From Left: Dan, Toby, Steve, Jen, Ellie, Ada, and Alyssa 

Transition

Today is the first time in weeks where I have actually had nothing to do! It's so strange... I have been looking forward to a day like this, but now that it is finally here... I can't decide what to do. On a side note... I'm still trying to figure out why Dan titled his entry below Lilly Pad and Sam.

One of the reasons today has been so uneventful is because of the end of a school year and the beginning of summer (finally!). The end of the school year also means transition with people moving on. We have made so many dear friends here in St. Louis... I posted a picture of several above. Our good friends Toby and Ellie (and their daughter Ada) recently moved to Atlanta, GA. I am so excited for them, but really sad at the same time. It's crazy to think that we have been here for 2 1/2 years. Many people coming to the Seminary sign up for the three year program... so that means that a lot of the people we met our first semester here have moved away in the last couple of weeks. So... I felt sad today.

Speaking of three year programs... someone needs to ask Dan why he didn't post his recent career news!!

Well, it's almost time for Oprah. That's my motivation to head to the gym where they have cable!!

Lilly Pad and Sam

Well Im not sure if anyone will ever visit our blog again becuase of the infrequency of our postings. Yet with that said Alyssa and I are doing well. We always think summer is a time to slow down yet we seem just as busy as when I am in school. Actually we are heading out to Haiti in about five weeks and we are in the preperation mode for the missions trip. Im hoping to try and email or blog each day when we are out there but I may have to do an eight day time delay blog. The trip is causing both excitement and trepidation in the both of us but I think more excitement than nervousness. Well Im off to grind down two customers stumps but I just wanted to see if I'd get a bite in the great sea of blogging

Finals are Over!!

I posted the picture below to show what Dan looked like during finals week. Thank goodness it is finally over!! Those of you who know Dan, know he is not one to get stressed out very easily. This was one of the few weeks of our marriage that I have actually seen him worry. He had little time to study... but always managed to make the most of his time. It has been funny (and frustrating) to see how he handles his school work. For example, the hardest test of his seminary career last week had 12 chapters he had to be able to translate and exegete. He only had one night to have it all memorized... so he spent a good chunk of his time elimanting passages he didn't think would be on the test. Amazingly... he was right!! The text he studied the most, was the one on the test. I couldn't help laughing out loud when he told me... that is so Dan!

Later this week we will be off to California. It's always amazing to be back on the West Coast. As much as we like Missouri... there is just nothing like home. Congrats to both of my sisters... Erica and Cari... who will be graduating from Chico State this weekend!

Dan and our good friend Toby during finals week. 

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can

2 hrs and 18 minutes until I take my last final, which is arguably the harest final here at Covenant (Acts and Pauline epistles), and then it is all over. I dont think Ive wanted a semester to be over as bad as this one. The past few weeks have been a bit crazy, the Jetta catches on fire, my truck has its brakes go out, I'm not able to work for a week, the buisness slows down I take on hours at the seminary and then the buisness starts going crazy with calls and jobs and it rains and jobs start getting back logged and then boom all of a sudden its final week. I feel like I've been exposed in all my weakness, thinking I am the one juggling, organizing and handling the logistics of life. Alyssa has been wonderful dealing with me and all my stress, worry, cramming, complianing, and smoking. Yet over all what studying Acts and Pauline Epistles has revealed to me, in ever clear and brighter light, is the reality of the headship of Christ over every aspect of life. I'll expand more when I dont have to be studying for my final. Consider this part 1

Happy Birthday Grandpa

Well, I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to my Grandfather. I know he has started to look at the blog recently. He will celebrate his birthday on Sunday, May 1st. My Grandfather's name is Floyd... he is one of the most encouraging people I know. Ever since I can remember, he has always talked to me about the importance of my education. I will never forget our family trips to visit him in the San Francisco Bay Area. He would always take the time to sit down with me to go over my times tables... not that any tutoring ever helped me in math. But, it made me feel important to be able to sit down at his desk and use one of his pens and pads of paper to go over and over the numbers. He is also the best omlet maker I know. One of the great parts of our visits has always been to wake up and sit at the bar in his kitchen while he fixes our omlets, toast, and bowl of fruit. When I was younger he would take myself and my two sisters, Erica and Cari, on trips to the Merry-Go-Round. We would always get cotton candy afterwards. I'm sure that was a nightmare for him, three young girls with pink sticky candy on their hands, but he always made sure we had the best time in the world. So, I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to the Greatest Grandfather ever. Happy Birthday Grandpa!!

Grandpa at my College Graduation in 2002 

Random Stuff

Well, I'm excited that Alyssa has surprised me for my 30th birthday and is flying me to Boise Idaho so that I can go camping with my Dad and two older brothers in May. Its been a long time since we've done anything of that nature. The last time was in 97ish when Dave my dad and I, Shane was not able to come, went camping and climbing near Donners Summit near Tahoe. Unlike my friends going to school in Canada, I still have three weeks of school left so I can not yet get real excited about the trip. I've put off 12 weeks of translations that I need to get done in two weeks (in two different classes). Don't tell Alyssa or she will revoke my Game Cube privileges.
I also preached last Sunday evening it was my second time doing so, but the first time I hadn't finished any preaching classes I was the only intern around during that Christmas break, it just causes me to realize how wonderful and amazing it is that the Lord uses broken vessels to minister his Word to the world.
And lastly has anyone read the play by Anton Chekhov, The Seagull, if you have give me your thoughts.
Also Alyssa and I have tickets for U2 when they come to St. Louis in December and check out The Kings of Leon, they are opening up for U2 this tour. They are straight rock and roll.

Seminary

I think one of the best parts of being in Seminary is seeing how the Lord has provided for us over and over again. Moving to St. Louis (which seems like halfway around the globe) was pretty hard... Especially when you are used to living in the same town as your immediate family for 20+ years. When we first moved into Seminary Housing we didn't have a washer or dryer for about 6 months. It was horrible! One of the great things about living in Seminary Housing is people moving and leaving things behind. One day coming home we saw a washer and dryer sitting in the "leave behind pile." We jumped out and wheeled them up to our apartment. We tried them outside first to make sure they worked. They did! I can't begin to tell you what sweet music it was to my ears hearing the sound of a washing machine coming from the basement. They weren't the best... but they worked... for about 2 months. I was crushed when the washer went out. There was no way we would have been able to buy a new one, and it almost made it more difficult that I had finally experienced what it was like to have one. I begged Dan to try and fix it. He finally went down one day while I was at work to take it apart. Just as he had begun to work on it the door bell rang. It was one of our neighbors wondering if we needed a washer and dryer. Some of their friends were moving and didn't need one in their new place. We were dumbfounded. She had no idea about our situation. Situations like this over and over have been a constant reminder of why we are here and Who we are serving. All of that gets me to the real reason I am writing today. Wednesday my dear husband Dan was running to Kinkos for me and the engine of our Jetta caught on fire. Fortunately there was coffee (there is always coffee somewhere in our house or car) sitting in the cup holder and a bottle of water in the back seat. He was able to put it out with no harm to himself. However, our one car family quickly turned into a no-car family. I only work a couple blocks from our house, so one of our church intern's was able to pick Dan up and we were able to walk home. When we lived in Seminary housing it was always easy to get rides places, but now we live about 20 minutes from there and 20 minutes from the Seminary. I called a fellow Seminary wife to see if her husband would be able to give Dan a ride to school in the morning. She began to say that was fine and then stopped herself. She has family in town and they have a third car until that family leaves. Not only did they give us a car 30 minutes later, but told us we could keep it for several weeks. What an amazing God we serve!

Alyssa with her first notch 

Alyssa is now joining the family buisness