I'm still here.

It's been over three years since I last posted in this blog.  I guess you can't call it a blog unless you put something in it regularly.  Maybe that's why I always failed at keeping a diary when I was a teenager.  No matter, the last three years have been busy with it's shares of ups and downs.  One of the ups is I went on a trip last May with my best friend from high school to Scotland.  We toured Scotland for 13 days with the author, Liz Curtis Higgs, and about 45 other women.  It was truly a trip of a lifetime.  I will try and do a blog post about it soon with some pictures. For those who might be reading this who I'm friends with on Facebook, you guys saw all those pics when I posted them last year.

Another exciting thing is I complete Licensed Local Pastors classes within the United Methodist Church and am now a pastor with my husband at a little UMW church near Kentland, Indiana.  The church is called Raub UMC.  I really don't take a salary as Chris is the main pastor, but I can help him if needed since he works full-time.  I preach one Sunday a month and can fill in for funerals, etc. if need be.  I am also taking Course of Study classes with him which is required by the Methodist Church for Local pastors.  We have about 8 to 10 years to complete them.  They are held twice a year and to be honest, I'm not sure how many we have to take.  I just know I am finding the classes intimidating.  There are college level papers we need to write and having had no experience with this, it's not easy.  At all!  I will be happy if I pass these classes each time with a D+ or C-.

Chris has gone through some difficulties with work.  I have seen him struggle with this more since the accident he had in 2002.  Not sure if there is a connection or not.  He recently lost his job at Advanced Auto.  It was a very stressful job and he was working 60 to 80 hours a week.  He had very little time to pastor the church and no time to work on what would be needed in the COS classes.  While it was a shock when he was let go, and a  struggle financially.  I have to wonder if God had stepped in here.  He now works at St. Joe college here in town as a groundskeeper.  He took a fairly big pay cut, but he seems much happier, much less stressed and has time now to pastor the church better and to devote time to the class assignments.  God works in mysterious ways.  While it will be more of a struggle financially, I see him being much more relaxed, less tired and generally happier.