Opie has been attached to my heels. Mike has even mentioned that Opie is more aware of me when I am around-he seems to follow me everywhere. Like right now, he is asleep touching my feet while Mike is relaxing in the other room.
This week has been complicated for a few reasons. On the happy side, we are moving Monday. We are really excited about moving- being outside of the district is going to be hard. However, after the past weekend, when I was out of town, and Mike had to deal with some sort of techno-beat and blowing things up in alternating patterns, I think coming home to a quiet house will be worth it for both of us. We are packing and getting ourselves ready. As my mom said, moving isn't really even stressful for us now because we have done it so many times, but it's just knowing exactly how much time and work it takes to get organized.
On the really sad side, a dear family friend and influential pastor in my life unexpectedly passed away this week from complications with care for lymphoma. Dr Chip Gunsten has been a friend of my dad's since the 70's. Growing up, we would often go over to the Gunsten's house for dinner on the weekend and we played with Sarah and Anna, who are the same age as Matt and me. Sarah and her husband Rob and Anna were all in youth group with us. Pastor Chip married Mike and I.
He was a vibrant man and truly an exemplar of faith, hope and love. He was GOOD. He made and continues to make the world a better place through his influence. Pastor Chip was really a "pastor"- he led through actions and words and was deeply faithful. I am thankful he was part of our lives. The loss of such a kind, strong and admirable man is deeply sad. The reverberations will be felt for many years to come throughout the Lutheran Church in Virginia.
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| Pastor Jim, me, Mike, and Pastor Chip |
Faith, hope, love.
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