Friday, August 27, 2010

Oh Blog how I missed you!

Day 58 (August 27) Oh Blog how I missed you. Life got a bit crazy. It is amazing how busy I can get without pay. I've been preparing for EFM, the Spouse's Retreat, & the Teens of the Seminary Youth Group. Between those activities and having a new puppy and school starting at St. Andrew's & the Seminary I just haven't had any time to write.

This week consisted of: open house for Oliver (SAS middle school), open house for Hannah (SAS high school), Bar tending at the Vice Chancelor's home, Church picnic, First day of school for SAS, Quiet day, Matriculation, Dean's Dinner, Class (church history), Lake Cheston picnic... Let the craziness begin! I am absorbing all of the last times this year.

We have now had Oreo (the puppy) for 3 weeks and he is getting along great with Patches (the 12 year old dog) and the 2 ferrets. The cat is still unsure of this new "house guest" and she is waiting for his departure. She attempts to skulk around the house at night while the pup is in his pen and no threat to her. We don't see her any other time except when her food bowl is empty. At which time she meows from some safe distance. Oh poor kitty!

EFM prep is going well. I think I have 12 in my group. My co-mentor will not be certified until January so I'm flying solo to start.... ugh. Getting paperwork and checks has been a drag!

On the Bright Side... the Spouse's Retreat is going to ROCK!!!! I've got some great stuff planned. I just need to get some spouse's on video which may be a bit of a challenge.

St. Andrew's had a parent's marathon of activities that were so redundant. I feel for parents of a middle & a high schooler. It is twice the wretchedness. All in all, I am thrilled to have the kids back on a routine. Hannah has had 2 soccer games so far and her team won both! YAY SAS! High school is going well so far...

TOSS (Teens of Sewanee Seminary) will begin next week. So excited to get started. I've had so many people volunteer to help. Thanks all! (but not everyone can get on that high paying work-study salary. Of course, a conflict has been added... the cook outs are continuing... this cuts into our meeting time. We will have to work this out... time to consult the professionals.... TEEN.

Well, back to enjoying my last Friday.... until EFM and TOSS steal you away...

Monday, August 9, 2010

Farm in the Jenkins Home


Day 36-39 (August 5-8) Ever since the adoption of our 5th current pet (Oreo the puppy) life has been a bit changed. This is the first time I've ever owned a puppy. Killian, our 17 year old dog that passed last summer was a year when she found us and Patches, our 10 year old dog was 9 months old when we found him in a shelter. I am up at 5 am to let the pup out of his crate and a 6 am feeding before my exercise routine. Of course this means I need a nap in the afternoon so I can stay up until 10:30 to put Oreo back in his crate.

Taking in Oreo seems like falling off the wagon of my down-sizing plan but it has definitely a gift and a blessing in our home. He is a precious sweet addition to the Jenkins family farm now consisting of 2 ferrets, a cat, and 2 dogs. I've never seen such a mellow and easily trainable pup. I can not believe someone would dump him.

We got Oreo to the vet. He got his first shots and deworm medication. Yuck. He is about 10-12 weeks old. The vet says he is part boarder collie but his brother looks like a lab. I sure hope he has something small in him as well.

Leave without Pay continues for another few weeks. In September I will be working as a Youth Minister part time! YAY!!! I am not at liberty to share where until we get the details worked out. So you will have to continue to read this very boring blog to find out.... ha ha ha :)

EFM is also beginning in September and I am taking a couple of classes so my blog will need to be adjusted. I'm sure I will need to change the name as well. Maybe it will be "Count Down to Moving off the Mountain". I really don't want to leave. I have been so blessed to be here.

More to come...

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Getting Around Town

Day 33 - 34 (Aug 2 & 3) - I've been doing a good bit of bike riding around Sewanee. I have also been assisting in many Seminary move-ins. The community this year will be awesome! The junior class has 26 or 28 students... wow! With these Seminarians comes families with tons of kids. There are approximately 15 or so middle & high schoolers, 16 or more elementary school children and over 10 preschoolers. The chapel is going to be really full on Thursday nights. KOS (kids of the seminary) will be busy. I look forward to many good times with all the teens.

Speaking of good times with the teens... we had an amazing Ultimate game on the practice field on Tuesday night. A great turn out of youth and former youth leaders. My team lost, but I'm up for a rematch :)

I put the word out on "Sewanee Classifieds" that I was looking for the little brown dog. No leads, just a bunch of sightings and people who almost took him in. I'm sure someone has given that sweet dog a home.

Day 35 (Aug 4) - Wow! 4 move-ins in one day. We also moved in on Aug 4 (in 2008). There were many move-ins that day as well so we didn't have too much help. I am tired and my knees hurt from playing Ultimate.

At the first move-in of the day we found 2 puppies that were dumped in the Woodlands the night before. We decided to take one home. We haven't committed to keeping him, but he is doing so well. Only one accident... it was on the kitchen floor that is going to be replaced in a couple of weeks anyway.



If this dog isn't the cutest thing ever... (the boy isn't so bad either). He also played well with the ferrets!

Monday, August 2, 2010

Housework & House Guest

Days 30 & 31 (July 30-31) -
I love to cook and I love to eat. Some of my favorites are fried green tomatoes, eggplant parmesan, sushi, and guacamole. Of course anything made with tomatoes is great. People who don't like to cook, usually eat pre-made meals, easy "helper" meals and eat out. One thing I hate to do is clean house.

When I was a teenager I believe I received shock therapy from the weather beaten extension cord on the electric lawn mower. Yes, an electric lawnmower. This has ruined me for any form of electric (with a cord) machines... especially the vacuum cleaner. Unfortunately I have a dog that sheds enough fur to stuff a mattress. Vacuuming is quite essential. Someone should invent a cordless vacuum that actually works (not like a dust buster). I may write a letter to Dyson. If people who don't like to cook don't cook than people who don't like to clean shouldn't clean. A housekeeper may be in order in my future :)

The cook out was loads of fun. The teen count is rising in the seminary community. I think we are up to 14. Woot, woot! They all seem to get along well. This was the first week that my own teens wanted to stay later than me.

We found the cutest dog today. I know with a dog, a cat, and 2 ferrets I really don't need another dog. In order for you to understand why I would consider another dog you have to see his picture. It speaks volumes and Patches seems to really like him. When we left for the movie, we put him outside. He was gone when we got back.

"How to Train A Dragon" was the movie at the SUT this week. What a great turn out of teens. With Harry out of town, I sat alone. Some might think that is sad, but in actuality it means that my kids sat with friends and that makes me so happy! Abe was loud in the theater and I told him so :)

Day 32 (August 1) - Harry is home (sort of). He got in at 3 am so he was not up for church or for the firs move-in of the day. When we got home at noon he was up and ready for the second move-in. He was still a little loopy and jet lagged the rest of the day.

No sign of the little dog we found. If you see him around the mountain, let me know. Maybe he will find his way back to our home....