Well, we bought our Christmas tree on Sunday at Home Depot and set it up Sunday night. We had a good time together as a family. We have always really enjoyed setting up the Christmas tree. The girls were very excited and fun to watch. Tess was really fascinated by the tree and just kept going around it, examining every ornament. It was very cute! We let the girls put on the ornaments and just like last year, all the ornaments were on one part of the tree. We just spread them out later on! So thankful for the Christmas season!

A Walk in the Fall

Fall in Kentucky

Sorry it has been so long since posting anything! It has been busy! I also apologize for the funky arrangment of pictures. Evidently, I am not smart enough to arrange them neatly.

There are now two weeks of classes left in the semester. I have a week off for Thanksgiving which will be used to prepare for finals, which are the first week of December. So far, classes are going very well. They are a lot of work, but the knowledge I am gaining is such a blessing. It is a great priviledge to study under the professors I have.

We have really enjoyed the fall here! It is pretty incredible! I have never seen a landscape change so much! For about two weeks, the trees glow with magnificant shades of golds, oranges and reds. Beautiful! Now, all the leaves are falling, which is fun as well. The ground becomes the color the trees once were and the landscape really changes because you can see through the forest and the sunlight shines through due to all the leaves falling.

Jess and the girls are doing well. Jess has been blessed with a few more clients at the barn. I am still looking for some work. Things at the church are going well, but it is really different not being at Cornerstone and we miss everyone there a lot. I am thankful to be back in church ministry though.

Tess is beginning to talk and that has been fun. One of her first words was horse pronouced "hice" and squirrel "gwirl". She has been a lot of fun. Kate and Rose have had a lot of great one liners lately. They have been making us laugh a lot.

Thank you for all who are praying for us. Please continue to do so. We are grateful for your prayers and the notes you send us. It has been a wonderful blessing. We will be back in California for 10 days at Christmas and will look forward to seeing family and friends!

Blessings,

Shane

The Beginning of Fall Break

Friday brought the conclusion of the first half of the semester for me and the beginning of Fall break. To celebrate, we left at 2:30 in the afternoon and went to Bernheim Forest, about 25 minutes from our home. It is a 14,000 acre private forest that is maintained for public use. It is beautiful! There are over 30 miles of trails and multiple places to have a picnic. The trails are well maintained, but still rustic. We have been exploring a lot of hiking in the area, but so far, this is our favorite spot. The forest is more open and the variety of trees is amazing. There were hardly any people out there and the cost is free on the weekdays. It is going to be beautiful there when all the colors start changing! We had a wonderful time out there and it was a crisp fall day. The mugginess is finally gone and the evenings are getting cold and the days have been in the low 60's.

After spending the afternoon hiking at Bernheim, we went to Pizza Hut for dinner. It was a great conclusion to the day! I am a big Pizza Hut fan!

Today, Morningside Baptist Church voted to appoint me as the new Associate Pastor of Worship and Families. That was exciting and I am thankful to have the opportunity to serve in the church once again. I have missed it very much since leaving Cornerstone!

For those of you who enjoy theology, here is my semester mid-term in my theology class: You have 75 minutes to complete it!

1. Counsel a young man who is asking about the age of the earth, why it matters and how does Christianity reconcile the apparent discrepancies between science and the Bible.

2. A woman seeks your counsel who has just lost her husband to cancer and is now responsible to care for her only child who has down syndrome. She asks "How can God be good, sovereign and loving when this is happening to me"

Well, that is all for now! The colors are beginning to turn here, the weather is getting cold and fall is definitely here!

God bless,

Shane

Apple Picking

Family photo in the apple orchard!

Kate putting apples in her bag.

Last Saturday, we went with some friends to a very large farm in Indiana where you can pick your own pumpkins, apples, berries, vegetables, etc. It was a great time! We picked two large bags of apples and brought them home and made apple crisp! Very tasty!

Tess' New Tennies

Southern’s Fall Festival

Tonight Southern Seminary held its annual Fall Family Festival. This year is Southern's 150^th anniversary so they really put a lot into the festival. There were carnival rides for the children, free dinner, free snacks and desserts, raffles, carnival games, bounce houses, a professional BMX show and a fantastic firework display over the seminary to conclude the evening. It was a wonderful evening.

The festival was held on the large center lawn in the middle of campus. They spent the last several days setting up for the festival and at least twice a day the girls wanted to walk up there to check on their progress. The first thing they set up was a carousel and that really excited the girls and created the desire to continually check on their progress! This morning, after the morning walk to check on it, Kate said "That carousel is God's provision for me because the carousel is in Montana and we don't get to go there for a long time. So this is God's provision for me." She cracks us up all the time! The girls were so excited to go up to there tonight! It was all they talked about all day!

We went up to the festival a little before six with some neighbors and enjoyed a few rides before having dinner. The BMX show after dinner was fun to watch. They were a professional group from North Carolina and had performed during halftime of the NFL game in Tennessee last week. The remainder of the evening was spent going around and experiencing all there was to do. Kate loved all the rides, but Rose was definitely more hesitant!

The children were all given large glow sticks before the firework show. There were supposed to be around 2000 people there so when everyone got the glow sticks going it was a pretty cool sight! Finally, they turned out all the campus lights for the firework show. They were shot off right behind the library so it was really neat to get to see them bursting over the seminary. Tess watched in awe for the first half and then burst into tears. She then proceeded to bury her head so she couldn't see them. Rose got scared and sat there shaking. Soon, she started crying as well. When the fireworks were over, Kate started balling because they were over! Oh, the joy of having girls! It took them ten minutes to all stop crying!

It is truly a privilege to be a part of this seminary community. It is very rich. I am honored to be able to study the Word of God here under the excellent professors that are here. It is difficult, but very good. If some of you are looking for some good sermons to listen to, go to sbts.edu and track down the chapels. You can download them to listen to. They are fantastic.

May you all grow in the knowledge of our great God!
Shane

Thunderstorms and Frank Sinatra

Well, you may be wondering what on earth I am talking about with this random title. The other day, Shane took me on a wonderful date. He planned the whole thing, arranged childcare (yep, Aimee :), and I realized how crazy things are. He told me to get dressed up, and I thought we were staying home. Then I come out and Aimee is there, and I thought how fun, Aimee is going somewhere with us. We are all going out somewhere. Then as I sit there visiting with her I realize, we are going out, on a date. Aimee is there because Shane and I are leaving, duh! So we did indeed go out, and I am still so thankful for the Lord's provision to us, in friendship and help with the girls, with Aimee. We went to the big mall here. This is significant because, a- it is cheap being on a seminary budget, and b- it was what we did on our first date together in Portland OR. All this to say that we thought it would be fun, while there to look in a music store and further that because of all our musicals and classics we had been watching over the last three years that a double CD of Frank Sinatra would be fun, especially because it was crazy cheap. :) We had a great time and enjoyed uninterupted time to discuss the things we are learning here on this grand adventure.

So days later, this big thunderstorm is rolling in. The girls are in their bathing suits playing on our balcony and Shane and I are enjoying watching them and the storm come in while trying out our new CD. It was very nastalgic and peaceful. Hence the title of this post!

The Lord has provided three clients for me at the barn for riding lessons, and we continue to praise Him for His faithfulness and continue to pray for His provision. I am enjoying my 25 minute drive out of the city into the country to the barn and teaching the kids. It is great to still be around horses. The website if anyone is interested is www.emilyragan.com

I notice that my life has slowed down for my mind to notice that my heart misses everyone from home in Cali. I got quite emotional thinking of my twin brother, whom I lived 8 feet from and praying for Cornerstone brought many more tears. I was probably overly tired, but still, I do miss all of you.

The girls are well. There is a family fall festival this friday on campus. The girls are looking forward to that, especially because there will be fireworks too!

That is all for now. Pray for us, as we pray for you. May we all abide in Christ and glorify Him, always!

Jess

We are still trying to settle into our new life here in Louisville KY. Today, we will go on an exploration adventure to discover a nearby lake and do some hiking out of the city.

We are very thankful that the Lord has provided a job opportunity for me to teach riding lessons at a barn about 25 minutes away. The facility is beautiful with an indoor arena and trails to ride. The trainer is very laid back and seems to be a good person to work with. I am excited about this opportunity because I can work part time hours and make a full time income hopefully covering all our expenses so Shane would not have to work. It would be grand if he could just concentrate on school and family. Keep praying that God would bring the clients and hours to provide for our needs and that it would be a good safe working environment.

I am also exploring where I will get my groceries and supplies and how to get there. It seems I make a wrong turn at least once every time I go out into the city, I am such a country girl! But none-the-less, I am slowly learning my way around.

I had my first Seminary Wives Class on Thursday night. It is called Biblical Parenting and we are reading "Instructing a Child's Heart" by Tedd and Margy Tripp. It looks like it will be a great class and I am excited for the spiritual stimulation. Also, I found out I can watch the chapels live on TV from my home. This is great news to me because I really wanted to attend them but didn't know how it would work with the girls. This way I can work on training them to sit through a service and enjoy chapel in my own home.

I miss my family, church family and wide open spaces of my home in California, but despite this, I love my new home, apartment and I am content. For a city, Louisville really is pretty. The Lord has taken care of everything for me big and small. Praise our loving, providing, mighty God. I am so thankful to Him for all that He gives.

Blessings,
Jess

Finally a post from Jess

Well this will be brief for now, but I am finally entering a post myself. The Lord has been so gracious to us, going ever before us, paving the way in this new adventure.

I really enjoy our new apartment and am thankful to be so established and unpacked a mere two weeks later. Although it is an adjustment to be in an apartment in town.

I am seeking to secure a position as an instructor at two different barns here in the area. I can make really good money per hour and am hoping to be able to work part time and make enough so Shane would not have to work and he can have time with the girls and focus on his studies. I am also praying for a childcare position to become available where maybe I could watch an infant or baby in my home and make income without ever leaving home. So please keep this in your prayers.

Otherwise I am trying to find where I will get groceries and supplies and how to get there. We are trying to establish some routine and I am hoping to begin Kate's schooling in a few weeks.

I miss all my friends and family from home and also my family at Cornerstone. God bless you all!

-Jess

A Weekend in Louisville

What does a Redneck do in Louisville on his first free Saturday? That's easy! Take the family to Bass Pro Shops in Indiana for the afternoon! What an amazing store! Guns, fishing equipment, live fish displays, outdoor equipment, hunting arcades, NASCAR arcades and animal mounts in every nook and cranny! What isn't to love! The kids enjoyed it as well. There were catfish swimming around in aqariums that were as big as my children. Kate called them "kittyfish".

One of the many very cool displays in Bass Pro Shops

The afternoon found me studying Greek and learning to parse nouns. Then in the evening we had Aimee over and played Phase 10, which I heroically won.

There is a 600 acre park across the street from the seminary that is called Cherokee Park and it is full of hiking and biking trails. Today we went for a long hike and that was fun. I am very thankful to have that right next to us. When hiking in the park, aside from hearing the interstate, you would never guess you were in a city. It has several ponds and a creek that meanders through it.

Tonight, we did some more cleaning and rearranging, getting rid of a few more things that just weren't fitting well in the house. We also hung the last pictures that needed to be hung.

The Lord has blessed us with beautiful weather this weekend. There are big clouds in the sky and it is a mere 70 degrees with very little humidity. It has been very nice.

Jess and I are hoping to nail down some income this week, so that is something we would appreciate prayer for. We are seeking the Lord's direction and provision in this area.

Well, that is all for now.

Blessings,

Shane

Milk

Here in Kentucky, a gallon of milk is $1.89. I think I've written enough for everyone in California to contemplate for one day!

-Shane

First Day of Classes

Today was the first day of classes, meaning this new thing of blogging will probably get less frequent! So far this semester I have 15 books to read, not counting what I will have to read for my research papers! Good thing I enjoy reading. The issue is just making the time for it!

Enjoyed Systematic Theology II, Elementary Greek and Person Spiritual Disciplines today. I am looking forward to all of them. I really enjoyed what was covered in Theology today. Dr. Moore spent the class time laying out three purposes why theology is given in Scripture:

1. Everything is summed up in Jesus Christ and found in Christ. Therefore, when we are ministering with accurate, biblical theology, we are standing in the place of Christ.


2. Everything since the Fall is to be seen in the context of warfare in that the promise of God to destroy Satan is ongoing and real until the return of Christ. The power of the Gospel shatters the power of Satan.


3. Theology fulfills the mission of love. Theology is not a field of study left to the elite, but a field of study in which the Word of God is further understood and with love, brought to people for the glory of God and their personal good, as well as their joy. All theology must be worked out through faith and love.

The closing comments of Dr. Moore was that the class is not ultimately for we who were in the class, but for the many lives who will be impacted through the ministries of those of us in the class. This impact will go years beyond our lives and our imagination.

For those of you who are praying for us, here are some specific things you can pray for:

1. The Lord would provide us with jobs to cover our living expenses.


2. The children to adjust to living in a "itty bitty little living space". They want to run and play, but we don't have room anymore.


3. The Lord would give us wisdom as to where we are to attend church and where we are to serve. There is a church that is very interested in me serving as the family pastor there and the ball is in my court. I need to get back to them soon.


4. That we country folk would get used to living in a very big city! Yesterday, Jess took her mom back to the airport at 6:00am and I was awakened at 6:40am by my phone. It was Jess and she said, "I'm lost and I think I am in a bad part of town." If you are a husband, that will wake you up! Praise the Lord though for high speed internet and Google Maps! She got home without incident. Later in the day, I proceeded to get lost. Oh well, I guess it is all part of it!


5. Finally, please pray that I would be able to be a good husband and father while being a student.

We miss all of you and may the Lord bless you richly as only He can do!

Blessings,

Shane

The Trip Across the US

Loading the Truck

Well, this is a little backwards and should have been before the other one, but I didn't have the time to put the pictures on my computer! I will try to stay in order from here on out!

We left California on Tuesday afternoon and drove to St. George, arriving there at 2 am. I planned to arrive there around 6 or 7, but had severely overestimated how fast we could travel with a 26' truck and 3 little girls! The next day, we headed out to Montrose, CO to visit some friends there. On the way, we got caught in a very good thunderstorm in Eastern Utah. By good, I mean a lot of lightening, high winds and rain so hard you can barely drive. That was fun. Kate saw a fire above the road in a bush that was started by lightening. She was pretty excited about that!

Just before Leaving Colorado

After a relaxing 2 night stay in Colorado and we headed out once again. This time, we had to cross the Rockies to reach our motel an hour east of Denver. Travel was slow, but ironically, this was the best day for mpg. The worst day was the next day for mpg as we drove through flat Nebraska! Go figure! For the whole trip, we averaged 7.5 mpg. There was a computer in the truck that kept track of that for me.

We stayed with friends in Fremont, NE and once again enjoyed a good thunderstorm. From Nebraska, we drove to Mascoutah, IL. The next morning we were entertained by yet another thunderstorm. As we were packing the car, we noticed the rear tire on the van was low. We filled it with air and decided to find a tire store because the only reason it could have lost that much air was if there was a hole in it. At the tire store, they found a nail on the inner sidewall. Praise the Lord we didn't just air up and take off down the highway! That would have been a bad blowout! It was an hour delay, but we arrived in Louisville on Monday afternoon around 4.

We were very blessed by my uncle coming down from Indiana to help us unload and unpack. Several of our new neighbors also came out and helped us unload the truck. Since the Lord knows how much I dislike heat, He provided the hottest day of year (so we were told) for us to unload the truck in. Nothing like 95 degree weather with 875% humidity! We unloaded about 2/3 of the truck when.....you guessed it.....another big thunderstorm. So, we stopped there for the night and attempted to deal with what was in the apartment.

View of the storm from our front door

It seemed pretty hopeless to cram all that was in that 26' truck into the apartment, but thanks to the creativity of others and the instillation of multiple shelves, we managed. Now, the apartment is nearly finished and the last box has been unpacked. Praise the Lord!

Well, that is all for now.

Blessings,

Shane

Moving in

Well, we are almost moved into our 2 bedroom apartment after living in a 1500 square foot house. It is challenging! We have gotten rid of some more stuff, but by and large it is all fitting thanks to much help from friends and family, as well as a lot of creativity!

Leaving those whom we love in California was very difficult, but the Lord is gracious and good. He gave us the strength we needed to be able to say goodbye and begin this great adventure! We already miss everyone and I have been particularly missing ministering at Cornerstone. It was a rich and wonderful time there. I look forward to when we get to visit!

Tomorrow, orientation begins and then classes start on Monday for me. I am excited and nervous. Many questions run through my mind, but I know that God has called us here and He will provide for us. I am excited to be able to tell the stories of His provision!

God bless!
Shane