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