I landed in Grand Rapids at 8:40am, picked up the rental car, and was on my to see the only house on the itinerary. I intended video the walk through so that Jean could see the house, too. But, when I arrived at the house I found that the video camera's battery was dead. Thank heaven for cell phones!I liked the house, yet the decision felt very heavy for me. Jean loved the home and the size of the kitchen from what she tell from the video I sent. It just felt like a heavy decision to make without her being present. There weren't any other homes that we liked. But, the decision still weighed on my heart. I set an appointment to see the home one more time on Saturday, and if I liked it still, I would sign the lease.
Saturday morning I woke up and wrote in my journal. The writing was cleansing and helped me gain perspective about the house––good perspective. When I went to the home I loved it even more. And, with a charged battery, was able to shoot quality video to bring home to Jean and the kids. I signed the lease, and we will take possession of our new home in Rockford, MI August 1. I wonder why we have this home. The home was practically leased when I called about it, but while I was on the phone with the home's owner he got an email from the person who was going to lease it saying that he would need to back out. And, it wasn't just a fact of the home now being available so we were now the next best available. In the course of communications following the call I found out that we had mutual friends. God is good to us, and I can't wait to see what will come from us being located there.
While in Grand Rapids I was able to get a good start on my Old Testament paper, read a book for a class, surprise my brother-in-law into speechlessness when I saw him at church, see my favorite Sherpa and his family, and celebrate Kevin's daughter's graduation from high school.
I woke up Monday morning and flew out of GR at 6am. I slept a lot on the plane––and I actually woke myself up several times with my snoring! I also got some reading in. When I got home I showed the video to Jean, wrote a paper, went to counseling, then headed to class. Towards the end of class I realized why I was having such a hard time staying awake––I had actually been awake since 1:20am Seattle time!
Tuesday was my last Old Testament class. Each class has been 6 hours long, but it has been such a rich class. At the end of class the first of a few more last classes where the graduates are prayed for. The students all come and lay hands on the graduates. The professor had his hands on me, and after the prayer he let me know the word God had given him to tell me. It was a powerful word. A word that I will need to have the courage to keep stepping into, but so good.
Wednesday was graduation rehearsal. Sitting there I began to realize the weight and gravity of what I have done the last three years. Such good, difficult growth and classes. Such good, difficult becoming.
With the end of class last night, I officially have one week of classes left. I submitted my Old Testament paper today. With that, I have two papers and one group project left. My mom arrives Wednesday for two weeks, my favorite Aunt Sue arrives Thursday for a week (so, so glad she is coming and that we will have time to spend together), and Jean's parents arrive on Thursday as well. On Friday is a breakfast for the graduates, followed by an open house for our families. Saturday is graduation, and a feast at our house. After the family leaves, we will turn our attention again towards packing and returning home. The end of July will come quickly––perhaps too quickly, maybe not quickly enough.
THURSDAY CLASS
