April Highlights

Hey All.....as all my work has been done for a bit, I have been able to travel around New England and took a quick, whirlwind trip to NYC. Here are some photo highlights:

Trip to Amherst, MA to see Emily Dickinson's house....a favorite poet!

Emily's house....too bad they were doing construction but they are trying to restore and recreate the front hedge that used to be in front of the house.

Times Square! We had a hotel room really close to Times Square...we could see the ball from our room!

Angie and Me.....working the aviator glasses

We got tickets to see Lion King on Broadway and it was so amazing!

Discovery Camping....Round 2!

I've been teaching another Discovery class at Gordon College this semester and last weekend I took the class camping up in New Hampshire! It was too cold to camp in tents and we were so blessed to have a cabin for the weekend. Amazing!

The Group on the top of Mt. Major

View of Lake Winnipesaukee from Mt. Major

View from the back door of the cabin.....unbelievable

The Group on top of Bald Peak

View of Lake Winnipesaukee from Bald Peak

Field Trip #1

Because I'm moving in about a month, and because my homework is DONE!, and because it's national poetry month, and because I just feel like it......I'm taking myself on "field trips" in the area to see all the things I have not had the opportunity to see and enjoy during my three years in Massachusetts. So, Monday was a beautiful and was the beginning of a series of "field trips" to come in the upcoming weeks! Hope you enjoy the journey with me!

Stop Number #1 - Lexington-Concord, the road to the revolution!

Old North Bridge in Concord....location where the "shot heard round the world" and the war began!

The Old North Bridge

On the road to Lexington...following the road the British troops fled away from the colonial troops, I encountered first the home of Ralph Waldo Emerson (hence the poetry month)

Emerson's house.....obviously under renovation

The School of Philosophy started by Dr. Alcott (Louisa May's father) in the 1800's

The Alcott's "Orchard House"....just in front of the school of philosophy and "home" of "The Little Women"

The Alcott's "Wayside" home and later home of Nathaniel Hawthorne

A Tavern on the Battle Road to Lexington

The Battle Green in Lexington where the first little episodes of fighting began....but the war had not yet broken out


Stop #2: Walden Pond! Home of Henry David Thoreau

Replica of Thoreau's tiny cabin in the woods

Location of the cabin along the pond

View of the pond from the cabin site...through the trees!

New Beginnings

Well Friends, God is good and I have a job!! During my recent visit to Oviedo, Florida, I interviewed for a position at University Carillon United Methodist Church (http://www.ucumc.net) and was offered a position to start a new service for twenty-something people in the Oviedo area. The church is located right across the street from University of Central Florida, which is a prime location for this kind of ministry. There is nothing in the area right now for 20-something's at churches, however, the campus ministry "Wesley" is alive and active (and actually housed in the church). I will also have connections with "Wesley" and get involved on a volunteer basis with worship leading, etc. I am so excited and will be able to do some creative worship planning, leading of teams, and teaching as a part of this church position. God knew exactly what I needed and had this position picked out for me. The church is still working out the kinks in order to make this a full time position, but even if I do a little work at Starbucks or a local restaurant (waiting tables) on the side, I believe this is exactly where God has called me. In fact, we have some wonderful family friends who I will have the opportunity to serve with at the church and truly love them as family. Ed and Judy Kelley have graciously offered to house me while I get settled. Tim and Tracey (Ed and Judy's daughter) Farrell are advocates that are already on staff at the church and were instrumental in helping me get connected to this ministry. They are friends that have been around since I was born and are very dear to our family....I am so excited and grateful to have them as support during this next season and as friends throughout the process. I will be moving down to Oviedo sometime in May and will start probably toward the end of the month.

This is a picture of me and Molly, Tim and Tracey's daughter!