Mid-October

Well, its been a few weeks since we've blogged.  As always, lots has changed.  Sophia has finally decided that it would be good to sleep through the night again!  YEAH for us!!!  Since last Friday, she has slept in her own bed and not woke up once at night.  This is a HUGE change because for the last 7-8 weeks we were use to getting up with her 4-6 times a night.  The first night she slept through the night, I didn't know what to do...I kept waking up and wondering what's going on.  I think she's going through a growth spurt, but I truly hope it lasts for a while.  Have a few nights in a row of good sleep has been wonderful!!  Sophia and the rest of our families are getting ready to celebrate her 1st BIRTHDAY!!!  I can't believe its been almost a year.  Wow, times flies, but we sure are having fun.  The past 3 days, I was able to spend with colleagues and friends for NEIA synod at our Fall Theological Conference in Dubuque.  So, I got to sleep in my own bed while hang out with friends and listen to the President of Wartburg Seminary talk about leadership.  Always a good topic when working in the church.  It felt so good to be with the NEIA synod again.

Paul is staying busy with classes, writing papers, studying, reading, reading, and reading!!!  We try each day to spent a little time together as a family and eat at least one meal together.  He works really hard and I'm VERY proud of him and all that he has accomplished in following his call.  I love him dearly, but its amazing to see him thrive in seminary and build some very strong relationships with his classmates.  Basketball season for the Runnin' Reformers starts on Oct. 29th (Sophia's 1st b-day)!!!  Paul and I both are subs on the Wartburg volleyball team.  Yes Paul came to seminary to learn and be a pastor, but there are also a few sports teams to be involved in and its a good stress reliever!!!  Paul has his CPE interview coming up at the end of October.  After the interview, he will be applying to CPE sites for the summer 2013.  More than likely, we will leave a part for the summer and try to see each other when we can.  There are no CPE sites in Dubuque.  Paul is also going to Germany for J-term in 2013....I'm still trying to decide if I can go.  Finances are the huge factor and then what do we do with Sophia, but it would a chance of a lifetime and something we both won't regret.  I'm excited he's going!!!  Its a good group of people going and a fantastic professor that is leading the group.

Carlos....well we don't hear from him much, but he's coming home Nov. 2-4 for Sophia's b-day party.  We are all excited to see him.  Sophia and I surprised Carlos on Thursday, October 4th when Grandview and Wartburg College played soccer in Waverly.  We drove to see him play and spend a little time together after the game.  I'm not sure who was more excited to see who....Sophia or Carlos.  Below is a picture of the two of them at his soccer game.  Carlos is doing well with soccer and in class (so he says).  He seems to be enjoying his time at Grandview.  He turned 19 years old on October 9th which is so hard to believe.  He's been a part of our family for 6 years now.

My call is going well in Cuba City, WI and I enjoy working on campus.  This community is a good fit for our family and we have some good people who take care of us here.  Sophia stays busy with all her neighborhood friends.  Below is a picture of Sophia with our good friends kids.

We are blessed to be at seminary and God continues to walk with us in this journey.  We are excited to see God's plans for us as a family, but we know that we are following God's call here at Wartburg.  Our family is happy and it feels good to be here.

Thanks for your continued support, prayers, and friendship.  We love hearing from our friends and family and try to visit people as much as we can.  Happy Mid- October.  Enjoy the blesses that God has given us through the changing of colors and trees and the beautiful Iowa country as we give thanks for the farmers and the harvest season!!!