"When are you moving?" "Do you know anything, yet?"

Those are the basic questions we get day in and day out.

Let us review . . . on February 18, 2009 Jay, the kids, and I joined his classmates for a prayer service at seminary where everyone found out which of the nine synods he or she had been assigned to. Jay was assigned to the ELCA's Region 3 which includes the fine states of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. We were excited because he was placed in the region of our first choice (preference). Now we had to wait to see if we got the synod of our preference, which was to be decided at the region 3's Synod Assembly, where the bishops of that region, nine in all I believe, decided where Jay's gifts would be better used.

So we waited . . .

On March 5, 2009 Jay received a phone call from the bishop of Western North Dakota welcoming him to his synod. Okay, we were a little shocked and had to catch our breath. As many of you know, we, at least I, truly had our hearts set on South Dakota as it would put us (ME especially) geographically closer to my family. We want to go west of the Mississippi River, but I had my heart on getting a little closer to my family so the kids, as they are older and growing up too fast, could hopefully spend a lot more time with their grandparents and aunts and uncle before we all blink and they are off to college or on their own. I have to be honest, I was truly disappointed because of many things like not getting closer to my family and then there is the homeschool laws, more like restrictions of ND. But I knew in my heart this too would be okay (it wasn't an overnight realization) - we could travel to my parents' house, which we can't do much of now because of newspaper delivering which I will hopefully not have to do when we move and as a veteran (if there is such a thing) homeschool mom, I could help advocate change in the ND homeschool laws. So, I was ready for this too.

A couple of weeks later, Jay had a brief telephone conversation with his bishop, kind of a get to know him thing to help him understand what Jay's ministry is or what Jay wants it to be. Obviously in this conversation, Jay expressed his eagerness to get out into parish ministry and continue preaching and being able to provide for his family. He expressed a sense of urgency in the next step of this bureaucratic, if I might add, process because his contract with the congregation where he was serving was to expire on May 24, 2009. We were anxious about getting on with our lives.

Finally, mid April there were some congregations that the bishop had selected for Jay to interview with -- see what I mean about bureaucratic. Jay can't approach a congregation in need of a pastor without going through these bureaucratic hoops. Oh wait, in the Lutheran denomination, he is not considered a pastor until he is ordained which doesn't happen until he receives his first Call from a Lutheran church to affirm his Calling. Forget the fact that for the last two years he has served as a solo Vicar (for all Lutheran purposes) of a two point parish where he was given special dispensation to distribute the Eucharist. For all in tense purposes, and if you were to ask those members, they called him their pastor for the last two years. He served them well doing everything that an ordained Lutheran pastor does except marrying. He preached, led service, led Bible studies, instructed First Communion, instructed Confirmation, visited shut-ins, visited members and non-members of the community, visited hospitalized individuals, gave a shoulder and guidance to those in need, etc. - need I say more. So why is he still being considered a seminary graduate seeking his first Call? Isn't it enough that after his first year of service, which originated because of his internship, the Adamsville Parish invited him to stay and preach and serve their community until he graduated. If they didn't feel he was gifted and Called to serve the Lord, I don't think they would have requested him to continue to serve there. So, doesn't or shouldn't that count as affirmation that he has been Called to serve the Lord?

Sorry about that . . . back to our review and update.

Okay, where was I? Oh yeah . . . May 4-6, 2009 we flew out to western North Dakota where Jay interviewed with two potential congregations. One went with the other candidate and the other we didn't feel was a good fit so we expressed our gratitude for their hospitality but declined any further relationship. Finally on May 23, 2009 Jay graduated from Trinity Lutheran Seminary with his Masters of Divinity. Well, what does he have to show for it at this moment? Nothing but frustration. He already has an English degree that he never got to use. Here's hoping he gets to put this one to good use.

So, to recap . . . it's been over four months since the region assignment, over three months since the synod assignment, and over one month since his graduation and he is still searching, no let me rephrase that, he is waiting for a church to extend a call to him on this journey. As you can tell by the tone of this, I am extremely disappointed and very discouraged. I commend Jay for his strength, faith, courage, and patience because he is having to do double duty right now for the both of us.

I admit I am the realist and the pessimist, and all I can see in front of me is the domino effects of the fact that there is not an income coming in to continue to support the basic needs of our family. I am so disappointed and feel we let our children down too, as we did not register them in things they normally take part in during the summer season as we thought we would be beginning our new life somewhere else. So, they have and are missing out on summer sports, summer art classes, summer drama classes, summer camps, just good old summer activities they have done over the years. And for what? We are still here. Stuck with no future in sight.

I feel so sad right now for Jay and for us because a decision is going to have to be made about what to do about our future. We all know with the current economy how difficult it is to find employment, so even if we decide for him to seek employment back in the food industry so he can support the family what are the odds that he'll find something. He is truly gifted and I believe preaching the Gospel is what he is meant to do as he enjoys it and it seems to come naturally to him, but the reality of it is without a church there is not a way to support the family. We are all ready to have our own home. Have our own yard. Have our own space. We are ready to have our belongings out of storage. We are truly blessed and thankful for Jay's parents letting us take up in their home, but our time here has expired and we are all ready for a new time in our lives. But one question still remains, "Where? "

Father's Day outing - Hocking Hills Valley

We wanted to do something unique for Father's Day, so I started looking into different things. It's amazing what opportunities we have here in our own backyard. I guess when you live somewhere for so long, you don't see or do all the neat things around. I had no idea we had a "family-friendly" train ride within an hour of our house. For the heck of it I requested a Hocking Hills visitor guide to see what was in that area, assuming it was all camping, hiking, outdoorsy activities. When the guide arrived and I began flipping through the pages, I found the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway. When I mentioned it to Jay, of course he did it when he was younger . . . hello, why haven't we done it yet??

Needless to say, on Father's Day we headed down to the Hocking Valley and had a wonderful day. Hello, I need to go back because there are so many things to do there! Flea markets, shopping, and antiques - need I say more. We took the train ride which took us to an 1840s pioneer log village, Robbins Crossing. So cool!! Then we went back to a cool little diner, the Silver Diner - Diner d'Argento, we had passed on our way, to eat lunch. After lunch we went back to Old Man's Cave (see other post).

We had a great, fun packed day. I am so glad we found these treasures. I am pretty sure Jay had a good time with us too.
































Robbins Crossing - - a historic village at Hocking College

Father's Day Outing - Old Man's Cave

I have been wanting to go to Old Man's Cave for such a long time, but didn't know what to expect with the kids. I had mentioned trying to go to my MIL and her first response was, "Hold on to Zack! We had to hold on to Marshall." Does that tell you why I wasn't too sure what to expect. I was a little nervous about him because he just likes to go and he doesn't really care sometimes especially when he is so focused on what he likes he doesn't see everything around him. Of course, when we shared with the kids where we were going and the trail would take about an hour, they all squealed and said they didn't want to walk that much. Well, when we got there and got onto the trails, they were excited about the neat landscape and the complaining ceased.

I have never been here and I was truly amazed at the breath taking landscape. I was a little worrisome about the whereabouts of the kids because of the rocks and the drop offs/cliffs. Zack would venture ahead of us and before I would know it, I didn't know where he was. The kids loved getting off the trail, which I might add was a posted rule "stay on the trail", and wander up a rock side or through the water, which I might add was a posted rule too so not to upset the natural balance. Of course I was the uptight mother telling Zack to stay close, don't go there, you're too close to the edge . . . need I say more.






I have to tell you, after Cassie and Zack got to the top of this spot we all know they had to come down. Well, Cassie was the last one down and on the way down she complained about the dirt/mud she was getting on her hands and her Converse. Well, Mackenzie, our tom-boyish girl, shared this insight with Cassie, "Well, welcome to nature!" All we could do was laugh because it came across so sarcastically, but I believe it was truly an innocent reminder of where we were.



This was a really cool looking bridge, until I had to go over it and then I got really anxious and needed everyone to walk a little faster.



The kids decided to get off the trail and cross in a low spot of the water -- we honestly didn't see the warnings or rules of things to do and not to do until we came off the trail. Sorry.



Mackenzie was celebrating that she made it across without getting wet.



See why I was so anxious about him . . . the trail went one way and he'd go another. As you can tell I'm above him and he's just hiking along like he's a pro - which he's not.



Jay asked me if I would like him to go with them . . . Of course, that way if something did happen then he would be closer. Well, Cassie decided the water was not shallow enough for her to walk through in her Converse so Jay went back and got her to carry her across. Isn't that what a father is suppose to do.

Old Man's Cave



Okay, we were down below admiring the beautiful scenery when all the sudden, again, I had no clue where Zack was. I started inquiring where he was, and a young lady (the one at the top of the steps in this photo) informed me he was already on the other side - glad she knew.










We got to these steps that led down to the Lower Falls and as I stared down realizing if we continued we would have to walk ALL the way back up. So, I insisted we admire the falls from our resting place. Mackenzie sat here on the wall's edge, which of course made me a little nervous, but she was fine.









We thought this tree's roots were cool looking.





Devil's Bathtub









Upper Falls













Cassie was a bit exhausted and was done!!



I am pointing out to the kids that the other spot we didn't see was still 3.0 mi. from the current spot we were at. Needless to say, we didn't go. We crossed the bridge and returned back to our car.



This was our view from the bridge over the Upper Falls.