The Roller Coaster Week

Hello!  

I wanted to write a quick note to say that we are doing very well!  The past week and a half has been a whirl wind!  Here's a bit of a timeline:

Saturday, May 19th:  Two of our great friends were married in Holland, MI, and Jeff was a groomsman.  For those of you who know him, we got to dance that night with Dr. Billings - A - wait for it - MAZING!

Sunday, May 20th:  We drove the 11 hours out to Sibley, Iowa, arriving around supper time.  That evening I spent time with my mom, while Jeff and Britta took Ahbea and Aysha for a walk.

Monday, May 21st:  The morning was spent watching the Christmas episode of Downton Abbey and buying flowers.  In the afternoon and evening, Jeff and I went to Alton Reformed where we met with the East Sioux Classis.  

Tuesday, May 22nd:  We were back in Alton, Iowa, by 8:30, where we waited until 2:15 for my exams to come around.  My parents and Jeff were able to sit in, along with many of my favorite people in our classis.  My exams were on the Polity and Standards of the RCA, as well as the History and Missions of the RCA.  There were actually some great discussions, and I found out soon after that I had passed.  We stayed and listened to my classmates give their theology exams.  Then we drove to Sheldon, Iowa, and watched Jurnea and the Generals win in their first game of the season!  Jurnea pitched and batted very well :D.  We also got to spend time with my Grandmas and my cousin Allison whom we hadn't seen since our wedding.

Wednesday, May 23rd:  Got up early again, and drove the 11 hours back to Holland, MI.  We did some final packing, talked to Jeff's family for a while, and then were in bed.

Thursday, May 24th:  Woke up at 4:30 and made the 4ish hour drive to CEDAR POINT (booya).  After Top Thrill Dragster, Millenium Force (with a great friend, Valorie Love), Magnium twice, the Raptor, Maverick, and many more, we were POOPED by 8:30.  

Friday, May 25th:  Woke up...a little later...and drove 8 more hours until we arrived in Theresa, New York, where we will actually be staying (what sleeping in the same state as the night before?!) for the next 10 weeks.  The town is small, and absolutely gorgeous.  The people are wonderful, and very welcoming.  We are living in a home of a lady named Olive, who now lives in a nursing home.  She is in her 90's so at times we feel as though we are living in our great grandmother's home (her daughter even put m&m's in the candy dish :D).  We have loved it so far.

Saturday, May 26th:  Spent the day unpacking and getting acquainted with the area.  The pastor owns a small camp resort area, and we watched the sunset on the St. Lawrence River with his family, as well as played games with them. 

Sunday, May 27th:  Went to church - We really enjoyed the sharing of joys and concerns in the congregation.  There is such a comfortable air, that everyone feels encouraged to introduce new people, voice prayer concerns, and shout out praises.  It was beautiful.  We ate lunch with Pastor Bob's family.  Then we went down town and worked at the church's Hot Dog stand which was set up for the Memorial Day parade.  It was kind of like working the Tropical Sno stand, except Keshia wasn't there to rap with me.  We had a lot of fun, but were also pretty tired after that.  Spent a relaxed evening.

Monday, May 28th:  Memorial Day - In the afternoon we were invited to a couple from the church's home for a party.  Daryl and Gale are alpaca farmers, and we spent about 30 minutes petting and playing with the alpacas!!  It was so much fun!!  

Tuesday, May 29th:  We have been exploring the area with some new friends of our from the congregation.  We have been so blessed to come here, and are having a great time!!  

Chelsea

Pointed Hats and Billowing Robes

We have not posted for a while!!  Soon we will be writing of the summer, and then there will be more to come.   As of right now, we are in the mist of packing, preparing to move into our new home in the fall, and getting ready to go to New York for the summer.  All of this is piled on top of Jeff and I both having Classis Exams, and many of our dear friends graduating.  I can say in full confidence that I am not complaining in any of these changes, and have actually enjoyed most of all of it (even studying RCA History).  I do wish my classmates the VERY BEST, but it will be hard to watch them walk across the stage, for I will miss them so much.

Most of the Western Theological Seminary Class of 2012 in the In Residence program began three this journey three years ago with me.  We danced together at Tim and Nancy's.  We cried together at the Junior Retreat.  We wrote projects together, ate together, went on trips together, translated together, shared life together, and even played some ping-pong and golf together.  And here we are for most of us:  at the end of this three year time together.  In proper counseling fashion, I know that I can say I will mourn this transition of not seeing my class daily.  I am extremely excited for the friends staying, and the new friendships which will begin, but I must recognize the fact that this time is coming to a close.  Next year when I walk down the seminary halls, Keith will not be there to give me a fist-bump.  There will be no cowboy hats from Chiapas.  No little Zoe calling for her mom as she sings up by the organ.  Jen won't be doing announcements, and Marla won't be there to make them.  Whenever Shell Silverstein is referenced, it will be less funny.  There will be fewer Star Wars references in my life, and not as many people around me telling me their latest Lord of the Rings insight.  I will miss these people dearly, and I struggle to think that we will not be together in classes any longer.

I do think there is a beauty to our small denomination (and can connect the PCUSA and the CRC in with this comment):  we like to stay connected.  I have ENJOYED learning with my classmates, but I think this past year has shown me that I will LOVE serving and leading together with them even more.  The LORD has been preparing each of us to come to seminary in order that we might not all stay in classrooms together.  We were meant to come here, because we were meant to continue in our calling.  While it is bittersweet to see all of my friends leaving this Stemed Town, they (WE) were never meant to stay in this specific place.  Some may stay in Holland, but they were will be pastors and teachers.  We (All of the Church) were meant to grow, following where God is leading, and impacting lives along the way.  These seems like a sappy graduation speech, but it is true.  We are created and formed for something larger than we can imagine.  Let us go forth and witness....

Butterflies and Beaches

This weekend part of my (Chelsea) came to visit Jeff and me!  We had fun staying busy outside for most of the weekend.  On Friday we visited with the family I nanny - Aysha and the boys had a blast racing cars and building with magnetiles.  We then went to Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids.  For those of you who have never been, for two months in the spring they have a beautiful butterfly garden with hundreds of different kinds of butterflies.  Jurnea took many pictures of the different kinds with her camera she got for Christmas.  Aysha was a bit timid and held on to my arm for dear life, but she told me all the different colors she saw.  After we saw the butterflies, we went to the Children's Garden outside, and Aysha, Jeff, and I played on their tree house.  We saw their large horse statue, and by then we were all a bit pooped.  We stopped by to visit Jeff's sister, Cassie, and then met some of our friends (Steven, Joanna, and Caedmon) at Bangkok Taste in Jenison.  Bangkok Taste is one of the best Thai restaurants I have ever been to.  Joanna and I both had the chicken curry pad thai, and were blissfully happy about our decisions :).  Jeff got his favorite - Sesame Chicken - a little bit hotter than he has before, and he too was happy.  When we got back we played games with everyone and included our good friend Elsie.  Elsie also did some henna art on Jurnea's foot.  Henna is a plant based skin dye which stays on for approximately three weeks.  Elsie does beautiful patterns of flowers, birds, trees...pretty much anything you would like.  Friday was a full day, and we were all tired that night.

The next morning Jeff and I went to a CCDA (Christian Community Development Association) meeting at Community Fourth Reformed.  We sat by two girls who will be in the Hope Neighbors house we will be living in next year.  Kathleen did an excellent job of keeping our discussions focused specifically on how we as a community can live intentionally in the neighborhood while also knowing we will only be there for a year.  It was wonderful to talk about relocation, reconciliation, and redistribution in light of living in Christian community.  One specific think we discussed about reconciliation that I can share is that we recognized that all brokenness is not from God, and all restoration is.  We talked about how across the globe, whether people are Christian or not, where there is reconciliation, God is working and is being praised.  We as Christians are able to name and give credit to the One who is at the center of restoration.  All reconciliation is intentional - one man said "we will never know each other until we experience each other, and we will never experience each other until we do it intentionally."  How am I living intentionally?  Is listening purposefully the beginning of reconciliation?  I feel like this is true.

At noon, Jeff and I brought my family to City Vu Bistro - a restaurant in Holland that is one of few in the world that is completely earth friendly.  Mom, Jeff, and I each got different flat breads which were AMAZING!  Jurnea and Patrick each got burgers and I'm pretty sure enjoyed them as well.  Aysha had root chips and really enjoyed playing with their long silverware :).

We went to the Tunnel Park beach after that (yet again - 75 degrees...amazing).  The last time Aysha had been to the beach she would not put her feet on the sand. She curled up her little legs if we tried to put her on the ground.  THIS time she was running in the waves, and at one point was buried all except for her head in sand.  She played so hard she fell asleep before we got back to our home.  For supper we went to Goog's - a family favorite.  Goog's is a burger place where my sister Keshia said she would drive to Michigan simply to get a burger.  I had the Phoenix (jalapeno bacon, pepper jack cheese, chipotle mayonaise, and veggies), Jeff and Mom had Lynn's Ultimate (mushrooms, green olive sauce, veggies, and swiss cheese), Jurnea had a club burger (on sour dough bread) and Patrick had the Philly Burger (green peppers, onions, Provolone cheese, and horseradish sauce).  We were all stuffed - including Aysha who by the end of the night had eaten about half of a 1/2 burger and two pickles!  We played outside and then some Phase 10 and Seven Wonders before going to sleep.  Once again, a very full day but one filled with a lot of fun!

Smiles from this week

This weekend was busy for Jeff - preaching, a short paper, and a project were some of the things he was working on.  This meant for me that I had some time to fill.  On Saturday I enjoyed putzing around at Diddos (a Christian second hand store here in Holland - it is so big and fun!  Anyone who has never been, totally needs to visit.), Bed Bath and Beyond, and Target (where I found the second season of Downton Abbey - who knew that was out in the States yet?!  A quick run down of the show:  this British miniseries aired on BBC and was so popular that it made its way to PBS here in the States.  Season one begins the morning after the Titanic sunk.  The story is of a wealthy family in England and all those who work in their home.  The first season spans between the Titanic to the brink of WWI.  The second is primarily about WWI and how no matter where you are economically, you are effected by the war.  A lovely show.  Everyone should watch it :)).  It was a really relaxing afternoon.

My sister-in-law has also been home for the past week for Spring Break.  We got to go out to eat, see a musical and spend many hours together as Jeff worked on his projects.  Cassie and I had so much fun!  There were times we laughed so hard we cried.  I am so happy to has her as a sister now too :).

One book I re-read lately has been The Last Battle, from C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia.  I feel like it has been influencing much of what I think about.  One of the many beautiful parts is when they have all begun to go "further up and further in" towards Aslan's garden.  The group has realized that the place where they are is the new, real Narnia.  They are trying to figure it out, how they are looking at something completely new but also exactly what they have known.  The narration picks up, and says,

"It is hard to explain how this sunlit land was different from the old Narnia.  Perhaps you will get some idea of it, if you think like this.  You may have been in a room in which there was a window that looked out on a lovely bay of the sea or a green valley that wound away among the mountains.  And in the wall of the room opposite to the window there may have been a looking glass.  And as you turned away from the window you suddenly caught sight of the sea or that valley, all over again, in the looking glass.  And the sea in the mirror, or the valley in the mirror, were in one sense just the same as the real ones:  yet at the same time they were somehow different - deeper, more wonderful, more like places in a story:  in a story you have never heard but very much want to know.  The difference between the old Narnia and the new Narnia was like that."

I feel as though I have had moments like that, when you can smell the dust and see the colors more deeply than you can in the real thing.  My aunt Hedy used to have this large blue mirror in her bedroom when I was little and she still lived at Grandpa and Grandma's house.  I used to go up there and spend time looking in the mirror.  Behind me I could see out the two windows to the large lawn and then to the corn fields past.  I remember that in that mirror the corn always looked richer and the sky always bluer.  I remember sitting and just watching the reflection, feeling a sense of excitement.  When I read this part of the book, I was amazed that C.S. Lewis described the new creation with that same feeling.  Can it be that we get glimpses of the new creation everyday if we pause to look at them?  How beautiful is creation now - this of what it will be to come!  I guess I wanted to share that because it got me pretty excited and made me smile :).

The Purpose

I (Chelsea) begin this blog while sitting in our apartment in Holland, MI.  Jeff is at Hebrew tonight, and after reading one of my friends blogs, I realized many people had asked us when we were going to start a blog.  I thought...why not tonight?!  So here it is.  The name comes from one of the boys I nanny during the week (Elijah).  He is two and right now his favorite book is a children's version of The Pilgrim's Progress entitled The Long Journey, except Elijah can't say Journey yet (he also can't quite say "Chelsea" yet either so he calls me Ella) so when he wants to read the book he exclaims, "Ella!  Long Walk!"  I realized how fitting a name it was for life.  As we live and breathe in our life in Christ, we slowly become more like him through the Holy Spirit (theological term:  sanctification).  It is a slow, life long process.  A long walk with Christ into a deeper relationship with the LORD.  So, Elijah, while you didn't mean to, you are very theologically correct and inspiring.  I also think the name is open to a lot of things...our travels, daily life, food...basically anything in Jeff and my journey of our marriage together as well as all that theological stuff I talked about earlier :).

I am excited to start writing, and so we begin.