What you need to know though is that Ben spent a few hours writing a great post detailing his experiences at school and his thoughts on this new phase of life he has entered into. However, sadly it was all lost at the last minute and Ben was shattered.
So, as it may be a while before he attempts a post again, I thought I'd better take up the slack and keep you up to date about whats going on with us.
Family life has needed to adjust to having a 'mature age student' in the house. Ben is working hard to find the right balance between school work and family life. I am also doing my best to accommodate Ben's need to have study time whilst making sure we all get to spend time with him and I get the help I need with the kids.
Ben and I have started a course at church called 'Love After Marriage' (LAM). It runs each Sunday morning for 30 weeks so its quite a commitment of time and energy (another thing for Ben to fit in to his schedule). The kids spend the time in Kids Church as they normally would so we get to spend some time together working on our marriage.
We've had 3 sessions so far and its sort of like doing a Bible study in the nude with 100 other people, its that level of awkward and vulnerability. The couple that run it don't pull any punches and its great. I mean, what's the point of skirting around important issues that face all married couples in some form or another? Already there have been tears and deep discussions, re-commitments and taking back lost ground in the relationship. Couples have volunteered to be made an example of out the front and it has been both horrible and beautiful to watch. We have homework to do each week and are enjoying re-connecting and taking time for our marriage. A strong, healthy, loving, Godly marriage is a powerful witness to the world of the Lord and his love for his Bride, the church. Our marriages should reflect that. We definitely want ours to.
Onto other matters.
Sam had his school 'jogathon' the other day. It is a fundraiser for the school and their main athletic event for the year (think Aussie sports day). The kids are meant to get sponsors for each lap they run of a track in 20mins. We were the only ones who sponsored Sam. I hate doing that sort of thing. Anyway, he did great. It was 40C and the kids were so hot. Sam didn't quite grab hold of the 'slow and steady' method of running and so spent his 20mins periodically sprinting and walking. He got very hot and bothered and when time was called, promptly collapsed in a heap of sweaty tears.
Thankfully, the weather is slowly getting cooler. It is now 'FALL'. The leaves are changing colour and falling to the ground, creating a lovely crunchy sound for our footsteps through the park. Its almost cold in the mornings these days but the afternoons continue to be pretty warm, around 30-35C.
I have begun training for the annual Redding Turkey Trot. A 6 mile 'fun' run, sort of like the City to Bay in Adelaide. It takes place on Thanksgiving morning so I've got a bit of time to get my act together! It is very strange thinking of distance in miles rather than km. It lulls me into a false sense of security!
Going for a run today in the park near our house, I was struck by the beauty of the changing seasons. I love the large, shady deciduous trees surrounding the park and although it will be a shame for them to drop their leaves, there is a beauty about Autumn that is very distinct. I realised that there is indeed beauty in making ourselves vulnerable to others, in 'dropping our leaves' so to say. I thought of the LAM course and how it requires the participants to be vulnerable with each other, not just between the spouses but within the small groups we are put into. It is a tough ask to let complete strangers see your marriage for what it really is, good and bad. In doing that though, we will all be rewarded with 'new growth', if we first agree to let our guard down and allow the Lord to use others to speak into our lives. It sure makes for interesting Sunday mornings!
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