yee-haw!

Yesterday we accepted an offer on our house in Iowa City! The closing will be November 1, unfortunately - but at least we have a buyer. Thanks again to all of you who helped us get the house ready!

seeing ADT blue

Today we had our benefits presentation. I am so thankful that God has given me this job. Before you think I'm hanging up ministry - know that I'm called and committed to serving God. I am however, convinced at this point that my role is to be a part of a team with minimal compensation from the church so that the body isn't strained and tithes can go to ministry not just the ministers. So at this point, I do see myself at ADT for a while. Here's why -

Even at my entry level customer service job, I can earn up to $400 per month in bonuses. The company prorates health insurance premiums - the less you make the less you pay. That's justice. Since I'm less than half way through my MDiv, ADT will give me $1000 when I graduate and pay $7500 per year for my tuition. Thanks ADT! As much as I love school, I may just add an MBA and a DMin!

Really, I do like the company - if you want to work for them too, let me know and I'll tell you how. Did I mention that I get money for referring people to the company? (You IT friends are worth $2500 bucks!)

HOUSE UPDATE -
We had our inspections and there were no surprises. A few more plumbing and electrical issues than we could see, but overall a positive report. The inspector is fond of old homes and says this one is outstanding - great craftsmanship, well taken care of until about the last five years, and solid.

We're moving along and plan to close by the end of September. October will be the home improvement month, with a move-in around Halloween.

Later friends.

the beauty of 5

As we all knew would happen, Titus won the poll for best looking. I think he'd also win a poll for most delightful. Five is such a wonderful age. Titus soaks up everything and out it comes in the most enchanting ways.

Saturday our friend Aaron came for a visit. During our road tour of the Northland, Titus broke out in song. "Shoo fly, don't bother me...for I belong to somebody...I feel like a morning star." I wish I could put a sound file on here. It is about the cutest thing I've ever heard in the world. Of course, the cute factor goes off the chart when you see him perform live in the backseat with sincere facial expression and expansive gestures - arms waving, tight hugs, and head shaking. Is there a way to bottle those moments?

Tonight on my dinner break, I called home to say hello to my guys. Ray was busy cooking, so he put T on the line right away. I was thrilled that he was in a talkative mood because often he 'forgets' everything that happened at school. But the talkativeness was of atomic magpie proportions! He started in on the Three Billy Goats Gruff - in great detail, complete with character voices - and wouldn't stop. On and on he went, one line of the story after the next (verbatim, I'm sure!) and I needed to get back to my training. "Honey, Momma has to go now." was totally drowned out by 'klip-klop across the bridge'. He was in a zone. And I really had to go. I must have told him 10 times that I had to get off the phone - but on and on he went.

Not able to bring myself to hang up on my own son, I got louder. Finally, the story was over. Just in time -

Ray says Titus told him the story too - complete with actions, voices, inflections, and all the details, of course!

Sunday at church we met a woman who was a high school English & Drama teacher before taking a job as an editor for the Nazarene Publishing House. She wants to start doing some kids drama productions. I think we have the perfect little actor at our place!

hormones & the corporate world

Today I actually found time to tweeze my eyebrows - long over due. Honestly, every time I do it I think "why am I slavishly adhering to this custom? it hurts!" And then I pull out more of my own hair. (isn't pulling out ones hair a mental disorder listed in the DSM?)

Well, our apartment has a great big vanity and very fine lighting. The combination resulted in my seeing something I had never seen before - black mustache hairs on my very own upper lip! SCARY! Crossing the 40 threshold has troubled me at times - and this morning was one of those times. By the way - if any of you ever noticed my 'stache and didn't tell me ... well, please, don't let me go around looking like that!

The realization of the unwanted decorative feature put me in my place after having our banker guess me to be 32 years old yesterday. Maybe she was just sucking up. Obviously she didn't notice the premenopausal issue on my face. Enough about my personal beauty regimen.

I started work at the world's leading security company today - ADT. The corporate world has its imperfections, but I can at least feel very good about this company and the work I'll be doing. My first assignment will be dispatching police, fire, and medical crews for people in emergency situations. The company offers rapid advancement, great benefits (for example $75oo/year education benefit for tuition and books) and what seems to be a positive and comfortable work environment. There were only a few Dilbert/Office Space moments.

And finally - we agreed upon a great price with the aforementioned house. We'll have inspections soon and know if all is a "GO".

* Kelso's is a neighborhood restaurant - great name, OK food.

** Titus enjoyed a free ice cream cone at McDonalds compliments of his teacher after the first day of school.

*** 2104 Fayette - our potential future home!

Revel, Oh young man, in thy youth

Daddy's turn to post...

First, a dispatch from Titus and his second day at school:

-He got a "yogurt" tag for lunch, which was very exciting
-He made more friends, but didn't play on the monkey bars at recess. He did go on the slide and played tag.
-His teacher read "The Gingerbread Man"
-Daddy managed to successfully pick him up from school

Now, a funny story from work:

I was chatting with some kids at Ravenwood Elementary School for a first-day-of-school story. One of the young men at the front of a line waiting to leave said "You're a reporter? Are you famous?"

I muttered somethings about being with a small weekly and I doubt that anyone knows who I am. He wasn't really listening. Before I could finish, he said "You must be rich!"

Anyone who knows anything about the newspaper business finds this very amusing. The truth is that a first year kindergarten teacher makes significantly more than I or most journalists make. That's as it should be. Their job is harder.

In fact, I interviewed a kindergarten teacher who has been at the same school for about six years. It was the end of the first day and she was clearly blasted. It turns out, though, that she was headed to a local Olive Garden for a five-hour shift as a server. I couldn't hide my surprise, thinking that she's got to be making something in the low- to mid-$30K.

"Why?" I asked.

"For the money," she said.

Huh.

I guess there's some sort of glamour with my job. The very nice lady at the bank who helped us the other day commented about how cool it was.

Cool? Maybe.

Lucrative? Not so much.

What I will say is that the people who work at my newspaper, myself included, really are passionate and idealistic in a very cliche way. Journalists are regularly rated at the bottom of the popularity list, along with politicians and lawyers. That's a bit unfair. At least they're getting some loot while they're being reviled. Most of us are just trying to shed some light on public affairs and recognize people who do good things and occasionally help catch the bad people with hands in the cookie jar. And no, we don't always get it right.

I'll leave you with this thought: think about the places in the world that don't have freedom of the press and ask yourself if those are places you'd like to live.

So yes, I do truly love my job and feel that it is important and contributes to society in some microcosmic way. It's not so bad being part of a profession that can also claim both Superman and Spiderman.

Now that's cool.

first day kindergarten part 2

This report is by Titus Weikal.

Here is a list of the best things about my day:
That I made lots of new friends
I have some monkey bars out in the play ground
I have a kickball stadium on the chalk place
And I have three slides
I can put my bag on any hook. I don't even have to put it on the same hook I did yesterday.

The end.

And Momma's favorite quote after the first day of school ...
"Actually, I don't like my teacher...I love my teacher."

first day of kindergarten

OK, OK, time for the lament of a mother who sees the time fleeting - boo hoo. With mixed feelings I took Titus to Briarcliff Elementary today for his first day of kindergarten. The biggest milestone of his young life. He, like me, was a mix of emotion. All excitement and cheese until we walked through the doors into the sea of waiting kids. After meeting his principal and telling a few jokes outside, he was ready to go.

Ms. Stolper, his teacher, has a great reputation, as does Mr. Sutton, the principal, and Briarcliff school in general. We couldn't feel better about our decision to get him into that particular school. But it is still sobering to have him begin this phase of his life.

After school, we'll post a report from Titus about his day. Here he is at home with his new backpack given to him by his friends at Knickleberry Street (ICNaz kids' church), full of school supplies. I also got a couple of pix in his classroom with Ms. Stolper and his table.

a good morning

So today we attended our first worship service at Trinity. We liked it a lot. They really do a good job of taking traditional elements of Christian worship and filling it with local flair. For example, a woman in the congregation who has her degree in textile design made this fabulous trinity symbol wall hanging in greens. I wish I had a picture to show ya'll.

We also loved the laid back yet reverent feeling of the service - no affected preaching voices - just normal people talking about their faith. There are a lot of seminary students and a lot of men from the KC Rescue Mission. It seems a safe place to be real and accepted. A combination that we value perhaps above everything else in a church.

Afterwards we had a great lunch with Mindy & Josh Hancock, our pastors, at Cupini's in Westport. Yum. We like them a lot and look forward to serving with them and being friends.

one down

Well, we've all been together in our new apartment for one week now. Here's a run down of our lives this week:

WORK: Ray loves his job. This week he covered a press conference at UMKC for area school districts. He was thrilled that he and the KC Star were covering the same event. Nan got her schedule set for the next four months. After four weeks of training (second shift) she'll be working 5 am to 1:30 pm at ADT's customer service center near the KC airport.

SCHOOL: Titus met his teacher (Ms. Stolper), ordered lots of Briarcliff Elementary 'spirit wear' and toured his new school on Thursday evening. Nan is going to wait until next semester to start clases at the seminary.

FUN: While Ray was at his presser, Nan & Titus walked around the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Titus' favorite thing was the knight & horse in matching Spanish armor. Today we all three spent the afternoon at Union Station where we explored the Science City, ate at the Harvey House Diner, watched a 3D movie about dinosaurs, and took in The Beatles laser show in the planetarium.

FOOD: Two words. Gates BBQ.

FAITH: We found a great community of fellow travelers at Trinity. We're looking forward to our first Sunday worship with them after sharing great conversation and some yummy baked potatoes on Wednesday night.

HOME: While a swimming pool has been great, we're eager to find our permanent home. We're going to make an offer on a bungalow a few blocks from our apartment. (Ray Sr. will be proud to know that the house is a foreclosure that we'll get far below its value.) It will require Nan to get back into general contractor mode again, but will be a fantastic house with some updates. It is just a block from the North KC library and two blocks from the new North KC community recreation center.

Waiting for you all to come for a visit...