An Update and a Shout Out

I have just had a busy but very fun week. We had our VBS this week, and Brian, the campus minister, and I were in charge of the puppet skits. So we wrote them. Which means that they were much better than all the prefab puppet skits that are in VBS material. Most of those are pathetic. But since we take the task very seriously, it takes us quite awhile to get the final product, so we have had early mornings, late nights, and our other work in between. We are committed to teaching the gospel through fun and interesting ways. And just because we are talking about Christ doesn't mean bad art is excusable, in fact it gives us that much more reason to do it well with much thought and prayer. The great part about it is Brian and I work tremendously well together, and we create together what we couldn't touch if we wrote by ourselves. It took a lot of thought and time and missed sleep, but, oh, it was so worth it.

Actually, VBS was a great test audience, because we were really writing the skits for the Student Center traveling VBS mission trip that we will be taking to Huron, South Dakota in July. VBS has helped us practice and really streamline the puppet skits, and since we are both procrastinators, it means we got it done early. This is the second year we are taking this trip, so we continued with the same characters we came up with last year. Last year, our pirate crew became Christians, this year, they acted out some of Jesus' parables in their adventures. We weaved the Good Jamaican, the Rich, Young Parrot, the Prodigal Pirate, and the Lost Ship That Is-a Real (say it with an Italian accent, hehe, we're so clever :P) I don't know if it will get anywhere, but Brian is considering talking to a publisher about them.

My interview went well this weekend, but I don't want to comment on interviews on an open forum anymore than that until I know the verdict.

I have been accepted to Harding Grad School with a half-tuition scholarship. I am going for a Master of Christian Ministry, and I think I will put my emphasis in Christian History.

Monday I will be driving my mom, my sister Sara, and my niece Ashley to the airport for their trip to Sweden. They will be there for a week. My mom is from a Swedish heritage (three generations removed), and we have some cousins that still live there. There are about 10 from my mom's side that are going. I would love to go, but with job searching and work and being broke, it wasn't feasible, but I am greatly excited that they have the opportunity to go. And I can't get too jealous, I have had my chance to go globe hopping.

A shout out is due my other two nieces, Tara and Elizabeth, and now I know it is a 4th niece on the way :). My other sister, Karen, has two daughters, and one on the way, due in November. I adore them greatly, but they don't get as much attention because they live in a solid Christian family structure, so my role with them is very different, but I realized I haven't talked about them specifically on my blog. So this is for you, oh wonderful nieces of mine.

--written to Soundgarden "Superunknown" which is a good shout out to grungy tween angst.