Family Time

The VP3 training ended yesterday at noon, so I headed north to see my Mom in Milwaukee.  It's great to visit.  She's doing well, and I got to see my favorite niece, Janine, too.  Today I'll be driving home, but I'm going to stop at Governor Dodge State Park in Wisconsin to visit my brother and sister-in-law.  But I'm planning to be home because I'm going to be pitching batting practice for the freshman baseball team on Friday morning.  That should be fun!

Last night I got my Mom on Skype to talk with Karin and the boys and then with Emily and Dan.  She thought it was great to be able to talk with them via the computer -- and even to see Emily and Dan.  I looks like Dan is settling in.  He starts work today.

Indiana, Part 2

The training event here in Dyer, Indiana, has been very good.  I'm excited about taking a group through the second year of VantagePoint3.  Hopefully, those who have been through year one will sign up!  (You know who you are!)

I had a great dinner with Scott and Rachel Renaud last night.  They're doing well and looking forward to moving to Pella in July.

The training will be done about noon today, which gives me the opportunity to head north to Milwaukee to see my Mom and take her out for dinner tonight.  Tomorrow I hope to see my brother and sister-in-law who are camping near Dodgeville, WI, on my way home.

It will be good to be home, especially to give Karin a hand.  Dan is almost to Medora, ND, as I write this, where he'll be working for the summer.  Karin had to coordinate getting him on the bus, Tyler to baseball practice, and Sam to tennis lessons yesterday morning.  She is terrific -- but I wish I could be there to lend a hand.

Indiana...

It's been a long day -- up early to drive to Dyer, Indiana for the VantagePoint3 training class, which started at 1:00pm.  I made the drive uneventfully and made it in plenty of time.  The class went until 7:30pm tonight, so it's been a long one.

The training is good, and it looks like the 2nd year of VP3 will be worthwhile.  But it's been a hard day today.  I've been away while Dan has made the decision to go to Medora, North Dakota, to work for the summer.  Emily helped to get him two jobs and a place to stay, so he should be able to make some money for college in the fall.  Dan will be getting on the bus for North Dakota tomorrow, so I won't see him again until mid-August, when he and Emily come back home.  *sigh*

Hopefully I'll get a good night's sleep tonight...

Almost There

The sabbatical officially begins on Monday, so I'm almost there.  I get to preach tomorrow morning -- finishing the series on the Sermon on the Mount -- and then we're having a Send-Off Pot Providence.  It sounds like the Fellowship Committee is planning some fun activities -- it should be a great time.

Our next door neighbor had to cut her European vacation short because she broke her leg in a mudslide while hiking in Tuscany.  I felt bad hearing her story and the events that she had to cancel in Europe because of her injury.  I pray for fast and full healing for her.  But it also reminds me how important health and safety are for enjoying this sabbatical.  Iona told me that if I want to go on the walking tour around the island, I will need good hiking boots with ankle support.  So prayers for health and safety and uneventful travel would be greatly appreciated.

After tomorrow's Send-Off, I'll be getting ready to leave early Monday morning for Dyer, Indiana, and training for leading the second year of VantagePoint3.  Then the sabbatical will be officially underway.