Monday morning in a different way

Shake the week up and start off with some random thoughts on a Monday morning (instead of on my usual Friday favorite).

• Last night we got to be a part of a surprise going away party for Kim. Sam and Kim are venturing out for the next couple of years to live outside the United States. (She promised to be back by the time Caleb graduates from high school in 5 years - Wow! That is a strange statement to write.) Lisa and I were discussing that we have had the chance to serve in youth ministry for at least 14 years with Kim (and Sam for parts of that time). It has been a privilege to get to see an example of a couple who is pursuing Jesus with their entire lives that up close over that long of a period. They have left a huge impact on the students over the years in probably more ways than they even realize. They will be missed, but we know that will be used in some new ways where they will be living now. Who is willing to step up and serve for the next 10 years? We have some big shoes to fill.
• Decided on Friday to jump in and participate in the B90X experience. Wondering what that is? Well, basically it is a reading plan to read through the Bible in 90 days. Read about it on Steven Furtick's blog awhile back and promptly forgot about it, but Sheyenne (who happens to be Sam and Kim's daughter) wrote about it on her blog and her reasons for jumping in and trying it. Sounded good to me, so here we go. A year seems like a long time, but 90 days seems manageable to me. Plus I might be able to remember what I read 90 days ago, but a year ago, not so much. It is a little strange to realize that I've already read through Genesis and it has only been 4 days ago that I started. Hook up the fire hydrant and forget about drinking it in slowly!
• I wish that people came with manuals. I really could use a manual that tells me how to best communicate to a person and understand what makes them tick. The process of trying something that doesn't work and then trying another way takes a lot of time. I guess that way we actually learn it instead of memorizing it for the test and then forgetting about it though. Some people are definitely tough for me to figure out (actually to even kind of understand, forget about figuring them out).
• Jumped in the scary process of putting some of my thoughts out there for people to read. I've been toying with the idea of trying to put some of my writing in a book for a little while now. After a pep talk and some pushing, I actually have written some stuff and e-mailed it to some friends to read today. Strange process to me, but I kind of enjoy it. May not go anywhere other than a few people, but I think it may be more about me sorting through some of my thoughts and being able to communicate them to others. We will see it where it goes after I get back their thoughts.
• Get to take in a couple of Cardinals and Dodgers games over the next couple of days. Should be fun and it has been a couple of years since I've been to a game. Cardinals games always make me think of my grandpa. When I was growing up we would pretty much always go to St. Louis at least once a year to watch a game and taking in the zoo, Arch, etc. He was a huge Cardinals fan. Will be at Dodgers stadium for the first time so that will be different and fun. Not a huge baseball fan (start watching about the playoffs), but really like the experience of a live game.

Hope your Monday starts your week off in a good way! Catch you in a couple of days as I won't have access to a computer the next several days. Good to unplug every once in awhile.