Bovine Theology

Nearly another month has flown by since my last post. As with most everyone I know, we’re busy. What’s new?! But we are doing well, despite the continued adjustment back to the school routine. The kids each seem to be enjoying their new classes and teachers. Leslie is still regaining strength and starts physical therapy next week.

My schedule has kept me busy. My latest project has been Leslie’s school website. It started out as me volunteering to update and maintain the current website, but then no one had access to the past designer’s material. So I “got” to re-design the site from the ground up. It is mostly finished now with just some final content to be added as I recieve it. The website is here.

I’ve also been on the road a good bit, with a trip to Michigan last week. I flew in and out of Detroit, but had the opportunity to criss-cross the state a few times, traveling to Grand Rapids, Holland, up through Midland and Bad Axe, and finishing in Traverse City. It was an absoulely beautiful time of the year to be there, and I was blessed with getting a nice rental car with a big sunroof! My meetings went well and even got to visit with a pastor who (after about an hour of conversation) I realized I knew from about 20 years ago! After one of my meetings, a couple on the missions committee took me out on Lake Michigan on their boat. We spent about an hour and a half on the lake and it was gorgeous. I’m trying to get in some visits to my northern states before it gets too cold, at which time I’ll refocus on my southern (and warmer) states! I took a bunch of pictures with my camera phone which I’ve placed on FaceBook here (hopefully the link will work).

We’re getting more involved in our church in Gainesville. I’ve begun teaching the college and young adults sunday school class and we’re starting a small group in nearby Dawsonville in the coming weeks with another couple. We have also started Financial Peace University which will hopefully help keep us focused and motivated on the task of getting out of debt. Every time we watch Dave Ramsey, a ritual which Leslie keeps us disciplined doing regularly, I am reminded how counter-cultural this idea is. Yet it is also continually humbling as I am reminded of my past mistakes. So, for any young people who might read this, take it from me…avoid debt like a plague!

Tomorrow we are planning on going to the funeral of a friend from years ago, JoAnn Calderwood. She and her husband were friends of ours when we first got married. She died, unexpectedly, of a heart attack last week. She called Leslie the night before she died and they talked for about half an hour. It has been a shock to us both, but was especially to Leslie after their talk. Please pray for her husband, Gene.

Next week, I will going through a Bible study/workshop, called Living in Grace at work. It is a course that all of our new missionaries go through and is similar to Sonship. I’ve been trying to do it several times since I started at MTW, but things always seemed to come up. Leslie and I were supposed to do it together last spring, but I fell and fractured my back the week before. I’m disappointed that she and I can’t do it together, but I am excited about this opportunity for me to be challenged.

On a lighter note, I’m happy to say that my “new” little Civic is doing great on gas mileage. I keep track of my MPG with every fill-up, thanks to my dad’s training, and my lowest measurement so far has been 31 MPG for a tank. It’s never been so fun to save on gas!

I meant to write something about each of the kids but it is late, so I will just say one thing about Aggie. She is growing up to be quite the young lady and really enjoys helping. Sometimes too much for her mother and I! But we’re learning to be patient and foster this desire in her. She gets her stool (the one my dad built for me when I was 2) and brings it in the kitchen to help with meals, packing lunches, and anything else we’ll let her do. During one of our meals this week, she was describing something from her day to me. In the midst of her dialogue she used the expression, “and you know, that freaks me out!” Leslie and I both had a good laugh. She loves “helping” the Munch do a variety of things, sometimes with Muchkin’s protest. But since we don’t know how long this might last, we are learning to cherish it and are trying to point her to Christ in and through it.

Leslie has been working hard for the past few weeks getting ready for our yard sale tomorrow and Saturday. Tonight we were scrambling to get all the last minute things setup and signs posted. It’s going to be hot the next two days, but we’re hoping for a good turnout. The kids have contributed a few items of their choice and are planning on having a water and gatorade booth to make a little extra themselves. This is all a part of our Dave Ramsey liquidation. We’ve had a joke around our home that Dave has moved in with us for the past few months. We’re working hard to cut spending and find ways to contribute all we can to our debt.

I would like to ask for prayer for a friend of mine at work, Mark. He and his wife were missionaries in Honduras until he was diagnosed with a brain tumor several years back. They had to move back to the states for his surgery and subsequent healing process. Although his health improved, they were unable to return to the field. A few months back, Mark began experiencing debilitating headaches and the same symptoms of the previous tumor. It seemed like he might have another one. However, a recent MRI indicated no tumor. Although we are all thankful, it is somewhat frustrating not knowing exactly what is causing these continuing headaches. The doctors told him it was stress. Although this is quite possible, I’m sure he still has doubts. Plus, how do you remove stress from your life?? So please pray for him and his family as they all suffer together through this. Mark has a great attitude, but I know he is really hurting.

Another friend of ours, Carol, is also experiencing some debilitating health issues. She and her husband, Bill, were some of our dearest friends in Birmingham. Pray for Carol and the doctors as they look for a solution, and for Carol’s endurance through her suffering.

Leslie and the kids are preparing to return to school next week. It’s hard to think the summer is over. But we’ve had a good one and have much to be thankful for. This year will have its own unique challenges for us as my travel schedule with work is still demanding. I really enjoy getting out and meeting with churches to discuss their missions ministries, but it is difficult being away from my family, and it is especially difficult on them.

Unbelievable? Maybe. After nearly a month of silence, I finally bring up my blog to write something. I don’t have time to say much other than we’re doing well. I will write more soon. The summer has flown by. Next week Leslie goes back and then the kids start on Thursday. It’s hard to believe. Leslie is feeling better, but still not 100%. To me it seems like 100% though. She looks great. She even went with her dad to Stone Mountain on Monday and did a high ropes course there. But again, more to come later…if anyone even reads this anymore!

Today we celebrated Leslie’s one year anniversary of being a cancer survivor. Yesterday, the 28th, was the actual day. Mike & Becky took us to lunch along with Wil & Kristin, and Kyla. We had a wonderful time celebrating God’s goodness to us over the past year.

This weekend, I loaded up the kids and we headed to Brentwood, TN to my cousin, Lissa’s home for a family reunion. Leslie was at a teacher’s workshop in St. Simon’s for the weekend so she wasn’t able to go with us. We crammed into the Civic and headed out on Friday afternoon. For the majority of the trip up there, I thought I had made the worst judgment call. I was exhausted after a marathon of late night work and the kids were sharing a very small real estate of space. But we made it safe and sound Friday evening.

The entire weekend was a lot of fun, especially for the kids. I think there were 19 kids there, so it was exciting to say the least. Lissa and John really put on the spread and we all had a wonderful time visiting together. There were water balloon fights, a jumping house, time spent in the pool, a cookout, a clown, etc…

Today we headed home, and the kids and I did much better (thanks to two good nights of sleep). Below are some pictures from our time there.

Leslie had her colonoscopy today, and the report was a good one. Dr. Moore explained that he didn’t see anything to be concerned about. He could see where her colon had been resected and that was normal. He did take some biopsies from that area, but that was protocol. We expect nothing but good news from that. We were both relieved of course. Our family was too.

Leslie and I talked about the fact that neither of us were worried. After all the zapping and chemo she’s been through, I didn’t expect anything to be there. I think the real challenge before us is further down the road. Will it come back? But we know better than to live in fear. And really, this is a life lesson. None of us knows if we have tomorrow, or if our loved ones do. So we continue to delight in the fact that our hope in all of life rests in Christ.

I think Leslie is blogging tonight as well, so check her blog for updates.

In other recent news that I haven’t had a chance to blog about, I sold my truck. With rising gas prices, we realized that a small car would suit my long commute better. I placed the truck on Craig’s List, and within an hour received an email from a gentleman who bought it from me a day later. He needed a truck, and for a truck mine got good gas mileage. So it was a good fit. I did get other inquiries from the post, one of which I wanted to share. I got this from someone named “Captain Hank”:

I’d consider swapping my 43′ houseboat for your truck and camper top. Then you could liveaboard during the week, saving thousands on gas, instead of commuting.
If interested, I’ll send you pictures and more info.

I have no idea whether he was serious or not, and I’m not sure that life on a house boat would really fit my style. But his email gave me a good laugh!

I ended up a week or so later with a little used Civic. So far I am pretty pleased, especially with my first tank of gas yielding 34 mpg with mixed highway/city driving. Ironically, I’ve been surprised by the number of comments I’ve gotten about it, all pertaining to the gas mileage. I think a lot of people are doing the same thing.

I didn’t get a chance to post any pictures from Relay For Life the other night, so I am adding a few now. The first lap of the relay was just for cancer survivors.

Here are the kids waiting for mom to come around the bend

And here is Leslie’s family

Paul & Cindy came out to support her

And the exitement builds

Finally, Leslie came by with a big smile

On Friday evening, the five of us went to Flowery Branch High School to participate in the Hall County Relay for Life walk. We were joined by Leslie’s parents, her grandfather and his friend Ethel, our friends Paul & Cindy, Kristin & Kyla, and several of the teachers at Leslie’s school. It was a tremendous time together.

Leslie walked with all the survivors on the first lap. Then we joined her on the second lap for caregivers. The rest of the night we walked, talked, and visited with many people who were there. The kids and I all wore our Cancer Superhero t-shirts.

A lot of money was raised for the American Cancer Society. For us, however, the main point was to celebrate Leslie’s fight against cancer and her continuing recovery. I was particularly proud of her, as well as the kids. They were troopers and lasted until nearly 11 PM. I brought them home, where we arrived with all three of them fast asleep in the back seat.

It’s hard to believe all that Leslie has been through in the past year. But this was a time to reflect on God’s goodness to us through it all, and thank Him again for His care for us.

Tomorrow we will travel to Griffin for my mom’s retirement ceremony. We’re excited for her and are so thankful that she will finally be able to finish at the end of June.

Only seven more days of school until Leslie and the kids are done. Actually, Leslie will have a few more days of post planning, but the big hurdle is getting to the last day of school. We’re all anticipating that!

Just when I think Leslie is improving vastly, she seems to have another setback. I’ll spare you the details, other than to say that it is more stomach issues. I don’t know if this will be her normal for a while or if this too will end soon. I hope that for her sake it is close to over. Her strength does seem to be returning. Tonight, while I was reading to McGrooter and getting him in bed (one really tired little man), she was going over the catechism with the girls. When I went into their room, Aggie promptly recited the answers (with a beaming smile/smirk on her face). The Munch chimed in on a few of the answers from her bottom bunk. It was a fun moment, but McGrooter protested our seeming neglect of him in the practice. Leslie reassured him that she had taught him these things when he was younger, but we haven’t practiced them. It was a good reminder that we need to have another go at it. Even if jealousy was his motivation, I was thankful that he was at least interested.

I’m pretty brain dead tonight and can’t think of any more updates. Thank you to everyone who continues to pray for us. Sometimes it feels so petty sharing our life events on this blog, knowing that so many are dealing with so much more. Yet I feel such a great need for prayer. So thank you!

A few weeks ago I received an email from some friends of mine through MTW, Peter & Stowe Shockey. Stowe has been diagnosed with stage three rectal cancer. I hurt so deeply for them. I guess I am now in tune in a way I haven’t ever been before. You can read their story on their website here.

I first met Peter & Stowe at an MTW event known as the Vision Retreat. This is for people who are seriously interested in missions, and they were praying how the Lord might use them on the foreign field. They are both writers, and Peter is a filmaker. He and I hit it off immediately as he was interested in using film to extend theological education. So we talked shop and exchanged ideas, even though Peter is a professional and I’m just a hack. We’ve stayed in touch and met again this past November at the Global Missions Conference. There they got to meet Leslie and Stowe and Leslie had the opportunity to get to know each other. Little did any of us know the impact that would just a few months down the road.

The Shockeys have two daughters, and I would ask that you pray for their entire family. They have a very difficult road in front of them.

Today, I returned from a short trip to Macon to attend the Central Georgia presbytery meeting. Leslie had a rough day with her stomach and so as she was resting this evening, we read a new blog together. We don’t know these people, but the wife has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. It was sobering to read, but it reminded me of how much we have to be thankful for. You can check out their blog here.

I had the chance on Friday, on my way to Macon, to stop in and have dinner with my parents in Griffin. They took me to J. Henry’s, and we had a wonderful dinner together. We ran into a handful of people there who know Mom and I joked, as I have many times, that I’m going to get a t-shirt made that says “I’m Jody Wallace’s Son.” I’ve rarely gone anywhere in Griffin with her that we haven’t seen someone she knows. Friday night we visited with one of the principals she used to work for and the chairman of the school board (who sent a wonderful piece of cake to our table). It makes me proud of my mom because she has had such an impact in that community. I think they’re really going to miss her when she retires next month. But I am so glad she is finally getting to do so.

I know I am rambling tonight, but my head and heart are full of the many things I have to be thankful for. Coming home always makes me especially thankful for my wife and children. They have been such troopers during the ups and downs of life. Tonight it was such fun to give piggy back rides, and hugs. Spending time with my parents makes me especially thankful to have such opportunities. Even though our visits are so often brief, I am thankful for our relationship and our closeness. I’m thankful for my brother, who I spent years fighting with as a kid, because now we are really good friends. I got to see him briefly on Friday in between church visits and have lunch with him. His unconditional love for me is refreshing. I am thankful for the Body of Christ, as I witnessed a presbytery meeting today, during which men graciously dealt with the “business” of the church and shepherding their flocks. I am thankful for the Timberlakes, who graciously hosted me in their home Friday evening, and cared for me as a friend even though they didn’t know me. Most of all I am thankful for a God who loves me, and continues to do so. I’m thankful for His care for me, even when I feel like my life is a wreck, and the constant reminders of His graciousness to me through my family.