 years.  One of his books, Pursuit of Holiness, is a very popular book in Christian ciricles.  Actually, when Kathee and I were first married, when we started our first couples Bible study with the Carpenter's, the Schurman's, and the Kuiper's, we studied through Pursuit of Holiness.  

A few weeks ago, all classes were cancelled for the day for our annual day of prayer on campus.  This year Jerry Bridges was brought in to lead our time together.  It was very neat having him here and seeing him in person.  I had actually just finished his book Transforming Grace the day before he came (I was reading it for a class).  Just another perk of seminary life!  

Star of the Week

Each week in Gideon's class, one student gets to be the star of the week.  As part of that, each student makes up a poster with words and pictures on it about themselves.  When their turn comes around, the rest of the class writes letters that encourage each student (interestingly, I remember doing the encouragement letter-writing during youth groups each year with my youth group at FUPC).  Gideon's was in the last couple of weeks.  Today he got his book, as Mrs Sciortino had to write her letter to him.  

(the cover of his book)

(And example of a letter from another student)

(the letter he received from his teacher--who he thinks is all that and a bag of chips!!!)

Guys Weekend!

Last weekend Kathee, Hope, and Esther, along with Kathee's sister Sharon and neice Dora (who both flew in from Mississippi) headed up to Chicago to attend a wedding reception for Kathee's cousin Sarah.  So Gideon and I had the place to ourselves from Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon.  We had a blast.  

Friday night I took him bowling, which he absolutely loved!  He scored 93!  I really reminded me of when I was young and my now-sister-in-law Kris would pick up my brother Zach and I and take us bowling at Riverside Bowl in Dubuque.  She did this while dating my brother Nathan, who was living in Conneticut and working at Tiffany & Co in NYC.  GREAT memories for my brother Zach and I (the bowling part, not my brother Nathan living in CT).  

After bowling, he wanted to go to Imo's Pizza.  This is the place to get St Louis-style pizza (think cracker crust and a funky cheese called Provel cheese-- it's a white Velveeta-ish cheese).  He likes it.  I like it.  Away we went.  

Saturday morning we woke up (okay, he woke me up) and made breakfast.

I wanted to make bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel (even with the McDonald's-style sauce).  They were so good!  

Then I took him to the St Louis Science Center.  He really had a blast (and so did I).  I love it that there is so many free things to do in St Louis.  

Book List

So the semester is coming to a close.  I believe I only have two more books to read for the semester (my Covenant Theology book will carry on through next semester, however).  This does not include 3 other books (one over 500 pages) that I read on my Kindle.  It also doesn't include one class that didn't have a textbook but had umteen million readings that I got to print off and read.  So to say that my nose has been in a book a lot this semester is an understatement.  Oftentimes I get done with one book, and if I have time before my next thing I immediately grab another book for a class and start/continue reading.  This is crazy.  My best friend is the highlighter (so I can highlight and then go back in order to write papers).  Great books, for the most part.  I just wish I had time to digest them.  

Esther Reading

I think it's pretty cute to watch Esther walk over to the children's book section of our library, grab a book, walk back to her rocking chair, and "read."  She certainly sees her mother and father and brother and sister reading a lot.  I think she comes by it naturally!

Study Break

I hope this doesn't come back to bite me.  I am taking a break from studying Greek as I've wanted to update you all for a couple days.  The below is what I have to have memorized for tomorrow's quiz.  These words are quite funky in the New Testament (basically they are a verb form that predated the Greek that was spoken at the time of the writing of the new testament yet were sort of hold-overs from a previous time.  So although there are only about 15 actual "MI verbs" (pronounced "me" verbs; they are verbs that end in "mi" instead of the more common omega endings and omai endings).  All that's a bunch of Greek jargon (of which I understand about a half of right now).  Basically, there are not many of these verbs used in the New Testament, yet the ones that are used are all over the place.  Some of the words translate I stand up/arise (resurrection), I give, I stand, I hand over/betray, I place/put/appoint, etc.  So that's what I'm supposed to be memorizing.  However, I have endings already memorized tonight, so I'm feeling good about that.  However, it's the principal parts that is going to give me fits.   

Basically the principal parts are the various forms a verb can take.  So...

Present Active- didomi- I give.

Future Active- dOsO- I will give.

Aorist Active- edOka- I gave

Perfect Active- dedOka- I have given

Perfect Passive- dedomy- I had given

Aorist Passive edOthain- I was given

So for tomorrow's quiz I need to know the various verb endings in the present active for three different verbs and then the 6 principal parts for each of those verbs.  Sounds like a lot?  I kind of is when I think about it.  We'll see how I do.  

I continue to be very surprised at how well I'm doing in Greek.  After 28 quizzes, my average score is 99.11% (50 % of my final grade).  My first test score was a 95% (10% of final grade).  My second test score was 100% (15% of my final grade).  My only remaining grade will be the final.  It's good to know that I will still pass the class.  Thanks for praying for me, it's helped a great deal.  

   

Bible Translation

This past weekend when we were in Moline, we had a fantastic discussion about Bible translation.  We were discussing literal vs paraphratic translations and why some translations read more chopily (NASB and even the ESV) and why others are much more readily read and understood.  So that night I went home and wrote out a part of a Scipture passage, translated it, and then made it readable.  This may be of some interest to you all as well.  Bear in mind, this is coming from a first semester, first year Greek student.  This is basically entry-level Greek.  However, I do think it illustrates our discussion quite well.  

Krispy Kreme

Since Kathee and I went to bed early last night, we also woke up early today (which I don't normally do).  However, that allowed us to drive down to the Krispy Kreme for breakfast (Kathee's idea).  When there was a KK in Davenport, and before we had kids, Kathee and I would sleep in every Friday (my day off) and then head to Krispy Kreme for breakfast.  We had so much fun.  So it was great to head down there this morning for breakfast.  

The two older kids were very interested in how the best donuts on the planet are made.  

Both of the girls really got into their donuts.  They had glaze everywhere!

Gideon even said they were better than Dunkin Donuts AND Donut Delight (a place in Moline that everone loves but I think is gross).  What a good morning!

Mah-ther Russia!

This week I heard Hope in the bathroom talking with Esther.  So I got a bit nervous.  When I walked in, Hope was very confidently telling Esther that she was born in Russia.  I thought we had her broken of the notion that she was born in Moldova.  I guess we need to do a better job of teaching where she was born instead of focusing on all the places that she wasn't born.  The hilarious thing is that she actually argued with me about where she was born.  Ever had an argument with a three year old who will not listen to the truth no matter what?  See how I get a better understanding of God each day that I am a father?  It's almost nightly that I lay in bed and reflect on how little I knew of God even the day before.  I am so thankful to be a father.  "Papa, I was born in Mahther Russia."  "Honey, you were born in Moline."  "No.  I.  Was.  Not.  I was born in Mahther Russia."  Shaking my head.  

My Greek Test.... 100%!

Meeting a Missionary

One of the things Kathee and I wanted to do in adopting Gideon was to financially support evangelistic missions in Ethiopia.  Our great desire is that if Gideo's biological mother doesn't know the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that somehow, through God's providential benevolence, that she could hear the Gospel, respond to it, and that she would spend eternity with Christ (along with her biological son).  So we waited for the right opportunity.  

While I was taking God's World Mission a few years ago through Covenant's distance learning, I learned a bit more about the world mission's arm of the PCA.  After looking through the Mission to the World website, I found a young family that was preparing to head to Addis Ababa to plant churches and provide medical care (Gideon's biological father died of malaria before Gideon was born).  So we thought the Polk's would be a great family to support.  So we started supporting.

I found out later that my brother Aaron's church also supports the Polk family and that they had been to Aaron's church to share about their ministry.  The week they did so, my parents were visiting Aaron's family and got to hear the Polks speak.  

Last week, Jason, a Covenant grad, was the featured speaker at the Ministry Luncheon (they have them almost every week) so I went and learned more about what they are doing in Addis.  It was very good to hear, and very good to meet.  

Hearing a few months back that they were coming back to the States (specifically St Louis) so Liz could give birth to another child, we contacted them about coming to our home for a meal.  So this is a great opportunity to connect with them and encourage them and get to know them better.  It's a small world, isn't it?  Wow, our God is good!    

Sleeping

Gideon and L. Williams

Gideon and his buddy on Saturday night in Moline

Weekend in Moline

Esther was a flower.

Hope was Cinderella (no picture)

Gideon was Ironman (no picture)

Had to get a picture of our old house.

Got cold and dark quickly.

We walked the neighborhood with Justin, Tara, Kileigh, and Vada Wilson.  Then Rhonda McKinley stopped over to see us.  After the kids were in bed we went to Matt Williams house where we spent time with Matt's family, Sally and Bob Dontje, Bill Ziel, Dave Otto, and Tim Fiscus.  Then Saturday morning we had Nick, Melanie, and Carsten McKittrick over for breakfast.  Then Saturday night we hung out with the Williams and Wilson families for supper.  We attended church at FUPC on Sunday.  During Sunday School I was invited to lead the combined high school classes to give a life-update and had time to answer questions from the kids.  The new youth director was present, so it was fun to encourage him and encourage the teens to love him and participate.  After that we went to the Pothoven's and had lunch with them and the Jones'.  It was such a fun weekend away!

Family Fun Picture

Free Day!

On Thursdays I tutor a 5-year-old boy named Baraka from 4:15-5:45.  I tutor him at the offices of our church.  Each week he comes (Monday's, Tuesday's, and Thursday's) he gets fake money that adds up to a free day.  After $1,000 dollars (he gets $100 per day if he comes, brings homework, and behaves), he gets a free day where his tutor takes him out to do something fun.  This time I had the opportunity to take him out.  So I took him to Bubble Tea (his first time ever), then he wanted to go to the Dollar Tree to get some candy, and then I took him to Heman Park to play on the swing set.  I had him back on time.  

The Test

I think I aced the test.  

Greek Test 2 Today.

Here are the first four pages of my Greek exam that starts at 11:00 today.  This does not include 200 potential vocab words or the ten Bible verses that I have to be able to number (according to parts of speech for each word), decline each verb (present, active, indicative, third person, plural, etc) and participles, and translate each verse.  So there's a lot to remember.  I'm honestly feeling really good about it.  Nonetheless, please pray for me.  

Here are the verses I have to be ready to dissect.  

The great thing is that Doctor sets us up to succeed.  He could absolutely destroy us.  He's literally one of the world's leading scholars in his field.  Yet he teaches us kindergarten Greek with compassion.  I love this guy.  

My test goes from 11-12:15.  Thanks for praying!

Just for fun, here's my stack of Greek flash cards!

She Snuggles

My two older kids are big huggers and snugglers.  Esther is.  I love getting her up from her nap and she groggily holds on and slowly wakes up.  It totally makes reading Exegetical Fallacies in Greek worth reading.  

Esther

Some of the kids at the bus stop found this flower (okay, let's be honest, they tore it off of some plant in the landscaping) and put it in her ear.  She LOVED it!

I put a hair clip in her hair this afternoon and she thought it was pretty cool, too.   

Oh my goodness, she's taking after her sister.  Hope brought her Princess Batman cap to International Night at Gideon's school tonight.  I put the cape on Esther and off she goes, just like her older sister.  Creepy really! 

Not Gonna Lie...She Dressed Herself!

Lone Elk Park

While Kathee was in Montana I took the kids for an outing.  There is a county park not far from us called Lone Elk Park.  I've wanted to go there for months, but m wife thinks I'm a tool about wildlife and nature and whatnot, so we never went...UNTIL NOW (kinda like I think romantic comedies are kinda nerdy).  So I took the kids to the park.   

One of the reasons I wanted to go now is that it's rut season, and so I knew the elk would be moving.  I was hoping to hear some bugling, but that didn't come to pass.  However, we did see a bunch of elk.  One bull elk was fairly close to us.  

We also so these 4 bison, but they weren't all that close.  

Fall is in full effect in the park, and so it was also very beautiful to just drive through the park.  

I liked it enough to go back again, and I think Kathee would even be up for it.