Wow! July was the last time I posted? I am so sorry for my delinquency. So, Dana went to C.P.E. in Missouri and came back home the middle of August for one week before the kids started school back up and then he started his classes the week after them. Not much down time around here, but it was great to have him back home. The summer actually went pretty quickly for the kids & I and Dana had a really great experience as a hospital Chaplain for the summer.
Classes started back up at seminary and that means no more sleep for Dana. Anxiety and stress=sleepless nights for Dana. But, he is trudging (is that a word?) through and doing quite well in his classes, although is very modest and would never admit that.
Today two members of his Candidacy Committee from our home synod came to town to interview him and decide if he was where he should be in the process and they decided that he is! Woo HOOOOOOOO! Not only was it a good day because he is recommended for endorsement, but it was so great to see somebody from "home". We feel so alone here at times and disconnected from our old life. It was just really great to feel connected with something from home if only for an hour!
I had such good intentions of writing a letter for our home congregation's newsletter every month, which is a joke because I haven't even done one yet. We think of not only our family often but also all our friends in our home congregation. We miss that congregation more than I ever thought I would! I think they have no clue what is entailed with seminary and seminary life. I don't remember any of the past seminarians talking about it with us as a congregation. I am feeling lead to shed some light on Emmanuel! I am hopeful that Dana and I, or just me, can come tell our story of what this is and has been like.
A great day is coming to an end. I am feeling so good about having blogged tonight...I might even try to do it again tomorrow. Who knows, I might surprise our two followers! Good night!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Summer Fun!
Dana has been in Missouri for nine weeks and will be home in only three more! We are on the count down now! We went down last weekend to see him and play in St. Joseph, MO. On Sunday of that weekend we traveled through many acres of corn fields to a little church in a small town where Dana gave a sermon. It was really great, he was like a real pastor with a strong presence and a very nice sermon with a very good message! I was so proud and it just re-affirmed that we are right where we are supposed to be. And it was kind of fun to "play" Pastor's wife and family for a day... the entire congregation was so welcoming and kind to us all. It was a great day and experience! After a year of such ups and downs, it was so nice to have that feeling of "peace" that we are on the right path!
I have been a single parent all summer now and am holding up okay, although I am anxious for Dana's return. I definitely have more compassion for all the parents in the world who do it on their own all the time, that's for sure. That has been my lesson learned this summer. I know Dana has learned alot from CPE... I could see it in how he was with the congregation that Sunday. It has not been easy for him to be away from the girls and of course his loving wife, but he is holding up well!
As far as the girls go, Hannah scored her first goal in her game last week...woohoo and assisted in two other goals! Another proud moment...she was so cute and modest, if you can believe that! Hailey just completed swim lessons and if she could only get her butt out of the air and under water when she "dives", she would be a supreme diver! Her head goes down and the buns go up! Hilarious to watch...she passed everything else though and loves to swim. That has been a favorite pass time of ours in this hot midwest sun! Dubuque has a great city pool that we have been utilizing very regularly.
Wartburg Seminary is hopping as all of the new families and students finished moving in over the weekend and they began Greek yesterday! I have been busy in the neighborhood meeting and greeting all the newbies and trying to save them from some of the stress I/we went through. Hoping to help show the wives the ropes a little quicker than I learned them. Although it's a transition that everybody will handle and process differently.
Dana and I are both really excited for this upcoming year! We feel like we have a leg up with one year under our belts! Atleast we know better what to expect as far as time constraints and finances! In the fall we will interview as a couple for our Internship placement, although we won't find out until Mar/Apr where we actually will go! It's still exciting though!
My Mom is flying in on Monday to stay with the girls, while I work a conference I've been planning for FRB in Moline, Illinois. In your spare time look up foodsresourcebank.org - that is the organization I'm working for and am really excited to get something going in WA and ID when I can!
That's all for now... I'll try better to update weekly!
I have been a single parent all summer now and am holding up okay, although I am anxious for Dana's return. I definitely have more compassion for all the parents in the world who do it on their own all the time, that's for sure. That has been my lesson learned this summer. I know Dana has learned alot from CPE... I could see it in how he was with the congregation that Sunday. It has not been easy for him to be away from the girls and of course his loving wife, but he is holding up well!
As far as the girls go, Hannah scored her first goal in her game last week...woohoo and assisted in two other goals! Another proud moment...she was so cute and modest, if you can believe that! Hailey just completed swim lessons and if she could only get her butt out of the air and under water when she "dives", she would be a supreme diver! Her head goes down and the buns go up! Hilarious to watch...she passed everything else though and loves to swim. That has been a favorite pass time of ours in this hot midwest sun! Dubuque has a great city pool that we have been utilizing very regularly.
Wartburg Seminary is hopping as all of the new families and students finished moving in over the weekend and they began Greek yesterday! I have been busy in the neighborhood meeting and greeting all the newbies and trying to save them from some of the stress I/we went through. Hoping to help show the wives the ropes a little quicker than I learned them. Although it's a transition that everybody will handle and process differently.
Dana and I are both really excited for this upcoming year! We feel like we have a leg up with one year under our belts! Atleast we know better what to expect as far as time constraints and finances! In the fall we will interview as a couple for our Internship placement, although we won't find out until Mar/Apr where we actually will go! It's still exciting though!
My Mom is flying in on Monday to stay with the girls, while I work a conference I've been planning for FRB in Moline, Illinois. In your spare time look up foodsresourcebank.org - that is the organization I'm working for and am really excited to get something going in WA and ID when I can!
That's all for now... I'll try better to update weekly!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Update on the Girls!
Hannah loved their new elementary school and will go into the second grade in the fall. She loves to read and is very good at math and art...she is wicked smart like her Dad and the conversations they have together are over my head most of the time!
This summer she is playing soccer for the first time and I haven't laughed so hard in a long time! She dances on the field more than she chases the ball! She has a great kick when she notices that the ball is coming her way, but she's usually too busy striking a pose to keep track of where the ball is! I love her spirit and silliness as well as her tender heart!
She still loves to entertain and is asking to take a dance class in the fall. Her favorite things are barbies, horses and more horses. It's too bad we don't have a horse and probably won't for a very long time if ever, but she dreams of riding one someday! She is a natural with all of the neighborhood pets and they all like her. She has been asked to care for a few of the neighboring dogs while their families travel and she is loving it!
Eight years old she will turn this summer and it truly seems like yesterday that we brought her home and I started crying on the way home from the hospital because I didn't know how I would leave her to go back to work. Poor Dana, I'm sure he was wondering what he had gotten himself into!
Hailey also loves their new school and she will be entering the first grade in the fall. She loves art and recess! Just like me. Oh and she loves science. She always want to do an experiment or make a "potion". She is a nurturer to the core and loves all of the babies in our community. I've noticed she's been giving me lots of extra hugs and kisses since her Daddy left for Missouri, just warms my heart because I know she's doing that for me not because she needs extras right now!
The other day she told me that she is ready to babysit... she's old enough now you know, she's six! And a half! She just lost her first tooth two days ago and thankfully she happened to be at the dentist for a check-up with a really loose tooth and he just quick numbed it and plucked it right out! I almost did a happy dance I was so excited that I didn't have to pull it! Not one of my favorite jobs. That night the toothfairy came, she is completely fascinated with the thought of pixie/fairies being in the woods behind our home, anyways there was fairy/pixie dust on the dollar and she was sooo excited. Now she talks with a slight lisp... so cute!
Hailey is a collector of many things....rocks, paper scraps, anything from the garbage or recycling bin that she can use to make something. That can be gross sometimes, but she says she want to "invent" things and oh does she!
As for her collections, one night recently I went to tuck her into bed and happened to feel something under her pillow and found a stash of tootsie rolls and lollipops under there, along with quite a few empty wrappers from consumption! She must have been sneaking them out of the kitchen one at a time and hiding them upstairs. She's sneaky like that ... plotting and planning always!
Two silly sisters who are the best of friends... most of the time! I am so proud of them both and couldn't have received two better gifts from God!
This summer she is playing soccer for the first time and I haven't laughed so hard in a long time! She dances on the field more than she chases the ball! She has a great kick when she notices that the ball is coming her way, but she's usually too busy striking a pose to keep track of where the ball is! I love her spirit and silliness as well as her tender heart!
She still loves to entertain and is asking to take a dance class in the fall. Her favorite things are barbies, horses and more horses. It's too bad we don't have a horse and probably won't for a very long time if ever, but she dreams of riding one someday! She is a natural with all of the neighborhood pets and they all like her. She has been asked to care for a few of the neighboring dogs while their families travel and she is loving it!
Eight years old she will turn this summer and it truly seems like yesterday that we brought her home and I started crying on the way home from the hospital because I didn't know how I would leave her to go back to work. Poor Dana, I'm sure he was wondering what he had gotten himself into!
Hailey also loves their new school and she will be entering the first grade in the fall. She loves art and recess! Just like me. Oh and she loves science. She always want to do an experiment or make a "potion". She is a nurturer to the core and loves all of the babies in our community. I've noticed she's been giving me lots of extra hugs and kisses since her Daddy left for Missouri, just warms my heart because I know she's doing that for me not because she needs extras right now!
The other day she told me that she is ready to babysit... she's old enough now you know, she's six! And a half! She just lost her first tooth two days ago and thankfully she happened to be at the dentist for a check-up with a really loose tooth and he just quick numbed it and plucked it right out! I almost did a happy dance I was so excited that I didn't have to pull it! Not one of my favorite jobs. That night the toothfairy came, she is completely fascinated with the thought of pixie/fairies being in the woods behind our home, anyways there was fairy/pixie dust on the dollar and she was sooo excited. Now she talks with a slight lisp... so cute!
Hailey is a collector of many things....rocks, paper scraps, anything from the garbage or recycling bin that she can use to make something. That can be gross sometimes, but she says she want to "invent" things and oh does she!
As for her collections, one night recently I went to tuck her into bed and happened to feel something under her pillow and found a stash of tootsie rolls and lollipops under there, along with quite a few empty wrappers from consumption! She must have been sneaking them out of the kitchen one at a time and hiding them upstairs. She's sneaky like that ... plotting and planning always!
Two silly sisters who are the best of friends... most of the time! I am so proud of them both and couldn't have received two better gifts from God!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Helsing's life this past year...
Almost one year ago we moved our family to Iowa so that Dana could fulfill his call to ministry by attending a Lutheran Seminary! The roadtrip from Washington state to Iowa started out as an adventure and by the end of day four we were all worn out and more than ready to see our new home for the first time! We rolled into town, after driving through the most horrific rain storm I've ever experienced, quickly unloaded our car and truck (which held all of our belongings!) and crashed to sleep on our wet mattress in the most humid air I've ever been in! We were wondering at that moment if we were missing some signs from God or if we were on the right path!
Three days later Dana started his Summer Greek. This was a six week long course that had to be completed by the incoming class before fall semester began. Once that started the girls and I rarely saw Dana. He was up and gone before the crack of dawn and usually came home after we were in bed for the night. When he wasn't in class he was studying at the library on campus or with his study group - actually studying! Not exactly what we were expecting as far as time for our family, but it was only going to be for six weeks... so we figured we could make it through our lack of time together and his daily migraines. Just learn the greek and move on to the next!
Then he began fall semester and the real fun began. The schdule didn't really let up, just different classes, but now on top of that I was working and the girls were in school. You would think that would make things easier, but our life just seemed to get more chaotic and feel more out of control in many ways. Life as we had known it was over! No more easy weeks of Dana working four ten hour days and me being home with the kids. Now on top of his full schedule at school and his part-time school job I was working nights and weekends and we both were overwhelmed with trying to get some sort of routine for our family's sake and time together at some point before winter hit! Our home had a swinging door and it seemed we were never in it at the same time. It became depressing! We had no family here and the job I got was a blessing, but not at all what I had envisioned and the pay was definitely not what we were counting on before moving our family out here. Oh.. and did I mention that there were quite a few "major" costs associated with seminary that we were not aware of before coming here? And that Dana would be gone for a few weeks in January and for the entire summer in a chaplainacy training program, which we also had to pay for on top of tuition! Feeling more overwhelmed at this point. What would we do with the kids all summer, my minimum wage job was not even paying all of our living expenses and that didn't include full-time summer daycare!
What else to do but PRAY and have FAITH... all the time! I felt as though we had hit rock bottom in so many ways and had been humiliated in ways that I never fathomed. I had to rely on God and his plan for us at that point. Dana was so focused on school and had to be because of the intensity of the studies and the load of reading and writing of papers was beyond human ability! A wise upperclassmen told us early that Dana would have to "pick and choose the assigned reading materials because there is no way to actually complete all that are assigned in a semester". That should have been our first red flag... we were still in our happy bubble at that point though and oblivious. Ignorance is bliss.... for a while anyways!
Dana worked really hard and completed all of his classes fall semester and then had a nice winter break to decompress and relax a bit. He was able to be home with the girls during their break from school which was great! Dana was scheduled to travel to North Dakota for a week of "Rural Immersion" in January to complete his J-Term requirement, but the trip was cancelled due to severe weather conditions there. The farmers had no time to host guests as they were too busy trying to keep their livestock alive. Understandable.
I was still working for the craft store, but had transferred to a new department and around this time requested as consistent of a schedule as my boss could offer for our family's sake. He was very accomodating and did what he could, although it's retail and weekends are always required! I was feeling better that atleast we could have dinner together as a family a couple of nights a week, but still sad to not be with the girls during the week (they are in school) and then have to leave them on the weekends.
Then spring came. Yippee!! Spring has always been one of my favorite seasons and this year it proved to be the best for me personally! Things started to take a turn for the better. Around April we knew where Dana would be spending his summer, which turned out to be St. Joseph, Missouri in a hospital there that would provide him with room and board and an excellent program as well! This was exciting as we didn't know how we could/would afford to set him up with a place to live while he did this course. There are no local hospitals in Dubuque that can fulfill this particular requirement. So, he would be about six hours away which is manageable for us to go visit him when we can. We still had to figure out what to do with the girls for the summer. Our finances were drained before Winter semester even began and we decided we could live off of our IRS refund! Feels like we're going backwards in life! But God provided almost to the dollar just enough to get us through summer without me working. No extra and no room for error...nothing could break down and we would have no gas money to see Dana, but our girls would be cared for by their Mom! No idea what I would do in the fall for a job, but we felt certain that I could get another minimum wage job somewhere! Putting my college education to great use! Pretty much given up hope of a "real job" at this point as we will be moving in one year for internship now and then moving yearly for three years after that. Who want to hire somebody knowing that they are leaving in one year?
Dana gave me a way too peppy talk about having faith and that it was time for me to give up control and give notice and my crummy job and be with our girls for the summer. I just couldn't do it not knowing where I would work in the fall or atleast having something lined up. I'm basically the sole provider and practically failing at that! Dana kept talking to me about faith and God's plan and I finally literally felt like a took a physical leap and quit my job with just enough cash to get us through the end of summer.
Within days I had a call from a stranger (my neighbor's boss) who basically offered me a job without ever having met me or even seeing my resume yet! Who does that? I sent my resume to like 100 people in Dubuque and not one of them called me even for an interview.. well Target did. That doesn't count. And that's a whole other story, much funnier when told in person! So, after a proper interview and all I accepted a paying job to do Event Planning (my passion) for a non-profit Christian organization. Hellllllo? How cool is that, oh.. and I get to work from home so no daycare costs! The people with this organization have been such a blessing to me and my family. I have never worked for people with such a wonderful spirit for the Lord and such genuine caring and kindness. It's been a wonderful experience thus far and such an unspeakable blessing!
Shortly after that we received some financial support from the most unexpected places. A couple of letters and checks came within probably ten days of eachother at the most. I can't even begin to express with words how that made us feel... besides moving us, well me, to tears. To know that complete strangers are thinking of and praying for our well being was tremendously comforting and awesome!
And that is how we ended our school year! I had one week between jobs that I got to spend with Dana before he left for Missouri and that was an awesome gift! God stripped me to the core and then when the time was right he started to build me back up. I have come to love and respect Him even more and to TRUST in His timing and plan. It is a daily battle for me to give up control and trust that His plan for us will come together, I just have to let it and go with it. It has also lifted a huge load from my shoulders to know that we are not in this alone. We are on the path He has chosen for us and He is guiding us daily. We may take detours once in a while, or often, but I feel comfort in knowing He is always with us!
Three days later Dana started his Summer Greek. This was a six week long course that had to be completed by the incoming class before fall semester began. Once that started the girls and I rarely saw Dana. He was up and gone before the crack of dawn and usually came home after we were in bed for the night. When he wasn't in class he was studying at the library on campus or with his study group - actually studying! Not exactly what we were expecting as far as time for our family, but it was only going to be for six weeks... so we figured we could make it through our lack of time together and his daily migraines. Just learn the greek and move on to the next!
Then he began fall semester and the real fun began. The schdule didn't really let up, just different classes, but now on top of that I was working and the girls were in school. You would think that would make things easier, but our life just seemed to get more chaotic and feel more out of control in many ways. Life as we had known it was over! No more easy weeks of Dana working four ten hour days and me being home with the kids. Now on top of his full schedule at school and his part-time school job I was working nights and weekends and we both were overwhelmed with trying to get some sort of routine for our family's sake and time together at some point before winter hit! Our home had a swinging door and it seemed we were never in it at the same time. It became depressing! We had no family here and the job I got was a blessing, but not at all what I had envisioned and the pay was definitely not what we were counting on before moving our family out here. Oh.. and did I mention that there were quite a few "major" costs associated with seminary that we were not aware of before coming here? And that Dana would be gone for a few weeks in January and for the entire summer in a chaplainacy training program, which we also had to pay for on top of tuition! Feeling more overwhelmed at this point. What would we do with the kids all summer, my minimum wage job was not even paying all of our living expenses and that didn't include full-time summer daycare!
What else to do but PRAY and have FAITH... all the time! I felt as though we had hit rock bottom in so many ways and had been humiliated in ways that I never fathomed. I had to rely on God and his plan for us at that point. Dana was so focused on school and had to be because of the intensity of the studies and the load of reading and writing of papers was beyond human ability! A wise upperclassmen told us early that Dana would have to "pick and choose the assigned reading materials because there is no way to actually complete all that are assigned in a semester". That should have been our first red flag... we were still in our happy bubble at that point though and oblivious. Ignorance is bliss.... for a while anyways!
Dana worked really hard and completed all of his classes fall semester and then had a nice winter break to decompress and relax a bit. He was able to be home with the girls during their break from school which was great! Dana was scheduled to travel to North Dakota for a week of "Rural Immersion" in January to complete his J-Term requirement, but the trip was cancelled due to severe weather conditions there. The farmers had no time to host guests as they were too busy trying to keep their livestock alive. Understandable.
I was still working for the craft store, but had transferred to a new department and around this time requested as consistent of a schedule as my boss could offer for our family's sake. He was very accomodating and did what he could, although it's retail and weekends are always required! I was feeling better that atleast we could have dinner together as a family a couple of nights a week, but still sad to not be with the girls during the week (they are in school) and then have to leave them on the weekends.
Then spring came. Yippee!! Spring has always been one of my favorite seasons and this year it proved to be the best for me personally! Things started to take a turn for the better. Around April we knew where Dana would be spending his summer, which turned out to be St. Joseph, Missouri in a hospital there that would provide him with room and board and an excellent program as well! This was exciting as we didn't know how we could/would afford to set him up with a place to live while he did this course. There are no local hospitals in Dubuque that can fulfill this particular requirement. So, he would be about six hours away which is manageable for us to go visit him when we can. We still had to figure out what to do with the girls for the summer. Our finances were drained before Winter semester even began and we decided we could live off of our IRS refund! Feels like we're going backwards in life! But God provided almost to the dollar just enough to get us through summer without me working. No extra and no room for error...nothing could break down and we would have no gas money to see Dana, but our girls would be cared for by their Mom! No idea what I would do in the fall for a job, but we felt certain that I could get another minimum wage job somewhere! Putting my college education to great use! Pretty much given up hope of a "real job" at this point as we will be moving in one year for internship now and then moving yearly for three years after that. Who want to hire somebody knowing that they are leaving in one year?
Dana gave me a way too peppy talk about having faith and that it was time for me to give up control and give notice and my crummy job and be with our girls for the summer. I just couldn't do it not knowing where I would work in the fall or atleast having something lined up. I'm basically the sole provider and practically failing at that! Dana kept talking to me about faith and God's plan and I finally literally felt like a took a physical leap and quit my job with just enough cash to get us through the end of summer.
Within days I had a call from a stranger (my neighbor's boss) who basically offered me a job without ever having met me or even seeing my resume yet! Who does that? I sent my resume to like 100 people in Dubuque and not one of them called me even for an interview.. well Target did. That doesn't count. And that's a whole other story, much funnier when told in person! So, after a proper interview and all I accepted a paying job to do Event Planning (my passion) for a non-profit Christian organization. Hellllllo? How cool is that, oh.. and I get to work from home so no daycare costs! The people with this organization have been such a blessing to me and my family. I have never worked for people with such a wonderful spirit for the Lord and such genuine caring and kindness. It's been a wonderful experience thus far and such an unspeakable blessing!
Shortly after that we received some financial support from the most unexpected places. A couple of letters and checks came within probably ten days of eachother at the most. I can't even begin to express with words how that made us feel... besides moving us, well me, to tears. To know that complete strangers are thinking of and praying for our well being was tremendously comforting and awesome!
And that is how we ended our school year! I had one week between jobs that I got to spend with Dana before he left for Missouri and that was an awesome gift! God stripped me to the core and then when the time was right he started to build me back up. I have come to love and respect Him even more and to TRUST in His timing and plan. It is a daily battle for me to give up control and trust that His plan for us will come together, I just have to let it and go with it. It has also lifted a huge load from my shoulders to know that we are not in this alone. We are on the path He has chosen for us and He is guiding us daily. We may take detours once in a while, or often, but I feel comfort in knowing He is always with us!
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