I have been asked to give a bit of an update on our family post-move. I am sorry that I have not done so already. Part of my reluctance has been related to that old admonition that if you don’t have anything good to say…. Well, there are plenty of good things to say, but some not-so-happy things are close to the surface and I know I’d regret it if I did a post on what I think of Californians.
But I can try to avoid that topic and share some other blessings:
The kids are doing great. The boys have been in high school for a week now and seem to be making the transition well. They have some people they know from the youth group at church. While making friends will take longer, at least they ‘re not sitting alone during lunch. The girls also have a friend at their elementary school and they are adjusting. Jonathan, however, is quite distraught that he cannot go to school. He loads up his backpack, describes his plans for the day, says all of his goodbyes, and heads out the door. He is quite serious for a five-year-old (but he’s only 2!). He is a blessing.
Kelli is doing great—as long as that assessment is based upon the meals being served and the laundry being done. If you asked her about boxes unpacked, home furnishings, or wall decorations, she doesn’t feel quite so settled.
I am here. Some parts of my initial reception at my place of work have been very encouraging. I know some of the older profs and they make me feel very welcome. That enthusiasm is a great motivator for me as I think about returning to the classroom next week. I was asked if I’m nervous. It’s hard to assess my feelings but I feel a mixture of excitement about teaching and concern about what demands might be made by having 258 unique students. Besides the challenge of preparing two new classes this semester, I was recently given a great writing opportunity that will take a lot of time in the next two months.
In some ways, I would like to think I ‘ll be a much better teacher than I was before. In other ways, I wonder how it will go with freshmen, cell phones, and athletes in the classroom. Most of my visions of the return to the classroom have been what many might call idealistic or just plain crazy. Is it too much to expect that after a few weeks in survey class the playing of video games on campus will nearly come to an end and students will spend the time instead studying their Bibles? I don’t know; I think I am going to learn a lot this year.
Kids at the Santa Barbara Mission
The beach near Santa Barbara
Jonathan on his new bike
The sunset from our backyard
Glad to hear things are going well Todd. I had wondered if you had abandoned this blog. I am pleased you did not.
Todd, Amy and I are so excited that you’re back at TMC! I wish my brother still needed to take survey courses so he could take your class. Nine years ago, I was getting ready to take the best class I’ve ever taken: History of Ancient Israel. In some ways, that class changed my life. In fact, I just consulted Kingdom of Priests for help with teaching about Gideon and Abimelech to our high schoolers. I pray for a good school year as you get back in the saddle.
Thanks, Dan and Happy. I appreciate the encouragement and prayers. May the Lord do good things in my classes this year.
Thanks for the update, Todd! I think the Lord did extremely “good things” in your classes by making you the prof! Just do your best not to call fire down from Heaven on the video-game devices! … Or at least make sure there’s an extinguisher nearby first! Ha! I’m still looking forward to visiting y’all, but each time I think “This is the week,” I get delayed again…
Yay, yay, yay! Thank you for he update! It brightened my lunch hour to see your dear children’s faces. I pray The Lord does great and marvelous works in your classrooms this year! I can empathize with Kelli, moving is not easy and settling in is even harder. I keep thinking about how moving & not being settled reminds me that this place is not our home…a far better one awaits!
Tell your students, like Rick Holland did once, to look around and relish the days of college, specifically in the classroom, and the sound teaching in a Biblically-minded setting because in 5, 10, 15 years from now, they’re going to wish they could go back and learn/enjoy it all again! I certainly wish I would’ve heeded that advice!