An update by Seth.
You may or may not be aware that my seminary career is coming to a close. And believe me ... it has been a career! A career that has taken over 10 years, has spanned 3 schools, 2 states, and 3 countries, and has been financed by numerous part-time and full-time jobs along the way.
Life always gets interesting when you come to the end of chapter. For me, I rarely know where God is going to lead me next. During most of my senior year in college, I didn't know where I was going to be the next year. The same thing happened during my last year at The Master's Seminary, and the same thing is now happening during my last year at Southern Seminary.
I did have a couple of good leads for next year, but they have dried up rather abruptly. So I find myself in a situation that I did not expect: I am joining the throngs of graduating Ph.D. students who are hunting for a job. And in the field of education, now is the time to be looking for a teaching job for the next school year. Even though the academic calendar has a good 10 months before the start of the new year, now is the time to be applying. So while I work to finish my dissertation, lead a Sunday School class, provide for my family, raise my kids, and love my wife, the hunt for a job has occupied much of my time recently.
This morning I officially sent my curriculum vitae (higher education's version of a résumé) to a college to express my interest in an opening they have next year. I also sent it to the president of another school who offered to help some. Over the next few weeks, I'll be looking for other places to send it. In some ways, it is exciting to be entering my career, especially after training for it so long; but in other ways, it is a trying experience since we have no idea where we are going to be in a few months. Yet we know that God is in control, that His plan is perfect, and that it is best. Please pray for us as we seek His will.
Seth
Monday, September 29, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Breaking News!
If I could make this blink and play wild fanfares, I would.
Talia took her first steps!! Yay Baby!
Yesterday the winds of Hurricane Ike hit us here in Louisville, leaving 150,000 people without power, including us. Long story short, we really needed to do a certain load of laundry containing Talia's "blankie" before bedtime so we called up some friends who, happily, had power. While we were waiting for the laundry to dry we played out in the backyard with the kids. I thought it might be a good time to put Talia's new skills to the test. I have suspected for a few days that she might take a few steps, if properly motivated. So I sat down on the grass a few feet from Seth and coaxed her to "come to Mama." She wanted Daddy. So we switched. I helped her balance while Seth reached out. The game was on!
She "dove" back and forth into both pairs of waiting arms several times before she actually took the time to get her balance and step carefully. Eventually, though, she did take 2 or 3 careful, toddling steps before she met the waiting hands opposite.
I think she's "caught the bug." Later in the evening she wanted to walk from the foot of Benjamin's bed over to the rocking chair where I was sitting. And this morning, as we were opening a box that came in the mail, she took a couple of independant steps forward before she tottered over.
Her grin says it all (picture coming soon), she is having a great time, finally experiencing the independance of walking!
Talia took her first steps!! Yay Baby!
Yesterday the winds of Hurricane Ike hit us here in Louisville, leaving 150,000 people without power, including us. Long story short, we really needed to do a certain load of laundry containing Talia's "blankie" before bedtime so we called up some friends who, happily, had power. While we were waiting for the laundry to dry we played out in the backyard with the kids. I thought it might be a good time to put Talia's new skills to the test. I have suspected for a few days that she might take a few steps, if properly motivated. So I sat down on the grass a few feet from Seth and coaxed her to "come to Mama." She wanted Daddy. So we switched. I helped her balance while Seth reached out. The game was on!
She "dove" back and forth into both pairs of waiting arms several times before she actually took the time to get her balance and step carefully. Eventually, though, she did take 2 or 3 careful, toddling steps before she met the waiting hands opposite.
I think she's "caught the bug." Later in the evening she wanted to walk from the foot of Benjamin's bed over to the rocking chair where I was sitting. And this morning, as we were opening a box that came in the mail, she took a couple of independant steps forward before she tottered over.
Her grin says it all (picture coming soon), she is having a great time, finally experiencing the independance of walking!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
PT Update on Talia
Many people have been asking me how Talia's physical therapy is going. The short answer is: it's going very well but she's not walking yet.
The details:
We are really enjoying our therapist, Aimee. Both kids love the attention they get as we learn our new activities each week. She has been extremely helpful in showing me how I can involve Benjamin in our therapeutic play. He loves to be involved and it helps me to know that I don't have to set up a formal "therapy" time with Talia.
Physically she is getting stronger and showing progress. She is moving more confidently and in ways that she was unable/unwilling to move before. For example, she doesn't always automatically drop down and crawl to a desired destination or object anymore; she considers other options such as "cruising" down the furniture or even transferring to another support surface (as long as it's not too far away!) She has also started standing, unsupported, more often. At first she would stand alone only if she was distracted and unaware of her accomplishment; the moment she would realize she was "on her own" she would collapse. More recently she has started delighting in the feat, even purposefully achieving this independence on occasion. She has also started expressing a desire to "walk," and holding one hand she can toddle quite a long distance. The other day she walked up and down our long sloped driveway twice in this fashion.
We should be receiving her orthotic "shoes" (they are really more like braces) soon, so hopefully she will make even more progress as her stance is corrected.
The details:
We are really enjoying our therapist, Aimee. Both kids love the attention they get as we learn our new activities each week. She has been extremely helpful in showing me how I can involve Benjamin in our therapeutic play. He loves to be involved and it helps me to know that I don't have to set up a formal "therapy" time with Talia.
Physically she is getting stronger and showing progress. She is moving more confidently and in ways that she was unable/unwilling to move before. For example, she doesn't always automatically drop down and crawl to a desired destination or object anymore; she considers other options such as "cruising" down the furniture or even transferring to another support surface (as long as it's not too far away!) She has also started standing, unsupported, more often. At first she would stand alone only if she was distracted and unaware of her accomplishment; the moment she would realize she was "on her own" she would collapse. More recently she has started delighting in the feat, even purposefully achieving this independence on occasion. She has also started expressing a desire to "walk," and holding one hand she can toddle quite a long distance. The other day she walked up and down our long sloped driveway twice in this fashion.
We should be receiving her orthotic "shoes" (they are really more like braces) soon, so hopefully she will make even more progress as her stance is corrected.
She may not be walking, but Talia has developed quite an affinity for climbing!
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Benjamin's Big Moment
Yesterday Benjamin was all excited to call Daddy, Mamacita, and Mima to tell them the "big news": he used the potty for the first time!
I've been ready to start potty training for a week or two now, but due to a million things I'm sure you don't really care about, it hasn't happened. Yesterday as I was changing his diaper Benjamin announced, "I want to sit on the potty!" Although this doesn't happen often, it was not completely unheard of and so I didn't think anything about it. I followed him into the bathroom and helped him get up on his Elmo seat where he promptly...went! I think he thought I was crazy as I clapped and cheered and told him how proud I was. He just sat there looking at me nonchalantly, as though he uses the potty everyday. But don't let him fool you, he was grinning from ear to ear as he announced to Daddy on the phone, "Daddy, I go pee pee in da potty!"
Well...onward!
I've been ready to start potty training for a week or two now, but due to a million things I'm sure you don't really care about, it hasn't happened. Yesterday as I was changing his diaper Benjamin announced, "I want to sit on the potty!" Although this doesn't happen often, it was not completely unheard of and so I didn't think anything about it. I followed him into the bathroom and helped him get up on his Elmo seat where he promptly...went! I think he thought I was crazy as I clapped and cheered and told him how proud I was. He just sat there looking at me nonchalantly, as though he uses the potty everyday. But don't let him fool you, he was grinning from ear to ear as he announced to Daddy on the phone, "Daddy, I go pee pee in da potty!"
Well...onward!
Benjamin shows Daddy his "You Did It!" Elmo sticker
Monday, August 25, 2008
Very Veggie
I haven't had a chance to mention Benjamin's latest obsession: VeggieTales. It came on rather suddenly. Essentially, he was (finally!) getting bored with Baby Einstein and needed something new to get him through his daily breathing treatments so on a whim I decided to try one of the VeggieTales videos we had. The rest, as they say, is history. Now we eat, sleep, and breathe VeggieTales. On an average day we listen to each of our four VeggieTales CD's at least once (well, excepting the one that is in the car, which is now the only acceptable soundtrack for any kid-accompanied venture.)
One of Benjamin's favorite characters is Pa Grape. Several weeks ago he began wearing a hat around the house. A few days later he started pulling it down over his eyes. He told me, "Benj has no eyes. Like Pa Grape."
He has also been known to wear this very "Larry Boy" mask.
Finally, after I put the kids down for their afternoon naps and returned to the living room I found this arrangement (of our new VeggieTales books, courtesy of Mima) on my rocking chair:
One of Benjamin's favorite characters is Pa Grape. Several weeks ago he began wearing a hat around the house. A few days later he started pulling it down over his eyes. He told me, "Benj has no eyes. Like Pa Grape."
He has also been known to wear this very "Larry Boy" mask.
Finally, after I put the kids down for their afternoon naps and returned to the living room I found this arrangement (of our new VeggieTales books, courtesy of Mima) on my rocking chair:
too...
Benjamin is into the concept of "too" right now.
This morning we were at the office where Talia was fitted for her orthopedic shoes. The doctor(?) was asking Benjamin all kinds of questions like, "what's your name?" and "how old are you?" For some reason, Benjamin was shy about answering. Finally he responded to the question, "are you the big brother?" "Yes," he answered quietly, but proudly. "Well, you are a big boy!" the doctor said with false enthusiasm. Benjamin looked shyly into his lap, but responded clearly, "you are a big boy too!"
Which reminds me of an airplane story I forgot to tell...
Upon landing in Orange County after many long hours of travel I told the kids, "I am so proud of you. You really did a great job today!" Benjamin smiled sweetly at me and, enthusiastically nodding his head, replied, "Mama, I am so proud of you too!"
This morning we were at the office where Talia was fitted for her orthopedic shoes. The doctor(?) was asking Benjamin all kinds of questions like, "what's your name?" and "how old are you?" For some reason, Benjamin was shy about answering. Finally he responded to the question, "are you the big brother?" "Yes," he answered quietly, but proudly. "Well, you are a big boy!" the doctor said with false enthusiasm. Benjamin looked shyly into his lap, but responded clearly, "you are a big boy too!"
Which reminds me of an airplane story I forgot to tell...
Upon landing in Orange County after many long hours of travel I told the kids, "I am so proud of you. You really did a great job today!" Benjamin smiled sweetly at me and, enthusiastically nodding his head, replied, "Mama, I am so proud of you too!"
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