Weekly post

March 17, 2008

Dear friends,
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Spring "break" is over, and I promised I would tell you all about it this week. Last Sunday through Tuesday (March 9-11), I attended Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary's "Seminary Days," an orientation for incoming students and a presentation for prospective students. The 3 1/2-hour drive was not at all bad, and the visit was exhausting but very positive. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting students and faculty and seeing the small campus, which is about the size of the quad and surrounding buildings at Wake Forest. The person in charge very kindly made sure that I met with the financial and housing people and the adviser for Luther Year students (who just happens to be the dean). It looks as though I'll be taking Lutheran Confessions, Lutheranism in North America, parish administration, and a preaching elective in the fall, Theology of Martin Luther, senior worship practicum, and a biblical elective in the spring. And, the big plus, of course, is that after the two semesters, the school places me in a one-year associate's position. It lasts only a year ... but it's a lovely experience to add to the resume.

So I returned from that jaunt on Tuesday evening. On Friday morning early, we set out for Mark's regional dental lab association meeting at a hotel in North Myrtle Beach. Mark sat in meetings and got credit hours, while I supervised the children at the pool and beach. It was on the cool side for my taste part of the time, but I did spend some time playing with the children in the pool, and Mark did too on Saturday when he finished his obligations.

On Saturday evening, it looked as though rain were coming in (boy, did it!), so we went to a seafood buffet (our vegetarian had macaroni, green beans, and a roll) and then to a mall with a movie theater, where we window-shopped and then went to see "Horton Hears a Who." We left for home Sunday morning and arrived about noon, in time to watch the very exciting ACC final! Go Tar Heels!

I even got some work done over the weekend, completing an introduction for the senior project (required) ... it ended up being 17 double-spaced pages, and I'm rather pleased with it. I hope to get the illustrations scanned this week. On Sunday evening, I met up with a classmate in Greensboro to plan a presentation on "The Eucharistic Theology of John Calvin" for class Tuesday evening.

The next couple of weeks bode busy for me, but truly, the end is in sight! I foresee me coasting to the finish line after another four weeks or so.

Grace and peace,
Beth

P.S. I expect to get the financial aid letter from Southern in about a month. Pray, hold your breath, and cross your fingers!