Summer Whirlwind
Summer Whirlwind
So this summer has been a bit of a whirlwind. But like that's anything new for me. I started the summer with a trip to Missouri to see my parents, and to Oklahoma to celebrate my grandparents 62nd Anniversary and have a family reunion. Then it was back to KY for Ichthus Music Festival and doing altar ministry. That weekend was crazy, a lot of fun and some interesting experiences. Then I took Forgiveness in Counseling which was a one week intensive mixing the theological and the practical uses of forgiveness a really great class. I did a paper dealing with the issues of Shame/Guilt and Grace/Forgiveness and how they should (and shouldn't be paired). Then it was back to Oklahoma for my grandfather's funeral. I'm so grateful the last time I saw him alive was a celebration of all that he stood for.
For July we left straight from Oklahoma, stopped overnight in Missouri, then overnight at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, then out to Shenandoah National Park for a night. We stopped at the site of the Battle of Manassah/Bull Run on the way to DC. We were in DC on the third, spent the 4th doing the Smithsonians and fireworks on the Mall, the 5th we went to the Marine Corp Museum (amazing - and touching since Gpa was a Marine in WWII), then down to Mount Pelier (Madison's home) which is in the process of being restored. On the 7th we went to the Basicillica of the Immaculant Conception. It's beautiful, even if I disagree with the theology - which I spent most of the day playing tour guide explaining the various symbologies and theologies of the Catholic church (I know just enough to be dangerous). The 8th we went to Old Town Alexandria and went to the Masonic Temple that George Washington was a member of, pretty impressive structure and Christ Church (where GW went to church). The 9th we did the Washington Monument (got to go up it), the Library of Congress (OMG beautiful) got to see the Gutenberg Bible and the Book of Secrets, the Supreme Court (much smaller than I pictured) and found out that the UMC has a building on Capital Hill right next to the Supreme Court. On the 10th we took Justin to 6 Flags over America as a reward for being good. Came back to KY on the 11th.
Started housesitting and working 35+ hours a week in the library. I basically get paid to play on the internet when I'm not checking out books or answering phone calls to help people with the new internet system we are implimenting. I'm also reading furiously for my Worship & the Arts class (which I think will be amazing) and writing the reflection papers.
August looks like more of the same, house sitting, working in the library (not as many hours) reading and taking this class, writing the research paper for it, do training for the Chapel Design team and then helping with New Student Orientation. I do have Joel & Sarah coming to visit on the 17th, and a retreat overnight planned with Jessica before the fall semester starts so I get some small, much needed breaks.
And if you survived all that and aren't dizzy yet you are a crazier person than me.