So here we are we at Labor Day Weekend. It's the last gasp before fall sets in. It's also a chance to take a look back at some of the things that happened over the summer. And it is the last moment to make sure that plans are secure for the Christmas season.
Chances are you haven't planned a single present for Christmas, where those of us in the church work community are already in full swing in terms of getting ready for the season.
First things first. What I did on my summer vacation. For the first time (and quite possibly the last), I took an exteneded vacation, a sabbatical. My plan for the time off was to record music, catch up with my family. I acheived at least a part of that, because I spent a good amount of time with my family, doing stuff that we don't get much time to do because of the time necessary to do my job. Lots of trips to Disneyland, a trip to the beach and alot of time hanging out around the house.
The sabbatical took a dramatically different turn. After much discussion and prayer, my wife and I decided to start a small business taking advantage of some of the skills that I have and the demand that seemed to be there for those services. We started planning and getting some of the necessary paperwork done almost immediately. Before long we had a name, a website and a plan to help make ends meet a little better.
A week into the time off, our little man fell off of a chair and broke his elbow (or at least suffered some trauma there) and got his first cast. That eliminated some of the plans that we had made. No beach trips, or hanging out in the sand. No hanging out in the pool or doing anything that might jeopardize the healing of his arm. The best thing that came as a result of that is that it forced us to hang out around the house and rest.
Having kids around does not lend itself to writing much music, so that part of the time off did not meet the goal. That may take actually getting away and spending some time concentrating on writing and recording alone. And it seems that it may be a while before that happens, because....
Jessica is pregnant!!! and for anyone who knows our story, this is huge. She had suffered three miscarriages over the past year and it seemed that having a third child was going to be pretty tough. But pretty close to the beginning of the sabbatical, we found out that she was pregnant and actually saw the little baby jumping around, getting ready for the challenge it will be to be the little brother or sister to Olin and Sammy. Just a little word to the unborn child. REST NOW!!! We are excited and will be looking forward to having the baby in February, and NO we don't know what it is, and may not find out. Stay tuned.
I have been back to work for a month now, and have been trying to get back into the swing of things. Meetings, piles of email, voice mails and unfinished business from the summer took a couple of weeks to catch up with, but now, attention turns to the fall rehearsal and Christmas event season.
So today is a pause, a last gasp before the true fun begins.
I felt led to plan an event that would involve several local churches, and on December 4th, I will work with the city of Yucaipa to create a memorable Christmas tree lighting event. We are going to have the combined choirs and orchestra from area churches to perform a concert at the conclusion of the lighting. A huge undertaking, but one I think will be a blessing to the community, a great opportunity for local churches to work together, and I think it will be a really cool way to introduce Jesus to the community in a non-threatening way.
Then, there is the opportunity to lead the choir for the Steve Green concert that will take place in mid-December. Lots of rehearsals and planning will go into the event, but it will be another opportunity to get different people together to accomplish a common goal.
Add those events to the regular duties I have at the church, the new business I am trying to get started, and trying to take care of my family, and I may need a vacation at the end of the year.
But for right now, I am just going to turn off the computer and get ready for the last third of the year and all of the blessing that are to come.
After all, this weekend is the "gateway to Christmas"
