One month went by, and then two and three. Now it’s been six months since I wrote anything here. In over ten years, I’ve never let anywhere near that much time go by here on this little blog. I think it’s because when so much time passes, you just don’t know where to start. It’s also probably because I really like Instagram, and find it easy to quickly document life over there. But I’ve missed this little space, and so I decided to take the advice I have often heard and given to others: just sit down and write.

Robert and I thoroughly enjoyed our sabbatical in Wake Forest and on the campus of Southeastern Seminary. “It was simple,” is what I keep hearing Robert tell others who ask “How was it?” And it’s true. We took only books and clothes, lived in a spacious one room studio apartment, could walk to campus, coffee, and Mexican food, and knew next to no one in the area. Grocery shopping for two was a breeze. Laundry was all done in one fell swoop at The Wash House every Friday afternoon with Starbucks and seminary books to study in hand. It was quiet, and we could finally sit and take a long, deep breath after what felt like years of breathless sprinting.

Being on a seminary campus, the “GO” Seminary no less, also made for such a sweet retreat. We were constantly surrounded by people who love the mission of God. Professors, fellow students, pastors, and church members whom we were able to share a kindredness with over God’s Word, church ministry, local and global missions, and more. It was “the bubble” we’ve been out of for so long, but desperately needed for a shot of energy, refreshment, and affirmation.

I absolutely loved my classes and even grieved when both professors canceled class on the last day of the semester because exams and projects were due. They wanted to give us grace; I wanted one more lecture, once more chapel service, one more mind-sharpening, heart-softening discussion about the book of Hebrews or evangelism. I spent hours in the library those last few weeks writing a thirty-plus page exegesis paper on head coverings from I Corinthians 11. It was hard, but I couldn’t have been happier. So happy and in my element that I applied for their MDiv program in Ethics, was accepted, and started back to class (online) last week.

Our summer has been absolutely nutty. We are back to panting through the endless sprint that ministry and parenting feel like a lot of days. There have been weddings, parties, lots of meals to host and deliver, and we now hold the record for most ACL surgeries in one family in a very short amount of time. It was at one of those hosted meals that we got a call from Cooper, who was living at his college for the summer, declaring that he had blown out his knee playing basketball. He required surgery during my planned-way-beforehand trip to California and Colorado to visit my siblings. Robert had already left our sabbatical for 18 days to care for Kayla after her surgery in March. Now, he would have to go it alone again with Cooper.

I had such a wonderful (And crazy, chaotic. I can’t lie.) time caring for my nephews and niece in Cali while my brother and sister-in-law hiked in Zion National Park for their 7th anniversary. It was 108 degrees the whole time, and I honestly loved every single degree of it. (The leaves started turning color here in mid-August, and I am never quite ready.) We spent every morning riding bikes and scooters, playing Legos and painting, and every afternoon-into-evening in their pool. Then I spent a long weekend with both of my sweet sisters in Denver-Colorado Springs-Boulder and had a ton of fun seeing where my youngest sister has lived and worked for the past several years. My only regret from this trip is not scheduling enough time to do the whole Incline at Manitou Springs.

(And sleeping in the completely-under-construction Denver airport the night before a 5am flight, but I survived – and barely made my flight, which is another whole blog post. One of the only places open in the airport that evening was a sports bar. I ended up at the bar for a couple of hours with a sparkling water and my Bible study prep booklet for youth camp.)

Three days later we were at Roger Williams University for Crosswalk Camp. If you’ve been reading here for any amount of time, you know we’ve been doing camp for almost as long as we’ve lived here. This year, is was fun to have a small group of girls from our church go along as well as three members of our church staff and even several church alums! Robert taught on the book of Luke in the evenings and in the mornings we both taught on the life of Joseph. Camp is always wonderfully exhausting. I actually wrote about it in more depth here.

Kayla returned from six weeks in Texas working for Pine Cove’s Camp in the City two days after we finished camp (she had an amazing time, and I’ll never be able to say enough about the training Pine Cover offers their staff), and then just four days later we turned around and drove her to Wake Forest where she’ll be going to college in the undergrad program offered by the seminary: The College at Southeastern Cooper had to tag along with us on all of these adventures due to still being in a brace and needing some support in caring for his knee. We loved being back in Wake Forest, hitting some of our favorite food and coffee spots, attending our favorite church there, and catching up with a few friends we made while we were there.

We left our minivan with Kayla (coolest college car ever?) and flew back to Massachusetts on a Wednesday. The following Sunday we were caravanning to Gordon College to move Cooper into his dorm for his senior year. I have lost count of the number of trips we’ve made to Target in the last month, but it’s significant.

Now we’re in full “Fall Launch” mode as thousands of college students return to our own little town and church. We’re passing out granola bars and info on all of the upcoming outreach events to new students. The week ahead holds a movie night on the lawn, a half day training for discipleship and small group leaders, and an church-wide hike on Sunday afternoon.

I’ve also been in full-on job search mode for the last few months – for Assistant/Adjunct Professor positions (that will allow a Master’s degree and not require a PhD) in Religious Studies (and the like) at colleges and universities all over the state, plus a few advisor and administrative positions. So far every one of those twenty or so doors has closed, or just not ever responded – even to follow up emails. It is a little bit disheartening, but I’m still working at it. In the meantime, I’m doing a lot of Airbnb hosting, grading for a Biblical Women’s Institute class online for my seminary, and even a bit of writing for pay. I’m looking forward to helping lead a discipleship group at church, getting back to work on women’s ministry, and even have a couple of speaking engagements at other churches in the coming months. Also doing a lot of praying and trusting that the Lord knows and will provide a job if and when He desires.

Six months and about 1200 words later – thanks for reading. I’m hoping to be a little more regular around here.

P.S. Things I left out: A trip to Turkey at Easter. End-of-sabbatical trips to Asheville and The Outer Banks. Three tow trucks and a new vehicle on the drive back to MA. Two days in D.C. and the Museum of the Bible. A trip to Maine in June. Kory and Rebecca’s new home and puppy.